Monthly SALTA Book Club

Hope you are enjoying the (hopefully) slower pace of the summer semester.

We’re excited to invite you to SALTA’s inaugural Book Club initiative, led by Dr. Kusum Knapczyk. The SALTA Book Club is a space for readers, thinkers, and lovers of language to come together and celebrate the voices shaping contemporary South Asian literature. Each month, we will explore the work of one remarkable writer.

We begin in August with the evocative and powerful storytelling of Pratyaksha. Details for the first meeting are available in the attached flyer.

Book Club dates for the fall semester are given below: 

  • Sunday, August 17, 2025, 12–1 PM Eastern Time 
  • Sunday, September 21, 2025, 12–1 PM Eastern Time
  • Sunday, October 19, 2025, 12–1 PM Eastern Time
  • Sunday, November 9, 2025, 12–1 PM Eastern Time
  • Sunday, December 7, 2025, 12–1 PM Eastern Time

Kindly register using the Google form by August 15, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST to receive the meeting link.

We look forward to reading and reflecting with you! 

Monthly SALTA Book Club – August 2025 Session: Writer Pratyaksha

We are delighted to welcome you to the very first session of our Monthly SALTA Book Club, a space for readers, thinkers, and lovers of language to come together and celebrate the voices shaping contemporary South Asian literature. Each month, we will explore the work of one remarkable writer. For August, we begin with the evocative and powerful storytelling of Pratyaksha.

Her stories are tender, layered, and unafraid to explore the silences between words—touching on memory, tribal life, identity, gender, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) struggles of everyday life, including the complexities of office culture and corruption.

Session Details
This will be a one-hour online meeting held on Zoom.
Date and Time: Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM EST
Led by: Dr. Kusum Knapczyk
Language: Hindi (with English support if needed)
Registration Deadline: Please sign up by August 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM EST to receive the Zoom link.

About the Writer
Pratyaksha is a leading voice in contemporary Hindi literature. Her work spans short stories, novels, and essays, and is known for its poetic language, psychological insight, and emotional honesty. She often writes about memory, gender, tribal life, and the inner lives of women navigating complex social realities.

She has received several prestigious literary awards, including:

  • हंस कथा सम्मान
  • पहल सम्मान
  • कथाक्रम सम्मान
  • अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय इन्दु शर्मा कथा सम्मान
  • राजस्थान पत्रिका का जनकवि सम्मान
  • इंडो-नॉर्वेजियन सम्मान
  • सोनभद्र कथा सम्मान
  • कृष्ण बलदेव वैद फेलोशिप
  • संगम हाउस राइटर इन रेजीडेंसी
  • वनमाली विशिष्ट कथा सम्मान

Suggested Readings for August
We encourage you to read the following stories before the session. These are available online and offer a beautiful entry point into Pratyaksha’s world:

From NYU Virtual Hindi (retrieved July 10, 2025):

From Samalochan (retrieved July 10, 2025):

From Hindi Samay (retrieved July 10, 2025):

Session Flow

  • Welcome and opening remarks (5 minutes)
  • Introduction to Pratyaksha’s life and work (5 minutes)
  • A short reading by one of the participants (10 minutes)
  • Group discussion (30 minutes)
    • Themes, characters, language, symbolism
  • Reflections and Q&A (10 minutes)
  • Closing and preview of our next featured author: Mamta Kalia (5 minutes)

Job Opportunity: Lecturer in Hindi-Urdu at UNC Chapel Hill

Dear SALTA Members, 

The Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is hiring a Lecturer in Hindi-Urdu for the 2025–26 academic year. This is a full-time, one-year, nonrenewable position with a salary of $54,000. The role involves teaching three language courses per semester (elementary to intermediate), with an option for remote teaching within the U.S.

Deadline to apply: April 23, 2025
Start Date: July 1, 2025

Applicants must have at least a Master’s in Hindi/Urdu or a related field, with demonstrated experience and proficiency in teaching Hindi/Urdu at the university level.

For more information and to apply, please visit: [https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/3332893/lecturer/]

Ast Inst/Inst/Ast Prof Fixed Term-LCTL

Working/Functional Title

Ast Inst/Inst/Ast Prof – Fixed Term-LCTL

Position Summary

The Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) and the Indian and South Asian (ISA)Programs at Michigan State University are currently establishing a pool of fixed term instructors. These positions will be filled per course/per semester, on an as-needed basis. Applicants in this pool are reviewed when the department has an immediate need to fill a vacancy.

