Outline of Programs at Institutions in India
1. Jamia Milia Islamia, a university initially founded to overcome religious sectarianism in India.
Website at: http://jmi.ac.in/
Thursday, August 1 (our first day there): 2:30 – 5:30 pm.
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Introduction of WSSU faculty and Jamia faculty/staff.
Introduction to WSSU (short video, and some remarks about the NEH India project).
Introduction to Jamia: Jamia’s history, how its mission and program have changed
(Jamia history project).
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Presentation/discussion on “Affirmative Action and Management of Diversity in India.”
(Caste, religious diversity, secularism)
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Small group discussions with faculty in similar disciplines or areas of interest.
If possible, book vendors and purchase of books. Focus on books in local languages
that have been translated into English.
The meeting is being organized by Dr. Mohammad Asaruddin, professor of history. He is
associated with Dr. Afroz Taj and Professor John Caldwell from UNC-Chapel Hill who are
resource persons on our NEH seminar.
2. Lady Sri Ram College, a women’s college at the University of Delhi.
Website at: http://www.lsr.edu.in/
Saturday, August 3: 9 am-4 pm.
Tentative program:
9:00 to 10:00 - Brief introduction by LSR - its role in educating women: also programs of
volunteerism, and equity, etc.; A brief introduction to WSSU and its historical role in educating
African Americans and diverse populations.
10:00 to 10:30 - Coffee break
10:30 to 11:30 - Discussions on Indian Economics and Alternative Development Models with
Divya Misra and possibly Dr. Aseem Srivastava as the expert.
11:30 - 12:30 Discussions on Indian Political Process and the Right to Information Act. with
Ms. Anjali Bharadwaj(she is the outside expert) and Dr. Veena Ravi Kumar
LUNCH
2:00 - 3:00 A short film on Indian Feminism and a discussion on Social Service Schemes
with Dr. Smita Sahgal.
End with a short cultural program and tea.
3. August 2 or August 3 evening:
Afroz Taj and John Caldwell will be in Delhi at that time. They will meet us there, and they are
arranging an evening of kawwalis (Classical Sufi Islam style songs and music) at the
Nizammuddin shrine, a historically Muslim shrine in Delhi, followed by dinner at a Mughlai
restaurant like Karims. You know this will be a raucous evening!!!
4. Modi Institute of Technology and Science (MITS) in Sikar district, Rajasthan.
Website at: http://www.mitsuniversity.ac.in/
Tuesday, August 6
There will be a half day meeting covering introductions to each university, their “Study India”
program that they are interested in promoting as a site for WSSU students to go for study abroad,
discussions on collaborations in arts and sciences and management/computer science. The would
like us to visit visit the Mody School to show where the girls work on art and handicraft, and a
visit to the Tapovan, a meditation/spiritual center that they prefer very early morning or after dark
as it is nicely lighted and decorated. I have requested meetings with faculty in your areas of
interest. I am awaiting more information.
5. Wipro visit in Bangalore (Bengaluru)
Website at: http://www.wipro.com/about-wipro/
Thursday, August 8
Half day visit to the campus of information technology company Wipro made possible through
the connection with Mr. Jim Nanton, Vice President and Chief information Officer for
HanesBrands Inc.