Program of Study

The Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations (SALC) offers a major leading to a B.A. in the Humanities Collegiate Division. However, the social sciences are integrated into our program through the Civilization sequence, and courses in the social sciences and religious studies are usually included in the student's program of study. The student majoring in SALC will gain a broad knowledge of the literature and history of the South Asian subcontinent (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), as well as proficiency in at least one South Asian language that is equivalent to two years of study or greater. Students currently may study Bangla (Bengali), Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan, or Urdu. Students are encouraged to participate in the University's study abroad Civilization Studies quarter in India, or another study abroad program in South Asia, as part of their course of study. The SALC curriculum will develop the student's skills in formulating analyses of various types of texts, historical, literary, or filmic. The critical and linguistic skills, as well as the in-depth area knowledge, developed through the SALC degree may prepare a student for any number of careers.

Students in other fields of study may also complete a minor in SALC. Information follows the description of the major.

Program Requirements

Ideally, the student will begin the degree requirements with the two quarter sequence, Introduction to the Civilization of South Asia (SALC 20100-20200), and demonstrate competence in a South Asian language, through course work or exam, equivalent to one year of study. The Civilization sequence satisfies the general education requirement in civilization studies, and it can also be taken during the Pune Civilization Program (see below). The College's language competency requirement will be satisfied by demonstrated competency equivalent to one year of study of a South Asian Language offered through SALC.

The major further requires three courses in a language offered through SALC at the second-year level or higher. These courses must be taken at the University of Chicago, and credit may not be granted by examination. Finally, the major requires six additional courses. These courses may be (1) listed under SALC; (2) courses in one of the SALC languages (e.g., Bangla [Bengali], Hindi); or (3) courses focused on South Asia that originate in other departments (subject to the approval of the departmental adviser). Only three of these six additional courses may be language courses. Students should choose courses in consultation with the departmental adviser.

Summary of Requirements

0-2 SALC 20100-20200*

3 courses in a second-year (or higher) South Asian language**

6 courses on South Asia***

* If not taken to meet the general education requirement in civilization studies.

** Credit may not be granted by examination. Courses must be taken at the University of Chicago.

*** Up to three of these courses may be language courses.

Sample Programs. The following groups of courses would comprise a major.

SALC Sample Majors

SALC 20100-20200. Introduction to the Civilization of South Asia

SALC 20800. Music of South Asia

SALC 28700. State in India

SALC 29000. Introduction to Tibetan Civilization

TBTN 20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Tibetan

URDU 10100-10200-10300. First-Year Urdu

ANTH 21407. Practice of Anthropology

BANG 30100-30200-30300. Third-Year Bangla

SALC 20100-20200. Introduction to the Civilization of South Asia

SALC 20400. The Mahabharata in English Translation

SALC 20901-20902. Indian Philosophy

SALC 23002. Gender and Literature in South Asia

SALC 29800. B.A. Paper

ECON 25500. Topics in Economic Growth and Development

HIND 20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Hindi

SALC 20100-20200-20300. Introduction to the Civilization of South Asia (Pune program)

SALC 25701. Religion, Sex, Politics, and Release in Ancient India

SALC 27000. Languages and Literatures of Pakistan

SALC 29900. Informal Reading Course

SOCI 20102. Social Change

Honors. Students who wish to receive honors must (1) maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, (2) maintain a departmental GPA of 3.3 or higher, and (3) complete a B.A. paper of superior quality.

In order to be eligible to write a B.A. paper in SALC, students must meet the first two requirements by Winter Quarter of their third year (students must provide the departmental adviser with the degree program sheet obtained from their College adviser). In Winter Quarter of their third year, the student will arrange to work with a faculty member of SALC (see list at http://southasia.uchicago.edu/faccont.htm) for two quarters of the following year. It is the student's responsibility to locate and make an arrangement with an appropriate faculty member, who will be in residence during the student's fourth year.

The B.A. paper is researched, discussed, and written in the context of SALC 29800-29801-29802. Students register for two of these courses in their fourth year. Credit toward the major is given for the second quarter of enrollment: SALC 29801 if the student also registered for SALC 29800; SALC 29802 if the student is also registered for SALC 29800 or 29801. The second quarter of enrollment is also the quarter in which the paper must be submitted.

