Course description
India gained Independence from British colonial rule in 1947 and became a regional super-power. Today, it is the world's second-largest nation with more than a billion citizens, a fast-growing economy, an enormous academic output, and Diaspora in all continents. Against the background of these developments, the seminar looks into India's cultural development in various areas. Special attention is given to different academic interpretations of cultural change in India: some scholars view India as a society with rather unchanged ideas and values expressed in the caste system and in religious beliefs and rituals; others - mainly post-colonial theorists - consider the caste system in its present form to be a colonial product, while still others lay emphasis on India's specific form of modernity, i.e. the Indian Modern. The seminar also addresses the position of marginalized groups, the so-called untouchables and tribals, which constitute more than 200 million citizens in India.

Themes
The seminar deals with the following themes: the struggle for Independence and the colonial legacy; the formation of the Indian Union and social politics; villages as small republics; little kingdoms and jungle kings; popular Hinduism today; caste systems, councils, and conflicts; untouchables in modern contexts; exploitation of natural resources and tribal protest; the changing role of women; Bollywood and nationalism; contemporary Indian English literature.

Seminar organization
Each week, one text from a reader will be read to prepare for the next session. All students will be expected to fulfill each of the following tasks once during the semester: (1) write the minutes of a single session, (2) read one additional text on a specific theme and make a 10-minute presentation on it in the classroom, (3) write a 12-15 page paper on a chosen topic.

Last updated: January 28, 2025