Durba Mitra
@durba.bsky.social
Author of Indian Sex Life (Princeton University Press, 2020) &
The Future That Was: A History of Third World Feminism Against Authoritarianism (Princeton University Press, 2026). love a dance party.
The Future That Was: A History of Third World Feminism Against Authoritarianism (Princeton University Press, 2026). love a dance party.
Pinned
Durba Mitra
@durba.bsky.social
· Sep 26
The Future That Was
How Third World women seized the means of knowledge production to fight against rising authoritarianism and imagine a future freer than our present
press.princeton.edu
The cover for my book, The Future That Was, is now live! It features the MacArthur genius artist Shahzia Sikander's Infinite Woman (2021), where earth is surrounded by an infinite series of women marching around the globe who, from afar, become rays of the sun ☀️
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Join us in raising money for the Greater Boston Food Bank throughout November. We're accepting monetary donations at the registers in store through November 23. Learn more about volunteering, donating food or money, and receiving assistance at their website: www.gbfb.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Join us in raising money for the Greater Boston Food Bank throughout November. We're accepting monetary donations at the registers in store through November 23. Learn more about volunteering, donating food or money, and receiving assistance at their website: www.gbfb.org
Reposted by Durba Mitra
also I collected Mira Nair’s papers, including her handwritten notebooks for all films, at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard, FREE and open to the public. Much good work to be done. Finding aid here: hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories...
June 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
also I collected Mira Nair’s papers, including her handwritten notebooks for all films, at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard, FREE and open to the public. Much good work to be done. Finding aid here: hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
i wrote on the nuances of racial tension and the possibility of political coalition, with much resonance today, through Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala @publicbooks.bsky.social www.publicbooks.org/mississippi-...
June 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM
i wrote on the nuances of racial tension and the possibility of political coalition, with much resonance today, through Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala @publicbooks.bsky.social www.publicbooks.org/mississippi-...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Happening now: m.youtube.com/watch?v=K4m9...
Criminal Law and the Constitution of the Postcolony
YouTube video by Modern Criminal Law Review
m.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Happening now: m.youtube.com/watch?v=K4m9...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
My book Coolie Migrants, Indian Diplomacy is out with @hurstpublishers.bsky.social. It has been shaped by the support of a great community of scholars - grateful for generous endorsements from
@rahulraothariel.bsky.social @katesde.bsky.social @kalramnath.bsky.social
Order here - shorturl.at/55NjW
@rahulraothariel.bsky.social @katesde.bsky.social @kalramnath.bsky.social
Order here - shorturl.at/55NjW
November 4, 2025 at 8:14 AM
My book Coolie Migrants, Indian Diplomacy is out with @hurstpublishers.bsky.social. It has been shaped by the support of a great community of scholars - grateful for generous endorsements from
@rahulraothariel.bsky.social @katesde.bsky.social @kalramnath.bsky.social
Order here - shorturl.at/55NjW
@rahulraothariel.bsky.social @katesde.bsky.social @kalramnath.bsky.social
Order here - shorturl.at/55NjW
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Excited about this discussion on my book tomorrow.
Will be streamed on Youtube
8 PM IST/ 2.30 PM GMT/ 9.30 AM EST
(link in replies)
Will be streamed on Youtube
8 PM IST/ 2.30 PM GMT/ 9.30 AM EST
(link in replies)
November 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Excited about this discussion on my book tomorrow.
Will be streamed on Youtube
8 PM IST/ 2.30 PM GMT/ 9.30 AM EST
(link in replies)
Will be streamed on Youtube
8 PM IST/ 2.30 PM GMT/ 9.30 AM EST
(link in replies)
Reposted by Durba Mitra
These same administrators have somehow completely lost the plot, and bought into the belief that universities can and ought to be run like hierarchical businesses with administrators as management and faculty as employees. This relationship is upside down.
November 2, 2025 at 11:07 AM
These same administrators have somehow completely lost the plot, and bought into the belief that universities can and ought to be run like hierarchical businesses with administrators as management and faculty as employees. This relationship is upside down.
Reposted by Durba Mitra
The President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, PPFP, has been a jewel in the crown for faculty development and recruitment at the University of California for years and the results have been an expanded faculty with almost 100% tenure rates — unprecedented success.
November 2, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, PPFP, has been a jewel in the crown for faculty development and recruitment at the University of California for years and the results have been an expanded faculty with almost 100% tenure rates — unprecedented success.
