History 385 / India: Its People, Culture and History
Spring 2007
MF 1:50-3:05 pm, Room MC31
(HI385 Links) (HI385 Reports) (Mughals in India powerpoint)
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an attempt to explain the development of one of the most fascinating of the world’s nation states and cultures. While providing students with a narrative that explains the religious, political and economic development of India, we will also examine the major cultural developments of interest to the international community: its caste system, yoga, its concepts of sex and marriage, its arts and architecture, its food and movies, its clothing industry
 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the semester it is hoped that students will understand: 
1. the geography of India and its effect on national culture
2. the nature of the Hindu religion (and its caste system)
3. the Buddhist, Jain and Sikh critiques of Hinduism 
4. the contribution of the Islamic (Mughal) invaders/rulers
5. the influence of the British in India 
6. India’s development of democracy and non-violence in the twentieth century
7. India’s social (incl. family) and political (incl. constitution) structures today 
8. one or more of the arts of India (architecture, music, sculpture, painting, dress, movies)

COURSE ARRANGEMENTS 

There will be lectures, discussion, in-class writing assignments, video, several field trips, music & slide presentations, and student presentation of individual research. The Indian art rooms of the Nelson-Atkins Museum will constitute one required field trip. Options for the second include the Hindu temple in Kansas City, the Rime Tibetan Monastery, the Hindu movie series…

Students are expected to attend all classes, to participate in class discussion, to make two field trips with the class or on their own, to submit short papers on various subjects, to respond knowledgeably to announced and unannounced quizzes, to write a research paper and present it orally. Guidelines for writing research papers are attached.

ASSESSMENT

• 15% for attendance
• 15% for participation
• 50% for quizzes and short papers
• 20% for the term paper with oral presentation
• In lieu of a final exam, the class will have dinner together at an Indian restaurant.

TEXTBOOKS

• R. K. Narayan, The Mahabharat (Penguin, 1972, paperback, ISBN: 0140187006) and

• R. K. Narayan, Malgudi Days (Penguin, 1982, paperback, ISBN:0140185437).

• There will also be a small collection of documents edited by the professors to illustrate the major themes of the course.

CLASS POLICIES: PLAGIARISM, SUBMISSION OF WORK, ATTENDANCE

Academic Honesty: “Academic honesty is required of all members of a learning community. Hence, the university will not tolerate cheating or plagiarism on tests, examinations, papers or other course assignments. Students who engage in such dishonesty may be given failing grades or expelled from the college.” The Park University Bulletin.

Late Work: Work that is submitted after the due date shall normally be reduced by one grade if submitted within one week. No paper will be accepted after that date unless previous arrangements have been made with the instructors.

Attendance: This course has less than 30 working class dates. Students missing no more than 2 classes shall receive a "A" for attendance, 4 classes "B", 6 classes "C", 8 classes "D". Explained/excused absences count for half a class. Any student missing class for two weeks without excuse will be withdrawn from the course. If you cannot attend a class meeting we expect a phone call or an email.

COURSE TOPICS/ DATES/ ASSIGNMENTS

We begin with a two week discussion of India today and an exploration of your research interests. After that Tuesdays will be devoted to a narrative history of India, generally following Wolpert’s text. On Thursdays we will generally explore Indian culture, using history loosely. On Thursdays late in the semester students will make oral presentations of their research.
 

Suggested Readings

• Angirsasa Muni. The Upanisads: Timeless Spiritual Wisdom. Fort Wayne: Sacred Books, 1999.

• Armstrong, Karen. Buddha. [There are more]

• Bonfante-Warren, Alexandra. India Style. Metro Books, 2001.

• Champakalakshmi, R. The Hindu Temple. Roli & Janssen, 2001

• Gascoigne, Bamber. The Great Moguls. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1988.

• Keay, John. India: A History. New York: Grove, 2000.

• Metcalf, Barbara and Thomas. A Concise History of India. Cambridge U. P., 2002.

• Mitchell, Stephen. Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation. New York: Harmony Books, 2000.

• Naipaul, V. S. India: A Wounded Civilization. New York: Vintage, 1976.

• Nicholson, Louise. National Geographic: Traveler India. N.d.

• Schulberg, Lucille. Historic India. Time-Life Books, 1968.

• Shearer, Alistair. The Hindu Vision: Forms of the Formless. London: Thames & Hudson, 1993.

• Wolpert, Stanley. A New History of India. 7th ed. New York: Oxford U. P., 2004.

Movies

• Monsoon Wedding

• Lagaan

• Asoka

• Gandhi

Video

• History Channel. X/Y Factor.

• In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great. PBS, 2-video set.

• Secrets of Sacred [Tantric] Sex: Guide to Intimacy & Loving. 1994, Tantric Arts

• Wisdom of Faith (Huston Smith & Bill Moyers) in 5 vols.

Guide for Term Papers in History

Park University, 2003

In order to improve the quality of term papers and to avoid last minute disasters, please follow these suggestions.

First, submit a proposal, which provides:

a) a subject; b) your interest in the subject; b) a bibliography. Perhaps a title?

No term paper can be accepted without an oral report.

A term paper is of about12 pages in length. An "A" paper has a sufficient bibliography to support your narrative or argument, and follows one of the official guides that are available in the bookstore and elsewhere.

A bibliography should contain at least seven sources, at least two of which are not internet!

Term papers are typed, and double-spaced. (Single-spaced papers are more difficult to read and don't leave me room to write notes to you.)

We are happy to read drafts of papers a week or more before the due date to give you the benefit of suggestions.

"A" papers explain by the use of footnotes (endnotes, any kind of notes) where specific ideas come from. Lesser papers (somewhere around "C") are essays that merely attach a bibliography suggesting the scope of the whole paper.

"A" papers will open with a paragraph that explains the purpose of the paper or make a thesis statement.

"A" papers end with a conclusion about the subject.

Between the introduction and the conclusion papers should move smoothly from one idea to another, or one set of facts to another, giving the reader a sense that you haven't forgotten what your subject is.

If you would like to discuss your paper with others, acknowledge this on a dedication page as published authors do. Specific ideas you receive from friends, like those from printed sources, should be acknowledged.

All papers should be checked for spelling and grammar, by your mother, your cousin and spell-check.

Oral reports are quite short, 5-10 minutes, and need to be well-organized. It often helps to support your oral report with slides, clips of film or music, etc. Reading your paper will not be an acceptable oral report. If you have problems standing before a group of people, we can arrange a substitute for this process.

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