HIST323

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HIST323

Religion and Politics in India HIST323 SP

Spring 97 Availability (Last Updated on Thu Apr 17 05:00:17 EDT 1997 )

Section  Limit  Enrollment  Available
  01       14      0         14

Next Offered in 9798 SP

This seminar examines in detail the many and varied religious dimensions of politics in colonial and nationalist India. Of primary interest is the emergence of Hindu and Muslim politics leading up to Partition in 1947, as well as the politics of being Hindu or Muslim, either before or after that date. Two central questions for our consideration are, 1) what constitutes the nation and nationalism in India? and 2) how are those determined? The goal is to introduce students to a range of scholarship addressing these issues, and to thereby equip them (the students) to undertake a substantial research project. The big paper that results, based on primary sources and informed by secondary reflections, will form the basis for at least half of the grade in the course. The remainder of the grade will reflect the student's participation in and contribution to seminar discussion. There may, in addition, be a small paper at the outset, so as to assess areas of weakness and strength in writing and comprehension.

MAJOR READINGS

Readings will vary in length and style, and
will include cultural history, theoretical works on
nationalism, personal memoir, religious polemic, political
and social satire, psycho-history, and "subaltern" history.
The class time will be devoted to pointed discussion of the
reading and related subjects.
Readings will include, depending on availability:
Partha Chatterjee, NATIONLIST THOUGHT AND THE COLONIAL WORLD
and THE NATION AND ITS FRAGMENTS
Ashis Nandy, THE ILLEGITIMACY OF NATIONALISM
Rabindranath Tagore, NATIONALISM
Benedict Anderson, IMAGINED COMMUNITIES
Peter van der Veer, RELIGOUS NATIONALISM: HINDUS AND
MUSLIMS IN INDIA
Sarvepalli Gopal (ed.), ANATOMY OF A CONFRONTATION
[and lots of primary sources]

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Grade based on big research paper and seminar participation.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office. There are no prerequisites for the course, and students do not need the permission of instructor to preregister. However, HIST 109, 258, or 259 are excellent in preparing students for this seminar.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS HIST

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-10-1997

About the Photo:

Parliament House next to a church in India

Reference:

Singh, Khushwant and Raghu Rai. DELHI: A PORTRAIT, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1983

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