Department of History Fall 2004

Instructor: SANJAY JOSHI Office Hours: T, Th 12:30-1:30

Office: LA 206 Phone: 523-6216

E-mail: Sanjay.Joshi@nau.edu Class Meetings: TTH 2:20-3:35

Web Page: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~sj6/ Location: LA 321A LIBERAL STUDIES IN THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL WORLDS BLOCK
Course Description

Through a focus on the times, ideas, achievements, and limitations, of one of the most remarkable individuals of the twentieth century, this course examines the history of British colonialism and Indian nationalism. To understand Gandhi's India, we need to first understand the nature of British imperialism against which Indian nationalism, including Gandhi's, evolved. The period for this course therefore stretches from the mid 1700s to 1947. In addition to Gandhi's ideas and activities, the course examines the material and ideological structures of British imperialism, and the many strands of nationalism in British India. One of our objectives is to understand nationalisms rather than a singular nationalism - and to realize that nationalism could come to mean different things to different people. We will pay particular attention to the events that led to decolonization, and created in 1947 not one, but two independent nation-states of India and Pakistan. Looking at this history will not only afford insight into the life and work of Gandhi, but also allow us to better evaluate the nature of the transition that took place in 1947.
 

Readings

Our main reading is the textbook by Barbara and Thomas Metcalf. To give you a sense of what Gandhi himself said there is his very short pamphlet, Hind Swaraj -- which is often regarded as the nearest thing he came to outlining a manifesto of his beliefs. I have also included two novels, Premchand's Gift of a Cow and Bapsi Sidhwa's Cracking India. Both are works of fiction, but provide reasonably realistic accounts of how common folk in India lived their lives under British rule, and how they responded to nationalisms in India. There are a few other short articles, which I will make available through electronic reserve at Cline Library. I have deliberately provided you with many different points of views in these readings in the hope that you will make your own informed arguments about the issues we discuss in this course.

The following REQUIRED texts have been ordered at the NAU Bookstore:

1. Barbara and Thomas Metcalf. A Concise History of India. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

2. M. K. Gandhi. Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule. Ahmedabad: Navajivan Publishing House, 1996/

3. Premchand. Gift of a Cow (Original title Godan). Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2002.

4. Bapsi Sidhwa. Cracking India. Milkweed, 1992.

IN ADDITION: Short scholarly articles and/or fictional writing which are a REQUIRED part of reading for this course will be on electronic reserve at Cline Library.

Course Requirements, Assignments and Evaluation

Formal assignments include the following:

Discussions

The class will be divided into small groups to facilitate three formal discussions. You will be given specific questions or topics around which to frame your discussion notes a few days in advance of the discussion day. On the day of the discussion you need to come prepared with TWO copies of your notes on the discussion topics. You will hand one copy of that to me, and use the other to participate in the discussion. Attendance and participation in all discussions is mandatory; there is no possibility of make-ups in this regard. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will notes be accepted after the discussion has already taken place. If University-related business compels you to miss the discussion, you will be allowed to submit the notes in advance of your departure.

Paper

The paper needs to be about 1700-2000 words in length and will ask you to undertake a HISTORICAL reading of Godan. In the paper you will be expected to combine your understanding of the story with the HISTORICAL background of events, ideas, personalities, and processes you have obtained from class readings, discussion and lectures. Detailed instructions for writing the paper will be provided when formally assigned.

Debate

Given that the objective of this course is to introduce students to different perspectives on a contentious and important period of the world's history, it is only fitting that we end the course with a debate. There is no better or more contentious topic in this history than the story of the partition of the subcontinent in 1947. Students will form teams and choose one from a list of different social groups and political parties with differing perspectives on the events of 1947. The exact number and composition of teams and the points of view they will represent in the debate will be finalized by the middle of the semester. The exact topic of the debate will be handed out about two weeks prior to the debate. Each team will make a ten-minute presentation followed by another five to ten minutes for questions from other participants. If time permits, each team will also be offered one chance at presenting a rebuttal. A written "brief" in the form of a paper between 1000 and 1200 words should accompany each team's presentation. The brief will count toward 15% of the total course grade for both students in a team. Keep the following in mind:

1. Do use your imagination in preparing your brief and presentation, but both should closely follow the ideological and political position of the group you have chosen to represent.

2. You are REQUIRED to undertake independent research to be able to present the points of view you have chosen to represent. Mushirul Hasan's essay should be starting point for all participants, and I will be happy to guide you further in your research as well.

3. In case of a major difference of opinion within teams, BOTH partners will make separate presentations from the point of view of the organization they earlier chose to represent, and prepare separate briefs which should be sufficiently different from each other to rebut charges of plagiarism.

4. You are not permitted to change your choice of the organization/social group you decide to represent after your initial selection.

Grades

The grades for the course will be determined according to the following criteria:

Paper 250 points

Final Exam 200 points

Mid-Term Exam 150 points

Discussion Notes (50 points each) 150 points

Debate Brief 150 points

Debate Presentation 50 points

Class Participation 50 points

TOTAL FOR COURSE 1000 points

The grading scale for the course will be as follows:

900-1000 = A; 800-899 = B; 700-799 = C; 600-699= D; below 600 = F.

