University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine 2017 Summer Libraries Magazine | Page 24
Emergency
Research
By Dr. Ayelet Ben-Yishai
Friends of UW–Madison
Libraries Visiting Scholar
O
ctober 2016 was a heady month in the
United States. The presidential elections,
perhaps the most bizarre in a long while, were
reaching their disturbing peak while basic
norms of public discourse and cultural debate
seemed to be disintegrating. But I had come
from Israel to Madison for another, ostensibly
unrelated, reason—to conduct my research
on the cultural history of Indira Gandhi’s
Emergency rule in 1970s India. Emergency
Fictions, my book-in-progress, combines a
study of fiction, journalism, memoir, and
scholarship—primary materials meticulously
archived in UW–Madison’s Memorial Library
—to establish the Emergency as an important
interpretative si te. It was, I claim, an
exceptionally violent episode that functioned
as a catalyst for a long-term renegotiation of
modern Indian polity and culture.
As the election discourse outside grew
more and more heated and less and less
nuanced, I delved into the archive to
contemplate the various ways a political and
cultural elite (in another time and place)
were forced to reinvent the ways in which
information and ideas were articulated and
disseminated as elections in India were
revoked by Gandhi and severe censorship
imposed. My survey of English-language
periodicals published during and right after
the Emergency revealed diverse responses.
Some resisted at the time, shutting down
or going underground
and abroad. Others
succumbed to the
official dictates of
Gandhi and her coterie.
But even mainstream
media, ostensibly
complying with the
censorship regulations, allowed for a more
complex narrative to emerge. One of my most
startling discoveries was that the first issue of
the popular English-language news magazine
India Today had its origins in the Emergency
with the first issue published in December
1975, six months after the Emergency was
declared. The cover story—as were many
others in this first issue—was titled, “The
Emergency: Now You See it, Now You Don’t.”
Indeed, a close reading of the magazine
revealed a continuous tension between
marketing the Emergency, reporting on it, and
critiquing it.
Most fortuitously, I was able to present
my initial findings at UW–Madison’s Annual
Conference on South Asia, where I received
important feedback and had the opportunity
to exchange ideas with others working on
adjacent projects. I returned home with
a treasure trove of archival material that
will anchor my entire book manuscript.
Moreover, returning to the ever-increasing
authoritarianism, incitement, and curtailing
of dissent at home made the coincidence
of working on the Indian Emergency in the
month leading up to Donald Trump’s election
as President of the United States ever more
poignant and meaningful. Indira Gandhi,
Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump—my
research on corruption and authoritarianism
in the discourse of the Emergency seems
more urgent and more relevant than ever.
Dr. Ayelet Ben-Yishai was a Friends of UW–Madison Libraries
Visiting Scholar in October 2016. She is a faculty member of the
Department of English Language and Literature at the University
of Haifa in Israel.
24 | LIBRARIES Summer 2017
Vice Provost for Libraries Giving Circle
T
he University of Wisconsin–Madison
Libraries are pleased to announce the
Vice Provost for Libraries Giving Circle!
This Giving Circle helps recognize
individuals, companies, and foundations that
have made the Libraries a cornerstone of their
giving. The Giving Circle also helps ensure
the financial vitality of the Libraries and will
help with costs associated with collections
access, and the sustainability of physical and
digital material. We want to provide a chance
for our supporters to learn more about the
priorities and opportunities of the Libraries.
The Libraries continue to be nimble
and proactive as changes occur in higher
education. With the addition of an ever-
shifting budget landscape, we more
frequently rely on our alumni and friends
for support. Our peers across the nation face
a similar situation. We are confident our
Badger community will continue to join us in
our efforts to move forward.
As our Friends grow, so do our supporters’
areas of giving interests. The creation of the
Giving Circle helps us share the wonderful
accomplishments of the Libraries and keep
our supporters informed of opportunities and
resources.
The Libraries Advancement Board, which
consists of individuals from across the
country with diverse interests, provided
its feedback and support for this plan. The
board was confident that the Library Giving
Circle would be embraced by our alumni and
community.
We recognize all gifts whether they
come in the form of volunteer time, in-kind
materials, or financial support. Each gift is
critical to the future of the UW–Madison
Libraries’ mission.
I hope that this new program encourages
alumni and community partners to become
active contributors to the Libraries. For our
long-time supporters, if you aren’t yet part of
the Libraries Giving Circle, please consider
connecting with us so you can learn more
about how to become a part of this new
program.
Thank you for your commitment to the
Libraries!
Edward Van Gemert
Vice Provost for Libraries and University
Librarian
Benefits Include:
• Annual letter from the Vice Provost for Libraries and University Librarian.
• Annual Luncheon of the UW – Madison Libraries Giving Circle.
• Go Big Read. We’ll mail you a copy of the annual selection of the campus
common reading program.
• Special Collections exhibit opening and reception invitations.
• Invitation to other Libraries special events.
• Donor(s) who have given $10,000 will have their names listed on the Donor
Wall in Memorial Library.
• Donations of $50,000 in support of Special Collections will also be
recognized in Special Collections, located in Memorial Library.
• The satisfaction of supporting the pursuit of reading and literacy, the
dissemination of knowledge, and the educational growth of future
generations.
Giving Circle Supporters:
• Annual gift of $1,000 or more
• Lifetime giving of $10,000 or more
• Planned gift or annuity plan with UW Foundation
• Lifetime in-kind gift of $25,000 or more
Planned Gift
If you wish to join by establishing a charitable gift annuity or through a
bequest please contact: Ben Strand, Development Director, 608-308-5405, or
[email protected].
University of Wisconsin–Madison | 25