Reposted by Durba Mitra
“Access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth will be dramatically restricted by the Trump administration under new proposals by the Department of Health and Human Services.”
apple.news/A5cWyEXr1Qwy...
apple.news/A5cWyEXr1Qwy...
Trump pushes an end to medical care for transgender youth nationally — NPR
The White House plans to bar hospitals that treat transgender children and youth from getting any Medicare and Medicaid payments. The move would affect trans youth who have private insurance, too.
apple.news
October 31, 2025 at 4:17 AM
“Access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth will be dramatically restricted by the Trump administration under new proposals by the Department of Health and Human Services.”
apple.news/A5cWyEXr1Qwy...
apple.news/A5cWyEXr1Qwy...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, a challenge to Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors.
A majority of Justices seem ready to strike down the restrictions, says RYAN THORESON (@ryanthoreson.bsky.social).
verfassungsblog.de/the-harms-of...
A majority of Justices seem ready to strike down the restrictions, says RYAN THORESON (@ryanthoreson.bsky.social).
verfassungsblog.de/the-harms-of...
October 28, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, a challenge to Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors.
A majority of Justices seem ready to strike down the restrictions, says RYAN THORESON (@ryanthoreson.bsky.social).
verfassungsblog.de/the-harms-of...
A majority of Justices seem ready to strike down the restrictions, says RYAN THORESON (@ryanthoreson.bsky.social).
verfassungsblog.de/the-harms-of...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Food banks won’t turn down your food donations but if all possible, donate money. They have bargaining power and can make bigger purchases.
October 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Food banks won’t turn down your food donations but if all possible, donate money. They have bargaining power and can make bigger purchases.
Reposted by Durba Mitra
It’s remarkable how teaching ethnic studies has been characterized without any criticism as “leftist.” Why is teaching the history of people—who are often in the class & who are not of Western European origin—left??
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
How Politics Is Changing the Way History Is Taught
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:36 PM
It’s remarkable how teaching ethnic studies has been characterized without any criticism as “leftist.” Why is teaching the history of people—who are often in the class & who are not of Western European origin—left??
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
"At stake were families, homes, land, possessions and above all, a displacement from the rhythms and patterns of migrant life and a sense of dignity." At @scroll.in, @kalramnath.bsky.social shares her work on decolonization and the subsequent question of "who belongs" in newly independent nations.
Forgotten migrants, unfinished decolonisation: Why Kalyani Ramnath writes about citizenship history
Ramnath’s book ‘Boats in a Storm’ centres on the legal struggles of migrants to retain their traditional rhythms and patterns of life.
scroll.in
October 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
"At stake were families, homes, land, possessions and above all, a displacement from the rhythms and patterns of migrant life and a sense of dignity." At @scroll.in, @kalramnath.bsky.social shares her work on decolonization and the subsequent question of "who belongs" in newly independent nations.
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Ilyas Chattha's *Citizens to Traitors: Bengali Internment in Pakistan, 1971-1974* (Cambridge UP, 2025) is one the most important books for contemporary subcontinental history in the last 15 years.
October 23, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Ilyas Chattha's *Citizens to Traitors: Bengali Internment in Pakistan, 1971-1974* (Cambridge UP, 2025) is one the most important books for contemporary subcontinental history in the last 15 years.
Reposted by Durba Mitra
The clips and conversations I’m hearing about the SNAP (food stamp) cuts should be above the fold everywhere. It’s a scary time for a lot of people.
Families are already hanging by a thread, but the sad truth is it’s about to get a lot worse when SNAP benefits don’t go out in November.
It’s time to find our local food banks and help out with donations and volunteer hours if you are able.
It’s time to find our local food banks and help out with donations and volunteer hours if you are able.
October 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The clips and conversations I’m hearing about the SNAP (food stamp) cuts should be above the fold everywhere. It’s a scary time for a lot of people.
Reposted by Durba Mitra
India's denial of entry to Prof Francesca Orsini is another marker in the grave threats to academic freedom globally.
Globally Renowned Scholar of Hindi Deported from Delhi Airport Despite Valid Visa
Francesa Orsini is perhaps the fourth foreign scholar with a valid visa to be denied entry in recent years.
thewire.in
October 21, 2025 at 1:00 AM
India's denial of entry to Prof Francesca Orsini is another marker in the grave threats to academic freedom globally.
On November 7th, I will be speaking about my new book, The Future That Was, at the University of Toronto at 10 am, followed by a lecture by @makdisi.bsky.social
munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/future...
munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/future...