Attendance and Course Policy

I expect regular class attendance, of course, without which there is no point in your being enrolled in this class. Missing too many classes will undoubtedly have a negative impact on your class performance. Absence from discussion groups will certainly bring your grade down as there is no possibility of make-ups for that part of the class.

If you miss a class, whatever your reasons for doing so, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to arrange to meet or call a classmate and find out what happened in that class. I also expect you to come to class having done all the required reading, and prepared to engage in discussion. Finally, I expect you to be motivated to learn about the subject, and to improve your skills as a historian.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not give extensions, incompletes, or make-up exams, except in cases required by University policy. Full documentation of reasons for absence will be required in such cases. Plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in failing the course. Please consult the NAU Student Handbook's sections on academic dishonesty (particularly Appendix F) if you are not certain of the meaning of any of these terms. IT IS THE STUDENTS' RESPONSIBILITY TO FAMILIARIZE HERSELF/HIMSELF WITH THESE MATTERS AS DEFINED BY THE UNIVERSITY.

Provisional Course Schedule (Subject to modification)

INTRODUCTIONS

August 31 Course Introduction

September 2 An Introduction to Indian History

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, A Concise History of India, Preface and Chapter One.
 

BACKGROUND: COMING OF THE BRITISH

September 7-9 Coming of British Rule

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, Chapter Two.
 

September 14-16 Company Raj

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, Chapters Three.
 

RESPONSES: REVOLT, THE COLONIAL STATE, and EARLY NATIONALISTS

September 21 Revolt and the Colonial State

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, Chapter Four.

September 23-28 Colonizers and the Colonized

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, Chapter Five.

September 30-October 5 Gender, Colonialism, and Nationalism .

Reading

Shohini Ghosh, "Passionate Involvement: Love and Politics in Satyajit Ray's Ghare Baire," from Rabindranath Tagore's The Home and The World: A Critical Compantion, P.K. Dutta ed. Delhi: Permanent Black, 2003, pp. 82-106. (Electronic Reserve)

Screening

Satyajit Ray's Home and the World.

Assignment

Questions for Discussion #1: Gender, Class, and Early Indian Nationalism.

October 7 Discussion #1: Nation, Class, and Gender in the early Twentieth Century.

October 12 MID TERM REVIEW

October 14 MID TERM EXAM

GANDHI: MAKING OF THE MAHATMA

October 19 The Political Background

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, Chapter Six, pp. 165-191.

I advise you to start reading Hind Swaraj and Godan on your own from the week starting October 19.

I also strongly recommend you watch the film Gandhiby Richard Attenborough (VT 202) on your own time. This is a very long film, ca. 195 minutes. For EXTRA CREDIT, you may submit a written review of around 700 to 1000 words pointing out BOTH how the film helps you better understand the period, AND what the film leaves out in the history it narrates. The extra-credit assignment will be due ON or BEFORE November 23 and will be worth 100 points.
 

October 21-26 Gandhi's Manifesto

Reading

M.K. Gandhi, Hind Swaraj. (entire text).

David Hardiman, "An Alternative Modernity" (selections) pp. 66-77 of his Gandhi in His Time and Ours. Delhi: Permanent Black, 2003.(Electronic Reserve)

MANY SIDES OF GANDHIAN NATIONALISM

October 28 Gandhi and Peasants

Reading

Gyanendra Pandey "Peasant Revolt and Indian Nationalism: The Peasant Movement in Awadh, 1919-22." From Ranajit Guha ed. Subaltern Studies I. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1982, pp. 142-197. (Electronic Reserve)

Assignment

PAPER ASSIGNED.

October 30 Peasant Life in Gandhi's India

Reading

Premchand's Gift of a Cow (Godan). (entire text)

Assignment

Discussion #2 Questions Assigned

November 2 Gandhi, Women, Gender and Sexuality

Reading

David Hardiman, "Father of the Nation" chapter 5, pp. 94-122 of his Gandhi in His Time and Ours. Delhi: Permanent Black, 2003. (Electronic Reserve)

November 4 DISCUSSION #2: Evaluating Gandhian Nationalism

THE MAHATMA MARGINALIZED

November 9 The Congress and the Raj

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, pp. 191-204.

November 11 The Congress and the end of the Raj?

Reading

Metcalf and Metcalf, pp. 204-226.

Assignment

Paper on Godan Due.
 

November 16 Perspectives on Partition

Reading

Mushirul Hasan "Introduction" from his India's Partition: Process, Strategy and Mobilization. Delhi : Oxford University Press, 1993, pp. 1-43. (Electronic Reserve)

Assignment

Debate Topic handed out.

Discussion # 3 Questions Assigned.

November 18 Living Through Partition

Reading

Short stories on the partition. (Electronic Reserve)

Sidhwa, Cracking India.

I would recommend you watch the film Earth by Deepa Mehta (VT 8055) based on Sidhwa's novel to get a better sense of the book. However the film is in no way a SUBSTITUTE for reading the novel.

November 23 Discussion #3: Why Partition? Who Benefits?

November 25 No class, Thanksgiving Break

November 30-December 7 CLASS DEBATE ON PARTITION

December 9 End of Term Review
THE FINAL EXAM FOR THIS COURSE WILL BE ON

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 12:30 TO 2:30 pm.