The complexity of India is great. To provide a sense of coherence and allow the students to synthesize their experiences after twenty-two days, all experiences and classrooms sessions are grouped into four broad themes.
THEMES
India: History and Culture
Under this broad topic, we will focus on an understanding of the Muslim, Moghul, and British-rule eras and their impact on modern India before going into more depth on the developments in India since independence in 1947. You will hear presentations and then compare what you heard in class to what you see and experience in these cities that reflect all four historical eras. What has been the lasting influence of Gandhi? What do traditional arts and crafts, the masterpieces of architecture, the new economic growth, and the pervasive poverty tell you about the transitions that India is undergoing? Study and trying your hand at some of the techniques of both Ayurvedic medicine and cricket will help you get a feel for both the old and the new. A survey of Indian music, from traditional instruments to what current high school students listen to, will provide ample opportunities for participants to compare “their” music to what they experience in India. No look at contemporary Indian culture is complete without a weekly film festival of Bollywood films. We will constantly be tying together history and culture.
India: Religions and Religious Reform Movements
Religion and religions have been tremendously important in India’s history. Understanding the key religions and their inter-relationships is critical for understanding contemporary India. Students will learn the historical foundations and the different teachings and practices of the main Indian religions. How do these religions describe creation, reality, the soul, the afterlife, proper religious practice? What are the links between religion and the caste system? How do these religions differ from those of your country or your own beliefs? What are the daily religious practices of these religions? Hearing from local experts, talking with a wide range of Indians, and visiting religious places of worship students will gain a deeper understanding of what these religions teach and how they have affected and continue to affect India. After studying, talking with believers, and visiting Hindu, Muslim, Jain, and Sikh temples and shrines, how will students describe the differences among these religions when they return home?
India: Social Issues
This vast theme will pay particular attention to the issues raised by the former caste system, the changing roles of women, poverty and street children, city planning, the effects of globalization, and the different characteristics of poverty in cities and villages. How is the emerging middle class changing India’s traditional society? The characteristics of Indian child-rearing and parental expectations will emerge from the frequent discussions with Indian high school students. Experts will present information on these topics, but the key to reaching a deeper understanding will be your personal experiences talking with many Indians, participating in organized field studies, conducting interviews, and observing life as you move about the cities. A highlight will be the homestay towards the end of the program where all that you have learned and experienced can be brought together for a greater understanding of contemporary Indian life.
India: Politics, Economics, and International Relations
How does the world’s largest democracy function? What are the main differences between political parties? What has caused India’s recent rapid growth? Where is that growth heading? What roles are NGOs playing in India’s development?
How is India, and especially Rajasthan, dealing with India’s most precious resource–water? India is one of four rising economic powers referred to as the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). What are the issues that draw the two most populous BRICs, India and China, together? What are the issues that push them apart? What is the origin of the conflict between India and Pakistan? What are its current manifestations, and what are possible developments in the future? These and other questions will be addressed, explored, discussed, and debated throughout much of the program, allowing participants at the end to draw their own conclusions based on what they have heard and experienced during their twenty-two days in India.
