South Asia Institute, in partnership with the Ismaili Council for Midwestern USA, is thrilled to be hosting the launch of Najma Heptulla’s acclaimed memoir, In Pursuit of Democracy: Beyond Party Lines.

The event will be a conversation between the author and Madhuvanti Ghose (the Alsdorf Associate Curator at the Art Institute of Chicago), and will be followed by a book signing and light refreshments.

About the author:

Dr. Najma Heptulla is a distinguished parliamentarian, prominent advocate for democracy, social justice and women’s rights and accomplished author. Her remarkable 40-year career included presiding over the Upper House of India’s Parliament for 17 years, serving as Minister of Minority Affairs and Governor of Manipur. She was one of the most effective diplomats of her country, facilitating international dialogue on pressing global issues, including women’s rights and gender equality.

She is the grandniece of the renowned Islamic scholar and Indian independence activist, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.

About Madhuvanti Ghose:

Dr. Madhuvanti Ghose is the inaugural Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art, Arts of Asia. Since joining the museum in 2007, she opened the Alsdorf Galleries in 2008 and has curated numerous exhibitions and installations, including Jitish Kallat’s site-specific Public Notice 3 (2010–11), and India Modern: The Paintings of M. F. Husain (2017–18), among numerous others.

The book is available for pre-purchase with tickets.