Stairs leading to Jezudi Temple. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle)

Independent Study Projects

Throughout the semester, students devote substantial thought and effort to completing an independent study project. Students have the opportunity to conduct research in their chosen field, both academically and experientially.

Highly qualified Indian advisors -- faculty members from academic institutions in Pune as well as local professionals and artists -- guide students in their research. Students present their projects at the end of the program. Research may be conducted in most fields in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

Right: Women in a village near Bhimabhankar. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle)

Project topics from recent years

Topics from: 2007 ... 2006 ... 2005 ... 2004 ... 2003 ... 2001 ... 2000 ... 1999 ... 1998

Independent Study Projects, fall 2007

• Virtual Spirituality: Digital Devotion in 'Modern' India. Kristin Boehm, Lawrence University
• The Ayurvedic Diet. Taylor Carvey, St. Olaf College
• Understanding the Image of the Indian Family. Stephanie K. Furniss, Colorado College
• The Poem We Wear: An analysis of the Body And the Poetic Process of Mardhekar and Rege. Zach Hager, Knox College
• Suicide of an Industry: Cotton & Farmer Suicide in Maharashtra. Tabitha Ann Hrynick, Colorado College
• Lead India. Sarah E. Huelskoetter, St. Olaf College
• Improving English Teaching With the Video Medium: A Study of Digital Study Hall in Pune. Brittany Kaplan, Vassar College
• Ganpati, Remover of Religious Obstacles: Indian Religious Pluralism in a Festival Context. Allison McCarthy, Swarthmore College
• The Social Uses of Astrology in Pune, India. Tara McGovern, Lawrence University
• Indian Population: Past, Present. Future. Tyler Quinn, St. Olaf College
• Practice and Philosophy of Pune's Buddhist Communities: 50 Years After Conversion. Peter Schumacher, Colorado College
• HIV/AIDS and Organizing among Sexual Minorities in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Dominic Vendell, Carleton College
• A Contemporary Women's Place: In the Home or at Work? Melissa Williams, Coe College

Independent Study Projects, fall 2006

• Music For All: The Case of Music Education in India. Emily F. Barlow, Lawrence University
• Expression and Practice of Faith: Study of Ganapati Festival in a Family. Danielka D. Briceno, Monmouth College
• Define Music: Discovering Hindustani Classical Music as a Western Musician. Gemma Rose Cohen, The College of St. Catherine
• From the Back of the Bookshelf: Thoughts on History, Literature and Modern Women Writing in Marathi. Megan Crumm, Albion College
• The Small Steps Taken to Alleviate Poverty: A Look at the Perspective of the Government, Non-government Organizations and the Poor. Samantha Rose Gibb, Lawrence University
• The Daudi Bohra in Pune: Deconstructing the Muslim Stereotype. Alexander Honnet, Lake Forest College
• Middle Berth: A Theatrical Examination of Women in India. Sarah Lee, Colorado College
• To See or Not to See: Slices of Contemporary Hinduism in Pune, India. Danielle Murry, Lawrence University
• Proving Hindu Culture: A Case Study of Catholic Identity and Devotion in Pune. Steven Tyler Protz, Ripon College
• India High: Schooling and Education in Standard X. Zach Razavi, Grinnell College
• Converging Identities: Queer Sexuality in South Asian Literature and Society. Tim Rehborg, St. Olaf College
• Educational Backwardness: The Education of Muslim Women. Alyson Roberts, Colorado College
• Looking Below the Surface: The Lives of Families in the Slums. Amanda Rose Shaub, Colorado College
• In Search of Ahmed Jan Thirakwa. Matthew Shelton, Carleton College
• Making Art in the Contact Zone: An Exploration of Society and Identity Through Images. Hannah Sullivan, Macalester College
• A Holistic Approach to Happiness: Ayurveda and Depression. Sara Wexler, Lawrence University
• This is the Moon: A Collection of Poetry. Lucilena Williams, Colorado College

