Of Borders and Travellers

Introduction to English Literature: Some Reflections

This autumn 2016, the first semester of the Masters’ in English Literature at NTNU focuses on travel and immigration with the title ‘Of Borders and Travellers’.

Photo: Adressa.no

The course aims to look at the experience of immigrants, tourists, prisoners, trespassers and other migration of people and things from a literary perspective.

Hanna Musiol, our lecturer, gave a remarkable presentation introducing the course which created an inspiring image of the whole first term in my mind. During the lecture she kept us engaged by talking in such a way that each and every single word was delivered with enthusiasm and as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I would say it was one of best lectures I have ever attended.

We will be challenged to learn how to be a good reader and to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the issues raised to ensure productive reflection/feedback on the texts we go through.

The concept of ‘Borders and Travellers’ is wider than immigration or even physical movements from any parts of the world to another. It also includes the broader mobility of anything, such as books, words, and thoughts or history and culture, which are the most important values that shape our lives.

By the first introductory lecture, I found myself very much connected to the extraordinary subject chosen for our course. I can offer many cultural and historical reasons to leave the homeland, including my own personal life story as an immigrant.

Three years ago, I myself crossed several borders to find shelter and protection. I have read the literature of my language and country, about where Afghanistan stands on immigration, to give me illustrious ideas for this academic year ahead.

Maulana Rumi, (1207) the greatest Persian poet and a Sufi mystic who has worldwide recognition, emigrated from his birthplace Balkh in Afghanistan to live in Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria and finally in Turkey. Here, he spent 50 years and wrote the Masnavi, a masterpiece of Sufi poetry also known as ‘the Koran in Persian’.

I´ve also read Nasir Khusraw (1004-1088), another Persian poet, philosopher, and traveller, who wrote of his seven-year-journey through the Islamic world. This piece of travel literature was called ‘Safarnama’meaning the book of travels.

Indeed, Safarnama is the first of its kind—a book that contains facts and information about the Islamic world in the 11^th century and which remains an important part of Persian literature text even today.

Returning to our impending course, I want to add that in addition to the academic environment of the university, the diversity of students on this course offers the best possible exchange of thoughts and learning opportunities.

This first day was truly inspiring and our schedule shows that we shall have great seminars and conferences as well as many fascinating books to read. I am looking forward to getting started.