Sophomore Seminar: Gandhi and His Precursors
HIST 181
Fall 2012 not offered
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| Certificates: South Asia Studies |
This course examines the life and work of Mohandas K. Gandhi and explores the intellectual and ideological influences that shaped his career in politics and social activism. Popularly known as Mahatma, or Great Soul, Gandhi stands out above all other characters in the story of India's independence. His visionary leadership of a national nonviolent movement against the British empire is often portrayed as an achievement of singular charisma and unprecedented political methods. Yet Gandhi's undeniable originality in thought and action was informed by an eclectic assembly of writers, politicians, mystics, and social reformers who preceded him. Far from being a lone genius, Gandhi's greatest skill was marshaling the best human and intellectual resources he could find toward his goal of releasing India from the materials and psychological bonds of empire. Through a close study of figures such as Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, John Ruskin, Annie Besant, Swami Vivekananda, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, and Rabindranath Tagore, our course will investigate how Gandhi drew on existing ideas as he helped forge a new future for India and the world. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Gandhi, AUTOBIOGRAPHY, OR THE STORY OF MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH
and selections from COLLECTED WORKS OF MAHATMA GANDHI
Erikson, GANDHI'S TRUTH
Amin, "Gandhi as Mahatma" and "Remembering an Un-Gandhian Event" [articles]
Khilnani, NEHRU
Chatterjee, A NATION AND ITS FRAGMENTS
Dalton, GANDHI: NONVIOLENT POWER IN ACTION
Rudolphs, POSTMODERN GANDHI
Markovitz, UNGANDHIAN GANDHI
Parel, GANDHI'S PHILOSOPHY AND THE QUEST FOR HARMONY
(other readings TBA)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly essays, presentations, active seminar involvement, and a long research essay based on primary sources and shaped by an understanding of the relevant secondary sources. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
All readings to be done prior to seminar session to facilitate class discussion. Papers must be submitted on time. Penalty for late submission of work: 1 letter grade per day. Work is considered at least one day late if it is not submitted by the deadline. |
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