Duties: responsibilities include working closely with the LCTL or ISA coordinators to teach one to three courses in the LCTL or ISA, attending training meetings and biweekly progress meetings. Instructors will also be evaluated by the LCTL or ISA Teaching Coordinator.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree for Ast. Instructor rank,
  • Master’s degree for Instructor rank,
  • Doctorate for Ast Professor rank,
  • Native or near-native literate speaker of a Less Commonly Taught Language, including, but not limited to: Bengali, Hindi, Indonesian, Khmer, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, and Uzbek.

Find more information at https://careers.msu.edu/jobs/ast-inst-inst-ast-prof-fixed-term-lctl-east-lansing-michigan-united-states

Urdu Job Announcement

The Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies at the University
of California, Berkeley invites applications for a full-time lecturer
in the Urdu language program for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
semesters. This appointment is extendable, pending a departmental
review. Responsibilities include teaching 5 sections of Urdu over the
course of the year (2 Beginning, 2 Intermediate, 1 Advanced), holding
office hours, assigning grades, interacting with students outside of
class time via email and campus web-based course resources, and
assisting with Urdu-related programming on campus.

The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree (MA or higher) and be
fluent in English. Experience and demonstrated excellence in teaching
at the college level in the US is also preferred.

Initial Review of Applications: February 15, 2025

Deadline to Apply: March 1, 2025

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

* Curriculum Vitae/Resume
* Cover Letter (please indicate your interest in the Urdu lecturer
position and qualifications)
* Statement of Teaching
* Sample syllabi (for Introductory Urdu and Intermediate Urdu)
* Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion
(visit this page for more for information and guidelines):
https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhr.berkeley.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdiversity_statements_for_applicants.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cfauzia%40princeton.edu%7C8413d2776a4f475dc60808dd2e911d4b%7C2ff601167431425db5af077d7791bda4%7C0%7C0%7C638717923135350774%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7CqfpOdE8N7owAS1mpyWGnHZTjYQ0nSsToLDmg7jxdE%3D&reserved=0

Reference requirements:

*2 required; 2 optional (4 in total). Only contact information.

Further details about this position, how to apply, and working at UC
Berkeley can be found at the following link:

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faprecruit.berkeley.edu%2FJPF04633&data=05%7C02%7Cfauzia%40princeton.edu%7C8413d2776a4f475dc60808dd2e911d4b%7C2ff601167431425db5af077d7791bda4%7C0%7C0%7C638717923135378174%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hFyxch%2BJWj44YmHWpPc%2BgZivyvAQBynpUYs%2Fj6zNhPQ%3D&reserved=0

The University of California, Berkeley is an AA/EEO employer.
For help, contact: ealc_gbs_ap@berkeley.edu

SALTA CONFERENCE 2025

2025 Conference Call for Proposals

The South Asian Language Teachers Association (SALTA) is pleased to announce its two-day online international conference, which will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 9th-10th 2025. 

This year’s conference theme is “Engaging Students Through Pedagogical Innovations in South Asian Language Learning.” Educators continually strive to discover innovative ways to inspire and engage our students. This year’s theme provides an exciting opportunity to share our creative methods and learn from one another’s experiences. While we are especially interested in groundbreaking action research, and teaching approaches in technology, literature, games, and realia, the possibilities are endless!

Here is the form to complete your abstract and introduction.

https://forms.gle/Y2jJwsCafN4kiiEd8

SALTA solicits proposals for panels, individual presentations, and workshops on relevant topics related to the above theme. Each session will be 90 minutes long with 3 panelists/presenters; individual presentations will be 20 minutes long. A proposal should include the name(s) of presenters/panelists and a short description (200-300 words) of your proposed panel/presentation. Proposals and presentations for the main sessions should be in English; additional panels and workshops in other languages may be arranged. If proposing a panel, please include a brief abstract of the panel (approximately 100 words) in addition to the individual paper abstracts. Proposals and panels will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Conference registration is free for SALTA members, $35 for professionals, and $25 for students. Teachers of less-commonly taught South Asian languages are especially encouraged to apply.

Job Announcement

Assistant Professor – Telugu Literature, Cultural Studies, or Film and Media Studies

University of Washington: Academic Personnel: College of Arts and Sciences: HUMANITIES DIVISION: Asian Languages & Literature

Location

Seattle, WA

Open Date

Sep 18, 2024

Deadline

Nov 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description

The Department of Asian Languages and Literature, University of Washington, Seattle, invites applications for the new Hanuma and Anuradha Kodavalla Endowed Chair in Telugu. This is an Assistant Professor position with a teaching and research emphasis in Telugu literature, cultural studies, or film and media studies, beginning Autumn 2025.

The successful candidate is expected to develop a record of high-quality publications, to provide high-quality teaching and mentoring at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to support the department’s dedication to the goal of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.The holder of the Endowed Chair will have the opportunity to build one of just a handful of programs in Telugu Studies in North America.

