Mariam Zia
Mariam Zia did her postdoctoral fellowship at the Mittal Institute, Harvard University. She is currently working on her monograph titled “Dastan-e Amir Hamza: Religious Orientations, Storytelling, and the Uncanny” under contract with Routledge. Her research interests include theory and culture, the ‘uncanny’, storytelling, and translation
SUNDAY Sunday 3rd March
The Magical Lives Of The Women Of Dastan-E Amir Hamza And Tilism-E-Horshuba Shahnaz Aijazuddin And Mariam Zia In Conversation
Location: Hall 2
Tilism-e-Hoshruba is populated by remarkable women. They are queens of their own magical realms, command large armies and have extraordinary magical powers. The head of Hamza’s Islamic army in Hoshruba is lead by an experienced and wise woman Mahrukh Magic-eye. Several other powerful princesses have defected to the Islamic camp and bravely defy their former overlord, the King of Magic. Afrasiyab himself is surrounded by powerful women-his wife, the loyal Hairat; his maternal and paternal grandmothers who come to his rescue througout the narrative. Even his key minister is a middle-aged woman Sannat Magic-maker, who is his rock when he is bereft with the loss of his mistress Zulmat. Afrasiyab’s wet nurse is an fearsome ogress Tareek whose battle tactic is simply swallowing her enemies! Of course this empowerment comes to an end when Hoshruba has been conquered and we can only imagine what lives these women will lead once they have converted and foresworn magic.
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