Independent Study Projects, fall 2005

• Understanding Sexuality Trends of Students in Pune, India in 2005: Transitions, Complexities and Gaps. Erinn E. M. Croco, Grinnell College
• "You Must Understand One Thing": Reality, Morality and Language in Indian Television Media. Erin Ober, Lawrence University
• The Approaches of Non-Governmental Organizations in Pune. Eberley Wedlake, Carleton College
• 23 Bols, Awertan and Dusty Discussions of Inspiration: Mother India's Effects on a Composer. Ben Taylor, Kenyon College
• Conventional Wisdom Structures Guiding India's Jatropha Choice: How to correctly decentralize developing nation's technological advancement. Suzanne Ozment, Lawrence University
• Constructing a Secular Identity: Freedom and Fraternity in Post-Partition National Discourse. Ruth Nervig, St. Olaf College
• "A World of Their Own": A Look at Autism in India. Claire Brownlee, Earlham College
• Monsoon Fruit Documentary: Academic Supplement. Josh Otte, Colorado College
• Indian Hinduism: A Link to Religious Harmony. Solveig Harriday, St. Olaf College
• Dance of the Peacock: A Photographic Study in Indian Ornamentation. Christine Beaderstadt, Lawrence University

Independent Study Projects, fall 2004

• The Ganapati Festival in Pune: A History, Contemporary Facets and Observations. Jennifer Bays Beinart, Grinnell College
• Indian Musicians. Micah Bezold Carleton College
• Painting Pune's Picture: Observations of the Artistic Community. Katie Ernst, St. Olaf College
• India's Population, Family Welfare, and the Controversies Throughout OR "Holy Moley! That's a Whole Heap Load of People!" Jeanne K. Firth, Cornell College
• Reservation Policy: Moving towards the Private Sector. Maya Jacob, Beloit College
• The Reformed Hindu Marriage Ceremony: An analysis of Jnana Prabodhini's Text. Rachael Kojetin, Coe College
• Coconut and Mango Trees. Debra Markson, Knox College
• Yoga in Pune: Is Modern Practice Valid in the Traditional Sense? Nicole Olson, Knox College
• Gender and Leisure Space in Pune. Stacy Oxley, Albion College
• Metaphysics and Theism in Jainism. Jamie Schmeits, Macalester College
• Indian Metal Craft: A Study of 'Use' and 'Art' Objects. Cayla Skillin-Brauchle, Beloit College
• Current Perspectives on Hindu-Muslim Relations in Pune. Rebecca White, Earlham College
• Women, Political Participation, and Empowerment in Rural Maharashtra. Catheranne Delores Wyly, Beloit College
• The Strangest Clouds: A Story and Fragments. Jason Zencka, St. Olaf College

Independent Study Projects, fall 2003

• The Buddhists of Maharashtra: Conversion, Identity and Social Mobility. Kathleen Baer-Truer, Macalester College
• Christian Identity in the Predominately Hindu Culture of India. Julie Bringman, Earlham College
• Modern Perspectives of Caste in India, Case Study: Pune, Maharastra. Adrian Davis, Colorado College
• Abbreviated Space: Social Behavior and Setting. Nike Desis, Kenyon College
• Introduction to the Indian Market. Ben Gabor, Ripon College
• A Study of Minerals from the Coast of Maharashtra, India. Heather Hoey, Earlham College
• Small Kids, Medium Schools, Big Subject. Jessica Holland, Earlham College
• Guru-Shishya Parampara: Past, Present, and Future. Emily Klosiewski, Lawrence University
• Towards Dissolution: Fiscal Transfers and Interstate Disparity in India. Aaron Krumins, Earlham College
• When Breath Mixes with Fire: A Sound Diary. Catherine Lamb, St. Olaf College
• All That a Wife Can Do: A Study of Working Women in India and the Double Burden. Katharine C. Nee, St. Olaf College
• Gambling On the Lives of Girls. Clarissa Nelson, Colorado College
• More than Half of the Foundation: The Future History of Six Maharashtrian Women in Agriculture. Kavanah Ramsier, Beloit College

