History 163: Modern South Asia: From British Imperialism to the Present
Spring 2006 - Mr. Fisher, Rice 314, x58524, michael.fisher@oberlin.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 11:00-11:50, Wednesday 10:00-11:50 and by appointment
Class Meets: Tuesday, Thursday 9:00-10:15 with 4th hour discussion session 10:15-10:50.
If you sign up for a 4th credit hour, you must participate in both discussion groups each week. If you sign up for 3 credit hours, you are encouraged to participate in these discussion groups.
South Asia contains today over 1.5 billion people, over one fifth of humanity. For some 5,000 years South Asia has stood as one of the centers of world civilization. Historically known in the West for the richness of its culture and economy, South Asia has undergone the transforming effects of British imperialism. From the mid-eighteenth century until 1947, South Asia remained a central part of the British Empire. As South Asia emerged from the colonial period, it has produced the "new nations" of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in the context of the post-colonial world system. Each of these nations has dealt in distinct ways with issues of identity, the distribution of socio-economic and political power, and development. Two of these new nations have exploded nuclear devices and have fought several wars. By studying the internal developments of the civilizations of South Asia, and their interactions with the West, from the time of British conquest to the present, we will come to understand much about the people of South Asia and also the colonial and post-colonial processes.
Following a general chronological sequence, this course begins with an exploration of the social, economic, and political conditions of South Asia at the beginning of the 18th century. We then analyze India within the context of British imperialism, examining the changes in Indian society, environment, economics, and culture that occurred under British rule. We study developments within Indian and British-Indian society of religion, gender, class, and "untouchability" during the colonial period. The course then surveys the Indian nationalist movement and the coming of the India-Pakistan Partition of 1947. We conclude with an assessment of the current condition of present-day South Asia.
Reading of the required materials, attendance at all classes, taking three in-class essay examinations, and writing one brief (3-5 page) paper are mandatory. There are six paper options available; each person must choose one of these options. Each day late in the paper reduces its grade by 3 points. For those registered for 3 credits, the grade is 25% each for each exam and the paper. Those registered for the 4th credit hour receive 4 points for attendance at each discussion session, with a bonus point for insightful contributions. Their grade will be: 20% each for each exam, the paper, and the discussion. The grading is: A+ 100-97; A 96-93; A- 92-90; B+ 89-87; B 86-83; B- 82-80; C+ 79-77; C 76-73; C- 72-70; [first and second year students only, D 65-69, F below 65] [all others NE below 70]..
Required texts to be purchased:
Barbara and Thomas Metcalf, Concise History of India
Jawaharlal Nehru, Discovery of India
Prakash Lal Tandon, Punjabi Century
NOTE: Additional required readings are available from BLACKBOARD.
ALWAYS BRING THE RELEVANT READINGS WITH YOU TO CLASS
Paper Requirements: Select any one of the following topics, or develop a topic in consultation with Mr. Fisher. Write a 3-5 page paper on that topic, using the full historical methodology (including citation notes, bibliography, and proper spelling and grammar). Each paper is due on a specified date; last possible due date for topics developed individually and approved by Mr. Fisher is April 27 at 9:00 AM. If you would like Mr. Fisher to read a draft of your paper, it must be in his hands at least one week in advance of the due date.
PLEASE CONSULT WITH MR. FISHER BEFORE WRITING YOUR PAPER
Paper Option One (due March 2 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of any one other source (i.e., not a source from the required readings) on British annexations from Fisher, Politics of the British Annexation (on reserve).
Paper Option Two (due March 9 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of a British "reform" of Indian society of positions (Indian and British) to that "reform." Suggestions: the issues of sati, or education, or public health.
Paper Option Three (due April 11 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of an aspect of village or urban life in South Asia. Suggestion: look at the religious practice, housing patterns, economy, or some other aspect of village or urban life.
Paper Option Four (due May 4 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of an political or social leader in South Asia. Suggestion: select and analyze one aspect of a leader or movement.
Paper Option Five (due May 9 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of an aspect of marriage in South Asia. Suggestion: select one of the required or optional readings and analyze how a marriage works (or does not work).
Paper Option Six (due May 11 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of India's reservation policy. Suggestion: analyze the rhetoric and/or logic of one of the required or recommended readings on reservations.
Accommodation: If you have specific physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities in Peters G-27.
Honor Code: The Honor Code applies to all assignments in this course. This means that any student found cheating, plagiarizing, turning in another personÕs work as his/her own or otherwise violating the instructorÕs explicit or implicit instructions will be subject to a hearing before the Student Honor Committee. To learn more about the Code, see the Rules and Regulations Section VI A and B in Fussers or the Student Handbook. (language courtesy of Susan Colley and the Student Honor Code Committee).
Class Meetings
Part 1: Physical, Social, and Political Environments of South Asia (to 1757)
2/7 Introduction: Where is South Asia (at)?
recommended: browse Schwartzberg, Historical Atlas (Ref G 2261.S1 H5 1978 or 1992, Atlas section, reference room).
[familiarize yourself with this major reference work]
2/9 South Asian society in context
required (14 pages): BLACKBOARD: Manu (Part 1); Sura Iron from the Quran (if you have printed these out, BRING THESE READINGS TO CLASS)
discussion : What do religious prescriptions/proscriptions have to do with everyday society?
2/14 South Asian Society and Islamic Empire (1700-1757)
required (91 pages): Nehru, Discovery of India, Chapters "Synthesis and Adjustment," "Theory and Practice of Caste," pp. 84-87 and "New Problems" through "Ranjit Singh," pp. 227-284 and Metcalfs, Concise History, pp. xiii-xvii, 1-27
discussion : What are the respective ideological positions of the Metcalfs' and Nehru?
