Speaker: Dr. Rajkumari Shanker
Panelist at the Event: Sunday, July 27, 2008

Topic for the panel discussion: "Inter-cultural marriage: Challenges and Solution" — See the synopsis of Dr. Shanker's talk below.

Personal Profile of Dr. Rajkumari Shanker

Dr. Rajkumari Shanker is the new Joint Chair in Women's Studies for Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. She is on secondment from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Dr. Shanker has worked for various national and international development agencies; and edited, managed and produced the Journal of Development Policy and Practice, and has researched and published on a variety of issues.

She has taught at various universities in Canada, namely at the University of Ottawa, in the Departments of Religious Studies and Women's Studies.

Her current areas of research are: Gender and Development, Resurgence of Religion, Conflict, Peace and Development, and Migration.

Since obtaining her Ph.D. from the Sorbonne, Paris, and Diplômes des Etudes Supérieures, from the Centre Européen, Nancy, France, Dr. Shanker has followed a multifaceted career path. She has taught at various universities in Canada, including the University of Ottawa and Queen's University, in the Department of Religious Studies and Women's Studies. She has worked for various national and international development agencies; and edited, managed and produced the Journal of Development Policy and Practice, and has researched and published on a variety of issues. Dr Shanker's areas of research interests include: Gender and Development, Resurgence of Religion, Conflict, Peace and Development and Migration. She is on secondment from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Apart from organizing a symposium on 'Gender, Fragile States and Development' to be held at the University of Ottawa, (tentative date set for March 28, 20070, Dr. Shanker is preparing to teach a course on Gender, Migration and Development (WOMN 4901) in early summer 2007 at Carleton.

Dr. Shanker has authored a book "The Story of Gandhi," published by the Children's Book Trust, this book is an excellent presentation of the life of Gandhiji, specifically aimed at children. Written in a lucid language, the book - as the title suggests - narrates history in a story form. The text is published in good readable fonts and interspersed with some photographs.

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Synopsis of Dr. Shanker's contribution to the panel discussion on "Inter-cultural marriage: Challenges and Solution"

A View from Within

"A View from Within" will look at "Intercultural Marriages: Challenges and Opportunities" from a 32 year personal journey of being married to an Argentine. I plan to reflect on my understanding (and that of others) of "culture"; how our experience has enriched our relationship and better anchor us in our respective faiths. I will also shed light on the trials and tribulations of being married, bringing up our two sons, and living in a country neither of us were born in. Finally, I intend to share my thoughts on how my experience has enhanced my world-view; and reflect on the dialectics of identity and otherness, of "self' and the other" in the globalized world: what I am, at one and the same time, the same and different.

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