Dr. Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar Joins QAI for First Expressions Art & Culture Talk

On 18 July 2018, the Qatar-America Institute hosted Qatar-based author Dr. Mohana Rajakumar for the Institute’s inaugural Expressions Art & Culture Talk Series. This program aims to amplify American voices whose creative works are inspired by their experience with Qatar. Throughout the year, QAI will host filmmakers, art curators, authors, chefs, singers, painters and many others to discuss the impact Qatar had on their work, while sharing their stories of living in or traveling to Qatar.

Dr. Rajakumar, a South-Asian who grew up in America and currently resides in Qatar, is a professor at the VCUarts Qatar campus in Doha and is the author of various books in the romance, crime and academic genre. She claims that Qatar feels like home because, “it is like America, it’s a melting pot because there are people from everywhere.”

The highlights of her presentation included her research on Qatari culture for her books, including the role of the majlis in Qatari society, life in Qatar and the importance of global literature.

The full video of her presentation and Q&A can be found below:

Expressions Artist Talk: “Pearls of the Past” with Dr. Mohana Rajakumar: