College of Arts and Sciences Bloomington

Departmental E-mail
india@indiana.edu

Departmental URL
www.indiana.edu/~isp

Graduate Faculty
Program Information
Ph.D. Minor in India Studies
Cooperative Programs
Courses
Cross-Listed Courses

Graduate Faculty

Director
Gerald J. Larson, Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Indian Cultures and Civilizations (Religious Studies)

Professor
Lewis Rowell (Music)

Associate Professors
Purnima Bose* (English), David L. Haberman (Religious Studies), Jan Nattier (Religious Studies), Rakesh Solomon* (Theatre and Drama), Richard E. Stryker (Political Science)

Director of Graduate Studies
Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Indian Cultures and Civilizations Gerald J. Larson, Sycamore Hall 332, (812) 855-5798

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Program Information

The India Studies Program seeks to provide for the interdisciplinary study and critical analysis of the cultures and civilizations that have developed on the Indian subcontinent from ancient times to the present. The primary focus of the program is on present-day, or modern, India, but in order to understand modern India it is important to have some basic knowledge about the great periods in the history of India that have shaped modern Indian social reality (including the Hindu or Brahmanical, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, and modern Indo-Anglian periods). Moreover, to understand modern India it is also important to have a sophisticated and critical understanding of the arts, music, literature, drama, philosophy, religion, and sociocultural reality (sociological and anthropological structures) of the subcontinent.

In addition to providing an overall, comprehensive grasp of India as a world-class civilization(s), the program also allows for two areas of more specialized work, namely: (1) literary, performance (including theatre, drama, music, fine arts), and film studies; and (2) philosophical and religious studies.

The India Studies Program strongly encourages work in elementary, intermediate, and advanced Hindi and Sanskrit for Ph.D. minor students, and Ph.D. minor students are strongly urged to begin the study of the languages at the earliest possible opportunity. Students in the program should also consider the possibility of studying abroad in India and should consult with the Director of India Studies about this possibility.

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Ph.D. Minor in India Studies

12 credit hours, including advanced work in either of the two specialized areas of the program (excluding language courses in Hindi or Sanskrit). Three (3) of the 12 credits must be from I546 (Philosophies of India), which is designed as an introductory core seminar that provides an overview of the intellectual history of India's civilization(s). The remaining 9 credits may be taken from either of the two areas of specialization; specific courses as well as language requirements (if any) should be chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor. Finally, it should be noted that ordinarily only 3 credits from the student's major program may be counted towards the Ph.D. minor.

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Cooperative Programs

Students in the Ph.D. minor in India Studies are also encouraged to take advantage of programs in India Studies and South Asian Studies at participating institutions in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). Excellent work in the social sciences is available through the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Courses

I501 Elementary Sanskrit I (4 cr.) Introduction to Sanskrit, a classical language of ancient India. Basic grammatical structure and vocabulary in preparation for the reading of both secular and religious texts.

I502 Elementary Sanskrit II (4 cr.) Continuing introduction to Sanskrit. Basic grammatical structure and vocabulary in preparation for the reading of both secular and religious texts. Students will read a short epic Sanskrit piece.

I506 Beginning Hindi I (4 cr.) Introduction to the Hindi language through its writing system and basic grammar. Graded exercises and readings leading to mastery of grammatical structures and essential vocabulary. Development of reading and writing competence and simple conversations in contemporary Hindi. Classroom use of story books, tapes, and films in Hindi.

I507 Beginning Hindi II (4 cr.) Continuation of the first semester. Graded exercises and reading for mastery of grammatical structures and essential vocabulary. Composing short dialogues from the students' own environment. Reading, writing, and conversational skills are sharpened.

I508 Second-Year Hindi I (3 cr.) Focuses on reading such literature as mythology, folklore, and modern short stories and poetry, including several examples from Urdu literature. Students compose and perform their own dialogues based on the material read.

I509 Second-Year Hindi II (3 cr.) Promotes rapid reading skills and building vocabulary. Study of grammar is based on Hindi reading materials and includes regular grammar drills. Students sharpen composition skills by retelling stories from the reading material orally and in writing.

I546 Philosophies of India (3 cr.) Historical and critical-analytic survey of the major intellectual traditions of the cultures and civilizations of India. Attention to early philosophizing and the emergence of the classical schools in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. Attention also to contemporary thought in India, including critical theory and subaltern theorizing.

I561 Intermediate Sanskrit I (3 cr.)

I562 Intermediate Sanskrit II (3 cr.)

I570 Literature of India in Translation: Ancient and Classical (3 cr.) Survey of the ancient and classical Sanskrit literatures of India in translation, presented in cultural context.

I571 Medieval Devotional Literatures of India (in translation) (3 cr.) Survey of medieval Indian devotional literature with reference to the various cultural milieus in which it was produced and its impact on and importance to Indian cultures today.

I580 Women in South Asian Religious Traditions (3 cr.) A historical view of the officially sanctioned roles for women in several religious traditions in South Asia, and women's efforts to become agents and participants in the religious expressions of their own lives.

I597 Sanskrit Religious Literature (3 cr.) P: INST I501-I502 Elementary Sanskrit or consent of instructor. Arranged tutorial readings from selected Indian religious texts in the original Sanskrit representing a variety of styles, periods, and religious traditions; includes selections from Hindu scriptures, religious epics, commentaries, religious law, hymns, philosophical texts, and Buddhist literature. May be repeated once for credit when topics vary.

I605 Seminar on India Studies (3 cr.) Advanced research seminar on selected topics in India studies. Seminar may focus on specific texts, specific historical figures, basic themes, or issues in India studies.

I656 Graduate Readings in India Studies (1-6 cr.) R: reading knowledge of Sanskrit and Hindi. Selected and substantive topics investigated from ancient, medieval, and modern texts about the civilization of India. May be repeated when topic varies for a maximum of six credit hours.

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Cross-Listed Courses

English
L774 Topics in International English Literature (4 cr.)

Folklore
F600 Asian Folklore and Folk Music (3 cr.)

History
H630 Colloquium in British and British Imperial History (4 cr.)
H730 Seminar in British and British Imperial History (4 cr.)

Music
T560 Music Analysis (3 cr.) Topic: The Art Music of India

Religious Studies
R547 Meditation Traditions of India (3 cr.)
R551 Religions of South Asia (3 cr.)
R597 Sanskrit Religious Literature (3 cr.)
R603 Seminar in Comparative Mysticism (3 cr.)
R604 Seminar in Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion (3 cr.)
R605 Seminar on India Studies (3 cr.)
R650 The Hindu Tradition (3 cr.)
R651 South Asian Buddhism (3 cr.)
R656 Buddhism in Central Asia (3 cr.)
R658 Materials and Methods in Buddhist Studies (3 cr.)

Theatre
T468 Non-Western Theatre and Drama (3 cr.)

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