REL MVMTS MOD INDIA

Fulfills the L&S breadth requirements in Arts & Literature and Philosophy & Values.

This course introduces students to the history of religious movements in modern India, examining how sacred texts and religious practices have been disseminated, reinterpreted, and enlisted in various political and cultural projects during the colonial and post-colonial period. The focus is on religious “reform” movements and cross-cultural debates during the colonial period. Important themes include transformations in the role of women, debates around caste and “untouchability”, and religious conversions (to Buddhism and Christianity). Although the emphasis is primarily on Hindu traditions, some attention will also be given to Christianity, Buddhism and Islam in India. This course also examines how the concept of a secular state in post-Independence India has shaped and continues to shape religious practice and public policy. Readings include theological writings, doctrinal tracts, anthropological and sociological analyses, poetry, autobiography, and historical overviews. 

No prior knowledge of Hinduism or the Indian subcontinent is required.