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Contemporary India

Approx. 16 hours to complete

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Course Summary

Explore the diverse culture, history and economics of India through this comprehensive course that covers topics such as religion, politics, business, and more.

Key Learning Points

Gain a deep understanding of the complex history and culture of India
Explore the political and economic landscape of India
Learn about the different religions and traditions of India

Learning Outcomes

Gain a deep understanding of the diverse and complex culture of India
Develop knowledge of the political and economic landscape of India
Learn about the different religions and traditions of India

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

None
Interest in Indian culture and history

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video lectures

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South Asian Cultural Studies
Introduction to Hinduism

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Description

This course presents some important vignettes of a complex, highly diverse India that is also witnessing unprecedented changes since its formal independence in 1947 from Great Britain. The lectures revolve around social dimensions of change, the continuing influence of ancient texts on contemporary India, political democracy, economic transition from the state to the market, gender relations, India's economic globalisation and changing world view.

While one of the objectives is to capture the multifaceted process of change, the course also critically examines some of the tensions inherent in these changes. For example, how does gender inequality play itself out in a changing Indian society, how do the modernist conceptions of art entailing market valuation challenge the more socio-centric values found in South India, what are the politics linguistic identities, and how might India address its myriad development challenges such as poverty and unemployment. No specific prior knowledge is required. However, it would be helpful if students are aware of the socio political dynamics at play in contemporary India and keep themselves abreast with current affairs and debates in the country to fully appreciate the various dimensions and contours if the subject matter in the course. This course is taught in English. View the MOOC promotional video here: http://tinyurl.com/hx8mhxb

Outline

Contemporary India's history
Course overview
1.1 Colonial history: British rule in India
1.2 Pre-partition history
1.3 The tryst with destiny
1.4 Partition and nation-states: a technology of modernity
1.5 Partition and amnesia
1.6 Ghosts of partition: contemporary India 1
1.7 Ghosts of partition: contemporary India 2
Course outline
Your teaching team
Week 1 outline
Start of course survey
Quiz #1 (worth 10% of your final grade)

Indian politics 1948-2014
2.1 Indian politics 1948-2014
2.2 India from ‘Above’--1
2.3 India from ‘Above’--2
2.4 India from ‘Above’--3
2.5 India from ‘Below’--1
2.6 India from ‘Below’--2
Week 2 outline
Academic integrity

The long transition of India's economy
3.1 The long transition of the Indian economy
3.2 Substance of state intervention
3.3 Exhaustion of state-led development
3.4 1991 Market reforms and state retreat
3.5 First generation of reforms and achievements
3.6 Second generation of reforms
3.7 Where does India stand? India's place in the world economy
3.8 India's global economic visibility
3.9 Major challenges ahead: poverty, employment, inequality
Week 3 outline

India's foreign policy
4.1 Why study India’s foreign policy?
4.2 The seven phases of India foreign policy
4.3 The limits of idealism
4.4 The fractured years, 1962-1970
4.5 The idea of power, 1971-1989
4.6 The years of reflection, 1990-1998
4.7 Consolidation of U.S – India relations
4.8 Back to the future, 2011-2014
Week 4 outline

Women, gender and feminist struggles in India
5.0 Overview: women, gender and feminist struggles in India
5.1 Change: the success story
5.2 Continuities and paradoxes
5.3 Violence against women
5.4 Poor women
5.5 Muslim women. The Shah Bano case
5.6 Sexual minorities
5.7 Sex workers
5.8 Summary and conclusion
Week 5 outline
Quiz #2 (worth 10% of your final grade)

The Ramayan
6.1 Many Ramayanas: text and tradition
6.2 Ram and Sita's wedding - part 1
6.3 Ram and Sita's wedding - part 2
6.4 The forest exile
6.5 The battle at Lanka
6.6 Many Ramayanas: the story continues
Week 6 outline

The past in the present: traditional art forms in today's India
7.1 The past in the present: traditional art forms in today’s India
7.2 Compartmentalisation & context sensitivity
7.3 Economic imperialism & commodification
7.4 Essentialism, fetishization & museumization
7.5 Conservation & heritage-ization
7.6 Conclusions
Week 7 outline
End of Course Survey
Quiz #3 (worth 20% of your final grade)

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the fascinating history, culture, and society of India with this comprehensive course from Coursera. The course has received positive reviews, with many users praising its engaging content and knowledgeable instructors.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course provides a thorough and in-depth exploration of Indian history and culture.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
Comprehensive coverage of Indian history and culture
Flexible learning schedule
Interactive and engaging course material

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course material too dense and overwhelming
Limited interaction with other students
Not enough focus on contemporary India
Some technical issues with the online platform

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