Sultana's Dream: Refugees and Queen #20

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Chitra Ganesh's print portfolio for Sultana's Dream were made in 2018 as monochromatic linocuts on tan paper. There are 27 pieces that total the collection. Ganesh’s visuals series of prints illustrate Sultana's Dream, a 1905 Bengali feminist story written by Rokeya Sahkawat Hossain.

The story of Sultana’s Dream is centered in a female utopia called Ladyland, where women take up roles men traditionally have taken up. Within the utopia, the protagonist Sultana travels throughout the world to see women as inventors and scientists. In the utopia, the king of another area wants to go to war, but the queen of Ladyland prohibits violence and instead protects the refugees. The queen’s actions were a positive contradiction of the violent mindset of the king. 1 Sultana’s experience in Ladyland and the power of having women rule was what Chitra’s visuals represent.

Sultana's Dream, Refugee and Queen #20 is a compelling illustration that shows the Queen supporting various types of people. Each figure appears to be in fear as she holds them. The story of Sultana’s Dream written by Begum Rokeya which follows Chitra’s visuals tells the audience that the figures the queen is holding are political refugees.2 At the point where she rejected the king's interest to give up the refugees to his officials, the king declares war against the country.

When you take a look at Chitra Ganesh's print Refugee and Queen #20 from Sultana's Dream, what story is she trying to tell? Throughout Sultan’s Dream, Ganesh’s style includes symbols such as the moon, sun, and eyes. What parts of her style would you be able to locate in Refugee and Queen? Ganesh creates an engaging story of how powerful women like the queen protect those who cannot protect themselves from men, like the King who does everything through brutal force. Hence, why the King declares war against Ladyland. In Refugee and Queen #20 a common trend we identify with Ganesh’s work is the eyes behind the queen. What do you think the eyes may symbolize?

The queen’s power to protect symbolizes a world run by women is one where violence and sexism are non-existent. The world Ganesh visually presents is very telling because it is the opposite of the real world where women are belittled by men. Ganesh’s recent work is still relevant to Rokeya Sahkawat Hossein’s story and really shows the battle to confront the patriarchy is still ongoing.

Chitra Ganesh's interpretation of Rokeya’s story helps the viewer understand the past while incorporating current and future narratives. Ganesh’s portfolio Sultana’s Dream, including the print Refugee and Queen #20, is now a part of the Union College Permanent Collection.

- Maymunah Ahmed, (Class of 2023) Mandeville Gallery Student Docent

[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294118151_A_Contemplation_on_%27Sultana%27s_Dream%27
[2] https://umma.umich.edu/exhibitions/2020/oh-honey-a-queer-reading-of-the-collection/chitra-ganesh/sultanas-dream

Works Cited