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CS92PROD
Sophomore Seminar: Gandhi and His Precursors

HIST 181
Spring 2013 not offered
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.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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