October 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
On November 7th, I will be speaking about my new book, The Future That Was, at the University of Toronto at 10 am, followed by a lecture by @makdisi.bsky.social
munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/future...
munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/future...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
What if we just let Canvas stay down… forever?
October 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM
What if we just let Canvas stay down… forever?
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Here are the last two pages on D'Angelo from my book. Not trying to self-promote here, but @upmississippi.bsky.social and Craig Gill did a great job with this book. So if you found this writing about D'Angelo interesting, you'd probably like the rest of it. www.amazon.com/Same-Old-Son...
October 14, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Here are the last two pages on D'Angelo from my book. Not trying to self-promote here, but @upmississippi.bsky.social and Craig Gill did a great job with this book. So if you found this writing about D'Angelo interesting, you'd probably like the rest of it. www.amazon.com/Same-Old-Son...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
I wrote 6 pages on D'Angelo for my book, and I titled its last chapter after a line from his song "Back to the Future." To my ears, he was one of the most important artists, musically and politically, of the past 30 years.
October 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I wrote 6 pages on D'Angelo for my book, and I titled its last chapter after a line from his song "Back to the Future." To my ears, he was one of the most important artists, musically and politically, of the past 30 years.
so much more discourse about the compliance of Columbia, but the “agreements” of Penn & Brown set a dangerous precedent w relatively little push back, despite the fact that they ended free inquiry by legally mandating binary gender as an intellectual and spatial paradigm for university compliance
“The university is under attack because gender studies is under attack, and if universities don’t stand up to this infringement on academic freedom now, it is not just gender studies that will be lost, but all free and open inquiry.”
— Laurie Essig, in a new post for AAUP’s Academe Blog
— Laurie Essig, in a new post for AAUP’s Academe Blog
October 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
so much more discourse about the compliance of Columbia, but the “agreements” of Penn & Brown set a dangerous precedent w relatively little push back, despite the fact that they ended free inquiry by legally mandating binary gender as an intellectual and spatial paradigm for university compliance
Reposted by Durba Mitra
“The university is under attack because gender studies is under attack, and if universities don’t stand up to this infringement on academic freedom now, it is not just gender studies that will be lost, but all free and open inquiry.”
— Laurie Essig, in a new post for AAUP’s Academe Blog
— Laurie Essig, in a new post for AAUP’s Academe Blog
October 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
“The university is under attack because gender studies is under attack, and if universities don’t stand up to this infringement on academic freedom now, it is not just gender studies that will be lost, but all free and open inquiry.”
— Laurie Essig, in a new post for AAUP’s Academe Blog
— Laurie Essig, in a new post for AAUP’s Academe Blog
Reposted by Durba Mitra
D’Angelo was one of the most widely revered artists of the past 30 years.
He began his career as a songwriter for other artists, but quickly asserted himself as a solo star with his 1995 debut 'Brown Sugar.'
More: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
He began his career as a songwriter for other artists, but quickly asserted himself as a solo star with his 1995 debut 'Brown Sugar.'
More: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
October 14, 2025 at 4:34 PM
D’Angelo was one of the most widely revered artists of the past 30 years.
He began his career as a songwriter for other artists, but quickly asserted himself as a solo star with his 1995 debut 'Brown Sugar.'
More: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
He began his career as a songwriter for other artists, but quickly asserted himself as a solo star with his 1995 debut 'Brown Sugar.'
More: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
Tomorrow is the official publication date for “Essential Poems” by Pat Parker! I feel incredibly lucky to be celebrating the release in an event hosted by Sinister Wisdom featuring Cheryl Clarke, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, and Alexis Bard Johnson. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
October 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Tomorrow is the official publication date for “Essential Poems” by Pat Parker! I feel incredibly lucky to be celebrating the release in an event hosted by Sinister Wisdom featuring Cheryl Clarke, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, and Alexis Bard Johnson. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Durba Mitra
"The University of Texas System is auditing gender studies courses in response to [new laws] which expand university control over curriculum & define gender in binary terms. Faculty report being told to avoid discussing gender identity and homosexuality..."
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/09/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/09/t...
Some Texas community colleges remove course materials amid broader push to limit gender identity discussions
At least two community colleges, Alvin and Blinn, are also considering what they can and can’t teach to high schoolers enrolled in their fast-growing dual credit courses.
www.texastribune.org
October 14, 2025 at 2:37 AM
"The University of Texas System is auditing gender studies courses in response to [new laws] which expand university control over curriculum & define gender in binary terms. Faculty report being told to avoid discussing gender identity and homosexuality..."
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/09/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/09/t...