Have you ever thought about why Shah Jahan’s beloved Taj lies in India, while his father’s tomb is in Lahore? Or whether it was just a coincidence that there happens to be a ‘Panjab’ on one side and a ‘Punjab’ on the other? Introduction to South Asian Studies is taught by teachers from India as well as Pakistan- it defies borders and will provide a balanced understanding of the subcontinent’s shared history. You will study about British rule, its impact on our society, the road towards Independence, and the politics and consequences of Partition.
Explain how British colonial rule, specifically the introduction of English education and the policy of divide and rule, has shaped the subcontinent’s current society
Illustrate the process by which “normal” ideas in society are formed, such as the idea of the ‘Male Gaze’ and ‘Western Gaze’
Criticize the role that “normal” ideas and mainstream historical narratives play in their lives in an essay or discussion format.