The University of Washington has a long history of South Asian studies and an excellent library collection for South Asian languages. In addition, Seattle and Washington state are home to large and growing South Asian immigrant and heritage communities. The successful applicant will join a vibrant campus community of students and scholars of South Asian studies. The successful applicant will build connections within the department and across campus, and attract students to our vital and growing South Asian program and community. The applicant will work collaboratively with the South Asian program and relevant groups in the department, university, and community.

This is a tenure-track, full-time appointment (9-month service period), with a 4- or 5-course teaching load. University of Washington faculty engage in teaching, research, and service.

Washington State Law requires that this ad list a binding salary range. The base salary range for this position will be $9,000 – $11,200  per month on a 9-month basis ($81,000 – $100,800 annually), commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.

Qualifications

Applicants are expected to have a high level of proficiency in Telugu, and to engage with Telugu-language primary and secondary materials in their research. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or foreign equivalent by the start of the appointment, with a specialization in Telugu literature, cultural studies, or film and media studies, in one of the following fields: Art History, Area Studies, Cinema/Media Studies, Communications, Comparative Literature, Cultural Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Religion, Sociocultural Anthropology, or Visual Studies, or another relevant field.

Application Instructions

To apply, submit:

  • a cover letter that addresses research, teaching, evidence of collaboration, and leadership experience
  • curriculum vitae, including names and contact information for 3 recommenders
  • an article- or chapter-length writing sample
  • One- to two-page statement of research interests
  • One-page statement of teaching philosophy
  • One sample syllabus
  • One- to two-page page diversity statement

The diversity (DEI) statement is an opportunity for applicants to highlight their leadership and other prior experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings, as well as to describe specific ways applicants would help advance the department’s commitments to DEI and anti-racism.

If you have questions about the position, the status of the opening, or disability accommodations, please contact Professor Ted Mack at tmack@uw.edu. Priority will be given to applications received by the deadline of November 15. Applications must be submitted electronically to http://apply.interfolio.com/155050.

Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio’s Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Apply Now

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Benefits Information

A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.

Commitment to Diversity 

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).

Privacy Notice

Review the University of Washington Privacy Notice for Demographic Data of Job Applicants and University Personnelto learn how your demographic data are protected, when the data may be used, and your rights.

Disability Services

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Job Announcement

Senior Lecturer in Hindi-Urdu at Vanderbilt University, Nashville

Description

The Asian Studies Department at Vanderbilt University seeks to make an appointment in Hindi-Urdu language instruction. The rank is Senior Lecturer, with initial appointment of three years and possibility of renewal, conditional upon performance review and institutional need.

Qualifications

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must possess a Ph.D. degree, awarded no later than August 1, 2025, in their area of study and have teaching experience. The successful applicant will have training in modern language pedagogy and the ability to teach students in both Devanagari and Nastaliq scripts. Applicants must also possess strong English language skills. Applicants with proficiency in a second South Asian language or related language (e.g., Persian) who are able to support undergraduate and graduate research are strongly desired. 

The standard course load is three courses per term. Applicants must be able to teach at all levels of Hindi and Urdu. The Hindi-Urdu Lecturer may also have the opportunity to offer courses in literature or other areas of expertise in coordination with other Hindi-Urdu faculty, South Asian Studies faculty, and the Asian Studies Department chair.

Application Instructions

Review of completed application files will begin on 6 December 2024 and will remain open until the position is successfully filled.

A cover letter, curriculum vitae, a teaching statement, teaching evaluations, a website link with a teaching demonstration video, and transcripts, as well as three confidential letters of reference, should be uploaded to Interfolio here:  http://apply.interfolio.com/156646 . 

सिंगापुर में पहला अंतरराष्ट्रीय क्षेत्रीय हिन्दी सम्मेलन: हिन्दी विकास की अभिनव दिशाएँ



Hindi in Southeast Asia – Innovative Directions of Development

सिंगापुर (1-09-2024): भारतीय उच्चायोग सिंगापुर एवं नेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ़ सिंगापुर के सह-आयोजन में 13-15 सितंबर को सिंगापुर में प्रथम अंतरराष्ट्रीय क्षेत्रीय हिन्दी सम्मेलन आयोजित किया जा रहा है। इसका आयोजन नेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ़ सिंगापुर के सभागार में होगा।

