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Hostile Homelands: Community Reading and Creative Expression Group

  • Making Worlds Bookstore & Social Center 210 South 45th Street Philadelphia, PA, 19104 United States (map)

Advanced registration is encouraged. Click here to RSVP.

Join us for a discussion group on Hostile Homelands by Azad Essa. Broken out over several weeks, we will discuss the book and use different forms of creative and artistic expression to expand our knowledge and the way we process & carry it.

No prior creative or artistic experience is necessary, as this will not be an art course, and we will work with different forms of reflexive processing. As we hold the space for this reading group, we do so with deep mourning and deep hope. A community-centered reading group stimulates our thinking and is effective in influencing our strategies and direct actions.

Copies of Hostile Homelands are available for purchase in-store and can be purchased during the group's first meeting which will be focused on establishing community agreements and introductions.

About the Book:

Hostile Homelands puts India’s relationship with Israel in its historical context, looking at the origins of Zionism and Hindutva; India’s changing position on Palestine; and the countries’ growing military-industrial relationship from the 1990s. Lucid and persuasive, Essa demonstrates that the India-Israel alliance spells significant consequences for democracy, the rule of law and justice worldwide.

Resources on the Book:

Book Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6YZZXmqtO8

Podcast: https://www.plutobooks.com/blog/podcast-hostile-homelands

Accessibility:

This will be a hybrid group, having zoom and in-person options to participate. Please bring a mask and masks will be provided as well. A negative covid test is required 24 hours before in-person meetings.

Reading Group Meeting Times:

Saturdays from 1:30-3:00 starting Saturday 12/9

12/9: Community Agreements + introductions

12/16: Discussing Chapter 1 (pages 1-25)

12/17-1/12: No group meetings

1/13: Discussing Chapter 2 (pages 26-73)

1/21: No group meeting

1/27: Discussing Chapter 3 (pages 74-98)

2/3: Discussing Chapter 4 (pages 99-116)

2/10: Discussing Chapter 4 (pages 116-136)

2/17: Discussing Chapter 5 (pages 136-168)

2/24: closings and moving forwards

Our sessions will culminate with a teach-in on Kashmir. Date TBD.