Course Syllabus
ASH 4550: History of Modern India
Dr. Deepa Nair
Syllabus
Spring/2017
Instructor Contact
|
Instructor |
Dr. Deepa Nair |
|
Office |
Colbourn Hall 411S |
|
Office |
M-W: 11:30 AM-12:30 PM |
|
Phone |
407-823-5246 |
|
|
Deepa.Nair@ucf.edu |
Course Information
|
Course Name |
History of Modern India |
|
Course ID & Section |
ASH 4550 |
|
Credit Hours |
3 |
|
Semester/Year |
Spring/2017 |
|
Class time and Location |
MW: 9:30 AM-10:20 AM, BA 1 0221 |
Course Description
This course traces the history of modern India from the decline of the Mughals in the late eighteenth century to the rise of the British Empire and the eventual division of the subcontinent in 1947 into two independent nations of India and Pakistan. Beginning with a brief introduction to ancient, medieval, and Mughal history, it examines Indian society in the twilight of the Mughal Empire and the early years of European colonial expansion. It will then span the social, cultural, political, economic, military development of India during the heyday of the East India Company and, later, the British Raj. This course will also trace the rise of competing visions of Indian nationalism and the struggle for independence. It will end with an account of the rise of India and problems associated with its growth and development. Themes include relations between religious groups, the impact of British colonialism, the role of indigenous nationalist movements, the shape of independence and rise of modern India.
This course will be of relevance to students with an interest in the rise of modern India. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Objectives
Students reading this module will be able
-
to understand the pre-colonial and post-colonial traditions of one of the oldest civilizations in the world;
-
to explain the rise of colonialism and the anti-colonial movement in India; and
-
to develop an in-depth knowledge of the lineage of political, social, cultural and economic challenges faced by India in contemporary times.
Required Texts
Resources are identified on a weekly basis against individual themes. While required works are listed below, readings for individual themes are indicated against specific topics.
- Metcalf, Barbara D and Thomas R. Metcalf, The Concise History of Modern India, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780521682251
- Dalrymple, William, Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, Vintage, 2011. ISBN: 0307474461
- Adiga, Aravind ,The White Tiger, HarperCollins, 2010. ISBN: 8172238479
Supplemental Texts
- Rampolla, Mary Lynn, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006, ISBN: 9780312446734
Course Requirements
This course may count as a GEP Humanities requirement and a Diversity requirement towards some majors. It may also count for Asian studies minor.
Evaluation and Grading
|
Letter Grade |
Points |
|
A |
93 – 100 points |
|
A- |
90 – 92 points |
|
B+ |
87 – 89 points |
|
B |
83 – 86 points |
|
B- |
80 – 82 points |
|
C+ |
77 – 79 points |
|
C |
73 – 76 points |
|
C- |
70 – 72 points |
|
D+ |
67 – 69 points |
|
D |
63 – 66 points |
|
D- |
60 – 62 points |
|
F |
59 and below |
|
Letter Grade |
Points |
|
A |
90-100 |
|
B |
80-89 |
|
C |
70-79 |
|
D |
60-69 |
|
F |
59 or below |
|
Assignment |
Percentage of Grade |
|
Participation in Class Discussions+ online assignments and Attendance |
15% + 5% =20% |
|
In-class presentations |
20% |
|
Mid-terms |
20% |
|
Final exam |
40% |
|
Total |
100% |
Participation in class discussions
Please be aware that this course is based on your active participation. Students are expected to read the weekly readings and engage in meaningful class discussions. This course relies on student participation, if you do not like reading or engaging in class discussion, you are probably in the wrong course.
In general, the class participation grade will be assigned according to the following criteria:
A –consistent and enthusiastic participation in discussions throughout semester, and submitting online assignments on time.
B –occasional and/or inconsistent participation, and timely submission of online assignments
C –infrequent or negligible participation in discussions, and delayed submission of online assignments.
D & F –lack of participation in discussions and/or disruptive behavior, and no submission of online assignments.
Mid-term
The course calendar lists the days on which midterms will be held. These tests will be based on the primary and secondary sources listed in the reading list. (Week Five and Eleven)
In-Class Presentations
During the semester each student will help lead class discussion - either individually or in a group -by working on any topic on social, cultural, political, religious, military, contemporary, history of India and will make a 10 minute presentation. I will assess the contributions of each student individually according to the substance of the presentation, the cohesiveness of the argument or ideas presented, and the quality of oral delivery. More information regarding the in-class presentations will be forthcoming. (Week Seven )
Missed Assignments/Make-Ups/Extra Credit
Each essay assignment is due at 5 p.m. on its due date. Each day late equals a penalty of 1 entire letter grade. If you have a documented excuse that lets you to turn the paper in late, please approach me as soon as possible and we will negotiate a deal. Medical and family emergencies as well as religious holidays will be accommodated; students are expected to inform the instructor as soon as possible if assignment submission will be affected. Extensions will not be granted except for documented medical, family, and/or religious reasons.
Notes on writing assignments
A successful essay will be proofread, revised, and edited for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style. For all of your assignments, use a formal writing style (no slang, abbreviations, or colloquialisms). All assignments will be assessed according to the clarity of the argument, substantial evidence supporting claims presented, and a clear introduction and conclusion. Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style will be considered. Please use Chicago style:
The Chicago Manual of Style. 16th Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. Here is a quick guide - http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html (Links to an external site.)