Part 2: South Asia and British Colonialism (1757-1857)
2/16 The Transition from Indian to British Rule: the English East India Company, the Mughals, and regional powers: 1757-1857
required (48 pages): BLACKBOARD: five selections on annexation; Metcalfs, pp. 28-54
Consider: Paper Topic One (due March 2 at 9:00 AM): Analysis any other one of the primary sources in Fisher, Politics of the British Annexation (reserve)
discussion : To what extent can we speak of "the Indians" or "the British" in this period?
2/21 The Structure of East India Company Rule and South Asian Society to 1857
required (63 pages): Nehru, Discovery of India, "Economic Background" through "Contradictions of British Rule," pp. 284-322 and Metcalfs, pp. 55-80.
discussion : How is British imperialism different from Mughal imperialism?
2/23 British and Indian debates about social "reform"
required (29 pages): BLACKBOARD: eight primary sources about women; Metcalfs, pp. 80-90.
Paper Topic Two: (due March 9 at 9:00 AM) Analysis of a British "reform" and Indian and British positions on that "reform.
discussion : Should sati have been stopped? If so, by whom?
2/28 The issues of 1857
required (50 pages): BLACKBOARD: Duff, "Indian Hostility" and Nehru, Discovery of India, "Great Revolt" through "Techniques," pp. 322-30; Metcalfs, pp. 91-106.
discussion : What was the significance of 1857?
3/1 (Wednesday) Review Session, 7:00-8:00 PM
3/2 Examination I (in class)
Paper Option One due at 9:00 AM.
Part 3: South Asia and the British Raj (1858-1947)
3/7 The British Raj: The Indian Civil Service
required (53 pages): BLACKBOARD: Woodruff, Allen; Metcalfs, pp. 107-122.
discussion : Why did Britons go to India?
3/9 The British Raj: A Punjabi Perspective
required (28 pages): Tandon, Punjabi Century, pp. 9-38.
discussion : Why does Tandon write about Punjab in this way?
Paper Option Two due at 9:00AM.
3/14 Urban Life under the British Raj
required (84 pages): Tandon, Punjabi, pp. 39-123
discussion : How realistic is Tandon's portrayal of Punjabi life?
Paper Option Three (due April 11 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of an aspect of village or urban life in South Asia.
3/16 The Effects of the British Raj
required (134 pages): Tandon, Punjabi, pp. 157-256, (esp. 157-195, 236-256).
discussion : How did urban elites like Tandon and Nehru regard the British?
3/21 Social and Political Developments
Required (66 pages): Metcalfs, pp. 123-199
discussion : What were the costs and/or benefits of British rule over India?
3/23 Bourgeois Nationalism
Required (50 pages): Nehru, Discovery of India, "Growth of Industry" through "Indian Dynamism," pp. 330-380.
discussion : how did Congress leaders view the Indian Nation?
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Spring Break
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4/4 Other Nationalisms
required: BLACKBOARD: Amin, "Gandhi as Mahatma" (49 pages) and/or Visweswaran, "Small Speeches, Subaltern Gender" (42 pages).
discussion : How revolutionary was Congress nationalism?
4/6 No Class (Made up 4/13 at 4:30)
4/11 Different models of nation
Required (20 pages): BLACKBOARD: models of the nation
discussion: What is a "nation"?
Paper Option Three due at 9:00AM.
4/13 guest lecture by K. Zitzewitz
4/13 at 4:30 Make-up Class (room TBA): K. Zitzewitz talk on "Modern Indian Artist as Citizen and Subject"
4/18 To Partition
Required (61 pages): Nehru, Discovery of India, "Question of Minorities" through "Government Checks," pp. 380-415 and Metcalfs, pp. 200-26.
discussion : What should have happened in 1947?
4/19 (Wednesday) Review Session, 7:00-8:00 PM
4/20 Examination II (in class)
Part 4: Independent South Asia (1947-2006)
4/18-20 Independent India 1947-2006
required (157 pages): Nehru, Discovery of India, "Ahmadnagar Fort Again" through end of book, pp. 479-568 and Metcalfs, pp. 227-95.
optional (62 pages): Nehru, Discovery of India, pp. 416-478.
discussion questions: (for 4/19) Assess Nehru's legacy. (for 4/21) What does "secularism" mean for India?
Paper Option Four (due May 4 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of any political or social leader in South Asia.
4/25 Gender Relations
required (32 pages): Tandon, Punjabi, pp. 124-156
required: (23 pages) BLACKBOARD: models of and for gender relations
Paper Option Five (due May 9 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of an aspect of marriage in South Asia.
discussion : Should marriages be "arranged"? Why or why not; by and for whom?
4/27 Reservations and Vote Banks
required: (27 pages) BLACKBOARD: issues of inequalities
Paper Topic Option Six (due May 11 at 9:00 AM): Analysis of India's reservation policy.
discussion : Should there be "quotas" for entry into college, employment, and/or promotion? If so, what should they be based on?
5/2 Self-Employed WomenÕs Association video
required: BLACKBOARD reading 11 (11 pages): Bhave
discussion : Why does SEWA work?
5/4-9 Independent Pakistan, 1947-2006
required: BLACKBOARD reading 12 (16 pages): models for Pakistan
discussion : What should Islam mean for Pakistan?
Paper Option Four due at 9:00AM on May 4; Paper Option Five due at 9:00AM on May 9.
5/11 Independent Bangladesh, 1971-2006
required: BLACKBOARD reading 13 (21 pages): Shehabuddin, Islam and women in Bangladesh
discussion : How is Bangladesh different from Pakistan or India?
Paper Options Six due at 9:00AM.
5/16 (Tuesday) 3:00-4:00 PM review session
5/18 (Thursday) from 2:00-4:00 Final Examination as scheduled.