ACM India Studies program

Courses offered in recent years

Indian Politics

The purpose of this course is to understand the political dynamics of the region in its various elements. The focus is on the constitutional and political developments in India and also on the political parties, pressure and interest groups and the social pressures like caste and religion that tend to have an impact on the politics of the country. Students will grasp basic concepts and issues in order to understand the news and views that are presented in local newspapers and media. Some specific topics include the framework of Indian government compared with the U.S. system, constitutional developments, impact of globalization, secessionist movement in South Asia, and United States' policy toward South Asia.

Indian Sociology

This course will help the students to critically grasp the present day processes that create a sustained reformulation of patriarchies. It aims at creating a deep awareness of the shared experiences of marginalized communities and women from the East and West in the Global Economy and to provide an understanding of the interlocking structures of oppression especially as they operate in lived reality. These issues are addressed through discussions on the following topics: caste and gender in Indian Society, women's movement in India since 1975, issues of development, and the Indian family.

Maharashtra - Art & Architecture

This course incorporates local resources to give students an introduction to the architecture of the region in both a historical and contemporary context. Beginning with ancient Buddhist, Jain and Hindu cave architecture, students examine the caves at Ellora and Ajantha. Other categories of architecture covered in the course include ecological, religion related, and need based. A special focus is given to residential architecture, both urban and traditional. The study of each category helps to understand the scope and context of architectural activity. Finally, students will look at works of some of the well-known contemporary architects in India, analyze the impacts of urbanization, and discover evolutionary trends in contemporary aesthetics.

Ayurveda

This course begins by examining students' perceptions about Ayurveda, a traditional form of medical treatment through massage. Students consider the importance of Ayurveda in today's age and learn about its specific theories and practices. Some topics that are covered include the Theory of Tridosha, identification of body types, issues of diet, theory of massage, medicinal plants and yoga.

Philosophy

This course covers the basic components and problems of Indian philosophy. Starting with some background in Indian culture, students learn the traditional phases of life from Vedic cultural literature. The course describes the formation of various systems of Indian Philosophy. It also looks at some of the traditional philosophical problems and issues such as reality, knowledge, man and human life, art and beauty, and language.

Performing Culture in India

This course takes students through the interrelationship between performance, culture and India. Discussing the significance of performance as a phenomenon of expression, communication and art, students learn about the nature and definition of performance in the Indian cultural context. Several categories of Indian performing expression are examined, including primitive, folk, religious, art and popular. The course also looks at the contribution and role of the audience, the performance space, and the peripherals such as costumes, props, etc. All genres of performance, music, dance and theatre, can be combined in various ways to create the desired expression. Specific genres from Maharashtra include Nandiwala, Bahuroopi, Dhangari Ovi, and Zimma. Local performances are used so students have a first hand experience of documenting and analyzing these categories of expression.