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism and cheating of any kind on an examination, quiz, or assignment will result at least in an "F" for that assignment (and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. See the UCF Golden Rule for further information. I will assume for this course that you will adhere to the academic creed of this University and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. In other words, don't cheat by giving answers to others or taking them from anyone else. I will also adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, so please do not ask me to change (or expect me to change) your grade illegitimately or to bend or break rules for one person that will not apply to everyone.
Disability Statement
The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD only phone (407) 823-2116, before requesting accommodations from the professor.
Copyright
This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder.
Third-Party Software and FERPA
During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do not post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will not require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.
Financial Aid Requirement
As of Fall 2014, all faculty are required to document students’ academic activity at the beginning of each course. In order to document that you began this course, please complete the following academic activity by the end of the first week of classes or as soon as possible after adding the course, but no later than 5:00 PM, August 26th. Failure to do so may result in a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid. You must complete the syllabus quiz before the end of the first week.
Note: This syllabus statement is tentative; the instructor is free to change the schedule/readings / submission deadline for assignments.
Class Calendar
(Readings can be changed or supplemented by additional articles during the semester)
Week One (January 9-11 ): Introduction: The Story of India
Additional resources: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/india/indiasbook.html (Links to an external site.)
BBC Documentary: The Story of India (2007)
Confirmation of Academic Activity -Friday, January 13, 2017
Last day to drop class : Thursday, January 12, 2017
Week Two (January 18) and Week Three (January 23-25): India in the eighteenth century: twilight of the Mughal Empire
Readings:
- Metcalf, 1-55
Additional resources:
Francois Bernier: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/india/1655bernier.html
The Mughals: http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Mughals/mughals.html
Monday, January 16, 2017: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No classes)
Week Four (January 30- February 1): The East India Company Raj
Readings:
- Metcalf, 55-91
Additional resources:
East India Company :http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/British/EAco.html
Documents:
Robert Clive, Speech in commons on India
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1772clive-india.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhKYg641K3c
February 1-28, 2017: African American History Month
Week Five ( February 6-8): Ideologies of Empire and their aftermath
Readings:
- Metcalf, 92-122
- Cohn, Bernard. S, Colonialism and its forms of knowledge: The British in India. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1996. 16-56
Additional resources:
British India: http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/British/BrIndia.html
William Bentinck, ‘On ritual murder in India’ (1829):http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1829bentinck.html
T.B.Macaulay, ‘Minute on Education’ (1835): http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00generallinks/macaulay/txt_minute_education_1835.html (Links to an external site.)
Mountstuart Elphinstone, ‘Indian customs and manners’ (1840): http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/india/1840elphinstone.html
Elisa Grethead, ‘An account of the Indian mutiny’ (1857): http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1857greathed.html
Film: Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)
February 8: First Mid-term based on readings, video resources andWilliam Dalrymple’s Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India
Week Six (February 13-15): India under the British Raj
Readings:
- Metcalf, 123-155
Additional resources:
Queen Victoria, ‘Proclamation to the Princes, Chiefs and the People of India’ (1858)
http://www.csas.ed.ac.uk/mutiny/confpapers/Queen'sProclamation.pdf
Film: A Passage to India (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bW0dOG0ITQ
Week Seven (February 20-22): Rise of Indian Nationalism
Readings:
- Metcalf, 155-162
Additional Resources:
The New Nationalist Movement in India:
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/08oct/nationmo.htm
B.G.Tilak, Address to the Indian National Congress (1907):
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1907tilak.html
In-class presentations
Week Eight (February 27-March 1): War, revolt and reform
Readings:
- Metcalf, 162-169
Additional Resources:
Lucknow Pact, 1916: https://selfstudyhistory.com/2015/02/11/lucknow-pact-1916/ (Links to an external site.)
March 1-30, 2017: Women's History Month
Week Nine (March 6-8): War, Revolt and Reform II
King George V, Proclamation on the Government of India Act (1919):
http://www.centralexcisehyderabad4.gov.in/documents/history/1919.PDF (Links to an external site.)
March 8, 2017: International Women's Day
Week Ten (March 13-15) Spring Break
Week Eleven (March 20-22): Mahatma Gandhi
Readings:
- Metcalf, 169-193
Additional Resources:
M.K.Gandhi, ‘Indian Home Rule’ (1909): http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/hind_swaraj.pdf (Links to an external site.)
M.K Gandhi: ‘Quit India Resolution’ (1942): http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1942/420427a.html (Links to an external site.)
Film: Gandhi (1982) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elGNe56QIXI
March 22: Second Mid term on class readings and Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger.
March 22, 2017: World Water Day
Week Twelve (March 27-29): Independence and Partition
Readings:
- Metcalf, 200-226
Additional Resources:
Clement Attlee, "The end of British rule in India" (1947): http://www.ccis.edu/faculty/dskarr/atlee,%20end%20of%20british%20rule%20in%20india.htm (Links to an external site.)
Winston Churchill, "Britain's shameful flight from India" (1947): http://www.ccis.edu/faculty/dskarr/churchill,%20britains%20shameful%20flight.htm (Links to an external site.)
Jawaharlal Nehru, "A tryst with destiny" (1947): http://www.svc.ac.in/files/TRYST%20WITH%20DESTINY.pdf (Links to an external site.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEJdS7_RC4Q
Week Thirteen (April 3-5): Rise of Modern India
Readings:
- Metcalf, 261-295
Film: Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Week Fourteen (April 10-12) Minorities and Nationalism
TBA
Week Fifteen ( April 17-19) : India Today - Course Summation
April 17, 2017: Day of Silence (A day of solidarity with GLBTQ youth)
April 24, 2017: Last day of class
Final exam: TBA
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|