इस सम्मेलन का मुख्य विषय है–दक्षिण पूर्व एशिया में हिन्दी – विकास की अभिनव दिशाएँ। इसके अतिरिक्त अन्य विषयों में ‘हिंदी शिक्षण की आधुनिक पद्धतियाँ’, ‘हिंदी व्याकरण का भाषा शिक्षण में अनुप्रयोग और शिक्षण सामग्री’, ‘शिक्षक प्रशिक्षण और नवीनीकरण’, ‘पड़ोसी देशों में हिंदी शिक्षण की स्थिति और संभावनाएँ’, ‘हिंदी सीखने में छात्रों के सामने आने वाली चुनौतियाँ और समस्याएँ’, ‘कृत्रिम मेधा – संभावनाएँ और चुनौतियाँ’, ‘हिंदी शिक्षण में AI का उपयोग’, ‘वेब-आधारित संसाधन’, ‘प्रवासी साहित्य – भविष्य की दिशाएँ’, ‘एशियाई हिंदी संस्थानों के बीच सहयोग’, ‘अंतरभाषी अनुवाद’, ‘विरासत की भाषा, विदेशी भाषा, द्वितीय भाषा अधिग्रहण’ सम्मिलित हैं।

सेंटर फॉर लैंग्वेज स्टडीज़, नेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ सिंगापुर की हिन्दी व तमिल भाषा विभाग प्रमुख डॉ. संध्या सिंह ने बताया, “यह सम्मेलन सिंगापुर में आयोजित होने वाला प्रथम अंतरराष्ट्रीय क्षेत्रीय हिन्दी सम्मेलन है। इस विशेष सम्मेलन में दक्षिण पूर्व एशिया के अतिरिक्त भारत, ब्रिटेन इत्यादि कई देशों के भाषाविद्, शिक्षक एवं साहित्यकार भाग ले रहे हैं।”

हिन्दी सम्मेलन के बारे में सभी सूचनाएँ सम्मेलन की वेबसाइट (https://singaporehindisammelan.com) पर उपलब्ध हैं।

वेबसाइट पर पंजीकरण के पश्चात नेशनल यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ सिंगापुर से एक ईमेल जारी किया जाएगा जिसमें सहभागियों को विश्वविद्यालय परिसर में पहुँचने और सम्मेलन में सहभागिता की जानकारी दी जाएगी।

International conference at the University of Lisbon.

Centro de Linguística da Universidade de Lisboa em colaboração com o Centro de Estudos Indianos || भारतीय अध्ययन केंद्र , India in Portugal (Embassy of India, Lisbon) organiza um colóquio internacional sobre o ensino-aprendizagem do hindi no contexto multilingual e multicultural. Nos dias 28 e 29 de Novembro de 2024. Para mais informações, cliquem https://tinyurl.com/4m9xs8vj#hindi#HindiTeaching#estudosindianos#indianstudies

लिस्बन विश्वविद्यालय का भाषा-विज्ञान शोध केंद्र भारतीय अध्ययन केंद्र और लिस्बन स्थित भारतीय दूतावास के सहयोग से “बहु भाषीय और बहु सांस्कृतिक संदर्भों में हिंदी शिक्षण” पर २८ और २९ नवम्बर २०२४ को अंतरराष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन आयोजित कर रहा है। कृपया अपने संस्थानों और संपर्कों में साझा करें। कृपया ध्यान दें कि सम्मेलन प्रतिभागियों को आवास और भोजन की सुविधाएँ प्रदान नहीं कर पाएगा और ये पूरी तरह से प्रतिभागियों की जिम्मेदारी होंगी। ज्यादा जानकारी के लिए, देखें: https://tinyurl.com/4m9xs8vj

The Center for Linguistics of the University of Lisbon in collaboration with the Center for Indian Studies and with the Embassy of India in Lisbon is organising an international conference on the 28th and 29th of November 2024.on “Teaching of Hindi in a multilingual and multicultural context.” More information on https://tinyurl.com/4m9xs8vj

Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros de Portugal

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

मंत्रिमंडल सचिवालय राजभाषा विभाग

Iccr New Delhi

Universidade de Lisboa

FLUL – Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa

SALTA Survey

Dear SALTA members,

I hope you have had a wonderful summer. As we head into the new academic year, we at South Asian Language Teachers Association (SALTA) are excited to invite you to participate in our short survey designed to help shape the professional development offerings at SALTA for the year ahead. Your feedback is invaluable in making sure that our programming aligns with your needs and interests.

The survey will ask about your preferences for session topics, formats, timing, and other aspects of our yearlong professional development activities. We also welcome your suggestions for new topics and ideas that can enhance our learning community.

Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/G7AW3KEnu35FYV6V9 . We ask that you complete it no later than September 1, 2024.  If you have any questions about the survey, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. 

Wishing you all the best for the new academic year!

Best,

Divya (on behalf of SALTA board)

Divya Chaudhry, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Principal Senior Lecturer in Hindi-Urdu

Director of Research, South Asian Language Teacher Association (SALTA)

Address: Department of Asian Studies | # 237 Buttrick Hall | Vanderbilt University

2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37235-1806 

Email: divya.chaudhry@Vanderbilt.Edu