Independent Study Projects, fall 2001

• The Power of the Theatre as a Social Tool: an analysis of the effect of theatre as means for social change in India and abroad. Beth Achille, Lawrence University
• Bansuri, Bansi, Murli and Venu Just to Name a Few. Amanda Birnschein, Lawrence University
• Time and its Measurable Properties from a Jain and Augustinian Perspective. Ian Bomberowitz, Kalamazoo College
• Within the Space of a Single Heartbeat. Hana Clark, Colorado College
• Stealing stories. Abigail Keller, Beloit College
• Just One Host Family's Home Movie. Patrick Kyle, Lawrence University
• Thought on Jnanadeva and God. Alejandro Napoleon Negrete-Hendrie, Colorado College
• Framed rhythms. Roberto Salazar, Lake Forest College
• Dancing Culture: An exploration of the relationship between moving bodies and culture. Jessica Schachterle, Macalester College
• Maharashtra's Sacred Groves: An Ecological Heritage. Susanna Stevens, Carleton College

Independent Study Projects, fall 2000

• The role and status of women in Hindutva: Reflections of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti in Politics and Empowerment. Hilary Aten, Kalamazoo College
• Personal Journal. Annie Bloom, Carleton College
• Kokanastha Brahmin Cooking Practices an ethnography. Papillon Coleman, Macalester College
• Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual experience in India. Chloe Flynn, Carleton College
• Freedom to find a new hustle: Is that hope of capitalism? Jeremiah Gregg, Colorado College
• Vastu Shastra: Revived, Reinterpreted, Remodeled: A survey of modern understandings of an ancient architectural system. Annastazia Hrdy, Colorado College
• Our Buddism: A study of Dalit women and the Buddist Movement in Pune, Maharashtra. Allison Lince-Bentley, Carleton College
• Creating a National Worldview: A study of Hindutva based organizations and how they are communicating cultural change. Janelle Orsi, Pomona College
• Thoughts of Empowerment within the Women Priests of Pune. Satya Peterson, Macalester College
• Women and violence within patriarchal India. Jennifer Pietz, Coe College
• Santoshi Ma: Custom made Goddess for India's Middle Class Women. Ladawn Sheffield, Cornell College
• Har Har Mahadeo. Michael Skinner, Beloit College
• A look at caste. Kara Wozniak, Beloit College

Independent Study Projects, fall 1999

• Walking into a Mirror: A study of Domestic Labour in the Indian Upper Middle Class. Leslie Askew, Lawrence University
• The Saradeswari Ashram Shyam Bazzar, Calcutta. Kathryn Goldin, Kalamazoo College
• Prakriti. Miranda Knox, Lawrence University
• Behind the Curtain: A study of children and diarrhea through Ayurved and Allopathy. Allison Lofton, St Olaf College
• Finding an Entry Point: Historical context and Personal Experience of Gender and Development of India. Molly Metzger, Carleton College
• Exploring Untouchability: Oppression and Activism in Comtemporary Pune. Ethan Watkins, Macalester College

Independent Study Projects, fall 1998

• Learning to Speak: Reflections on expression in the Practice and Art of North Indian Classical Music. Isaac Enloe, Carleton College
• AIDS and communication in Pune's Red Light Area: Developing a Functional Health Communication Model for AIDS Education in Budhwar Peth. Kathleen Hagedorn, Macalester College
• Mahatma Gandhi's System of Basic Education. Nathan Halvorson, St Olaf College
• A Question of Unity: A focus on the Christian Churches in Pune. Valerie Hart, St Olaf College
• Medical Applications of Massage and Yoga in India: A hands-On Approach. Anne Hurst, Carleton College
• The Scientific Temper in India: A study of the Indian Cultural context for Scientific Research. Seth John, Carleton College
• A Personal Look at the Resocialization Process. Kerrie Kannberg, St Olaf College
• Medicine in Maharashtra: Healing and Diagnosis in Ayurveda, the Home and by Jadhav Guruji. Jeffrey Ott, Macalester College
• Twisted Roots: Stories of Leprosy, Institutionalization and Gender at Bandorawala Leprosy Hospital, Kondhwa, India. Brad Short, Carleton College
• A Personal Look at Underprivileged Children in India, and the Organizations which serve them. Adrian Sutter, Macalester College