South Asia's view of Al Qaida will be subject of Indian journalist's lecture

One of India's most prominent journalists will discuss South Asia's view of terrorism in the first lecture of the new Colloquium Series on Globalization and Culture, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13th at 7 p.m. in the Holman Room of Mary Lyon Hall.

Kumar Ketkar, chief editor of the Marathi language daily newspaper Loksatta and a journalist more with than three decades' experience covering international events, will present a lecture entitled, ''A South Asian Perspective of Al Qaida.'' During his visit to campus, he will also be speaking to sociology and and political science classes.

Mr. Ketkar was formerly a senior political columnist for The Times of India. He has served as a special correspondent, resident editor and editor of the Economic Times, of the Economic Times, and as editor of the Maharashtra Times. He also was a recipient of Padmashree, the highest national award of the government of India.

In his 30-year career as a journalist, Mr. Ketkar covered four US presidential elections, two British elections, served as a reporter from Bejing, Shanghai and Guongdong covering the economic transformation of China. He also covered Hong Kong's reintegration with the Mainland China (from Hong Kong), collapse of the Soviet Union (from Moscow), and the unification of Germany.

Mr. Ketkar was invited by Israel for a lecture assignment during Israel's 50th anniversary and served as a delegate at the NGO Peace Conference in Geneva. He has been a visiting lecturer at the University of Mumbai and the University of Pune, both in India, and at Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey.