This table provides an overview of the topics and material covered in each class session. For the specific reading assignments for each session, please see the Readings page.
| SES # | TOPICS | MATERIALS COVERED |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction |
India/Hindustan/Bharat/South Asia; map, dates, timeline Last part of BBC documentary narrated by Michael Woods, The Story of India |
| 2 | Partition |
Manto, Toba Tek Singh, Mozail (short stories); Amrita Pritam, Pinjar (novella) Earth (film), by Deepa Mehta |
| 3 | Sexuality and Gender |
Ismat Chughtai, The Quilt (short story) 4 short pieces by Mukul Kesavan ("Men at Work," "Cine Qua Non: An Undergraduate History of Indian Cinema," "The Ugliness of the Indian Male," "The New Indian Actor") Fire (film), by Deepa Mehta; Project Bolo Part 4 of I am (film) |
| 4 | Modernity |
Devdas (novella) by Saratchandra Clips from film versions of Devdas (1935 and 2000) and Dev D. (2010) |
| 5 | From Courtesans to Bar Girls |
Guide by R. K. Narayan (novel) Laaga Chunri Men Dagh (film) |
| 6 | Midterm | Chandni Bar (film) |
| 7 | History and Memory |
Romila Thapar, "In Defence of History." A. K. Ramanujan, "Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation." Guest lecture on Dalit Literature (Richard Delacy, Harvard University) I, Dalit: Reclaiming Dignity (film) |
| 8 | Lost in Translation |
Chetan Bhagat, 2 States: The Story of my Marriage Clips from films Jodhaa-Akbar and Bombay |
| 9 | Poetry in Contemporary India |
Guest lecture: Riyaz Latif, Urdu poet In Custody (film) |
| 10 | Stories from India, A Traveler's Literary Companion: North India |
Salman Rushdie, "The Prophet's Hair"; Qurratulain Hyder, "The Sound of Falling Leaves"; Kunal Basu, "The Accountant" Part 2 of I am (film) |
| 11 | Stories (cont.): Rural India |
Mamang Dai, "The Scent of Orange Blossom"; Phanishwarnath Renu, "Panchlight"; Fakir Mohan Senapati, "Asura Pond"; Nazir Mansuri, "The Whale" Peepli Live (film); Well Done, Abba (film) |
| 12 | Stories (cont.): Urban India |
Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay, "Canvasser Krishnanlal"; Vikram Chandra, "Ganesh Gaitonde Sells His Gold"; Anjum Hasan, "Eye in the Sky" Khobi Ghat (film) |
| 13 | Stories (cont.): South India |
Jayant Kaikini, "Dots and Lines"; Lalithambika Antherjanam, "In the Moonlight"; Githa Hariharan, "Halfway Animals" BBC documentary on sports in South India (film) |
| 14 | Reports on final paper |