Discover India : Cultural Traditions and Social Transformations
Period of Study: 3 weeks
Introduction
With a population of over 1.2 billion, India, the world's largest democracy, is ranked today as the fourth
largest economy in the world. What are the factors driving this process? How is it impacting the Indian
socio-economic fabric? Can equity and equality be ensured? Are we achieving better empowerment of
women? Are new spaces being opened up for marginalised communities and individuals?
Contradictions and India go hand in hand – rapid economic progress, society rooted in ancient
traditions, rising poverty and affluence, women leaders and marginalized women – exist and flourish
side by side on the Indian landscape. The vast diversity of people, language and culture defy simplistic
explanations and challenge our abilities to understand societies and their progress.
Interdisciplinary in nature, this course will give you unique opportunities to learn from experts from
different fields – within the class room, talking to field practitioners, interacting with local communities
and also through observations during travel to historic and cultural centers.
Topics Covered
1. The weaving of the Indian Social Fabric – caste and class influences in the modern nation, religious
roots, social mobility, assertion of identities and urban influences.
2. Engendering Voice – gender roles and biases, women's rights, social values and traditions, changing
face of opportunities for women in India.
3. Emerging Global Contender – impact of rapid development and economic change, rural – urban
transitions, challenges across sectors such as education, health, infrastructure. A peek into the business
world through a corporate visit.
4. Working for Social Change – visits to local non-profit agencies working in the fields of women's
rights, child rights, LGBT, mentally challenged and disabled people, HIV/AIDS, entrepreneurship and
other socio-economic issues.
5. Understanding History – visits to historic and heritage sites such as Mahabalipuram, Madurai, Delhi,
Agra.
6. Being in the thick of things – three day service learning opportunity with a local non-profit in
Chennai.
Locations
Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Thanjavur, Madurai, Kodaikanal, Delhi, Agra.
Student Learning Outcomes
Academic: A better understanding of the functioning of Indian society, transformations taking place,
local and global identity of India as a nation.
Social Understanding: Comparative analysis of specific social issues within the global framework of
developed and developing nations.
Cultural Horizons: Inquiry through a cultural lens leading to a sense of place and history in the modern
world.
Course Assessment
The course will be assessed on a total of 100 marks. Assessment will take into consideration the
student's understanding of the subject, critical analysis, participation in discussions, clarity of
presentation and timely submission.
Daily Reflective Journal – 40%
Photo Essay / Short video – 30%
Short paper – 20%
Course Participation – 10%
Daily Reflections
Each day will present learning opportunities, challenges and good times. So do pull out your thoughts
from this overall interesting and chaotic Indian living for this exercise.
The key aspects that I like to see in a reflection piece is the understanding, questions, conflicts and
insights – academic and personal – that you have had. It is about what you saw, read, heard or
discussed and how these have influenced your attitudes and understanding of the subject / location.
The assessment will be based on clarity of thought, critical insights, analysis of issues, implications of
these experiences to you both personally and professionally. Do not fall into the trap of mere
comparisons of west vs east for every piece – that can be a dangerous path to go down as many
situations are much more complex than they seem at first glance. Use at least one or two incidents /
observations for each submission.
Photo Essay / Short Video
As trigger happy travellers, we will have a million pictures. Put these together to tell your story of what
this journey has meant to you.
Short Paper
A selection of essay topics will be provided at the beginning of the course. Use your various lectures,
interactions, readings, discussions, observations and personal thoughts to analyze these from as many
angles as possible. Clarity in presentation of ideas and arguments substantiated through examples are
essential. Essay length should be at least 2000 words (not more than 2500) and be preceded by an
abstract of not more than 200 words. Overall attention to language and organization of the paper will be
noted. An India focus is required, however you can use examples from around the world to substantiate
your argument.
Selected Readings from
India After independence, 1947- 2000
Bipan Chandra, Aditya Mukherjee, Mridula Mukherjee
Penguin Books, 1999
India after Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy
Ramachandra Guha, Harper Collins, 2007
The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity
Author: Amartya Sen
Publisher: Penguin (2006)