The B.A. paper must be substantively different from any paper submitted to any other department, for honors or otherwise, and must be judged to be superior by the faculty adviser and a second SALC faculty reader.

Grading. Students majoring or minoring in South Asian Languages and Civilizations must take a quality grade in all courses used to meet department requirements. More than half of the requirements must be met by courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.

Minor Program in South Asian Languages and Civilizations

The minor program in South Asian Languages and Civilizations requires a total of six or seven courses, depending on whether two quarters of the South Asian Civilization sequence (SALC 20100-20200) are used to meet the general education requirement or to meet the minor program. (If used in general education, the minor will consist of six courses related to South Asian Languages and Civilizations. If South Asian Civilization (SALC 20100-20200) has not been taken to meet the general education requirement, two quarters must be included in the minor for a total of seven courses.) Students choose courses in consultation with the Departmental Adviser. Requirements include:

(1) Two quarters of South Asian Civilization (SALC 20100-20200) or the civilization sequence from the Pune study abroad program (SOSC 23001-23002-23003), if not used to meet the general education requirement in civilization studies. If the sequence has been used for the general education requirement, then one course related to South Asian civilization that is approved by the Departmental Adviser will substitute for this requirement.

(2) Three University of Chicago courses in a language offered through the SALC Department. Credit may not be granted by examination.

(3) Two additional courses either (a) listed as SALC courses or as one of the SALC languages (e.g., Bangla [Bengali], Hindi) or (b) courses focused on South Asia that originate in other departments (subject to the approval of the departmental adviser).

Students must receive the approval of the Departmental Adviser in SALC on a form obtained from their College adviser and returned to their adviser by the end of Spring Quarter of their third year.

Courses in the minor (1) may not be double counted with the student's major(s) or with other minors; or (2) may not be double counted toward general education requirements. Courses taken to complete a minor are counted toward electives.

The following groups of courses would comprise a minor.

Six-Course SALC Sample Minors

BANG 10100-10200-10300. First-Year Bengla (three courses)

SALC 20500. Film in India (one course)

SALC 20701. Postcolonial Theory (one course)

SALC 22600. Literature of Bengal (one course)

MARA 10100-10200. First-Year Marathi (two courses)

SALC 25702. Storytelling in India (one course)

SANS 10100-10200-10300. First-Year Sanskit (three courses)

Seven-Course SALC Sample Minors

SALC 20100-20200. Introduction to the Civilization of South Asia (two courses)

SALC 27701. Mughal, India (one course)

SALC 38201. Thai Buddhism (one course)

TAML 20100-20200-20300. First-Year Tamil (three courses)

HIND 10100-10200-10300. First-Year Hindi (three courses first quarter in Pune)

SALC 20100-20200-20300. Pune Program: South Asian Civilizations in India (three courses)

SALC 26700. Introduction to Modern South Asian History (one course)

Pune, India, Program, South Asian Civilization. The University of Chicago's Autumn-Quarter program in Pune (Poona) is devoted to the study of South Asian history and culture. It is built upon a three-course civilization sequence examining the history, culture, and society of the South Asian subcontinent through course work, field studies, and direct experience. During the first seven weeks of the quarter, the program will be based in the city of Pune where students will complete two courses and participate in expeditions to nearby cultural and historical sites.

In addition to the civilization sequence, students take a fourth course in Hindi during the first seven weeks of the quarter. For students with no prior experience in South Asian languages, this course is designed to facilitate their access to local culture and to provide a basis for further study. Advanced sections will be held for those students with prior course work or experience in Hindi.

Pune itself is a city of some four million inhabitants situated on the eastern foothills of Indian western coastal mountains, or ghats, about one hundred miles southeast of Mumbai. Labeled famously by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as "the Oxford and Cambridge of India," it is a major center for Indian art, religion, and higher education, and an ideal site for cultural immersion.

Students participating in the Pune Program receive three credits for the civilization sequence, which meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. Students who have already met the civilization studies requirement, may use these credits as electives. One credit will be received for the Hindi language course. Course titles, units of credit, and grades will be placed on the Chicago transcript.

For further details, consult the Study Abroad Web site (http://study-abroad.uchicago.edu/programs/pune.html). For more information about this and other study abroad programs, contact Lewis Fortner, Director of Study Abroad, at fortner@uchicago.edu. For information on other study abroad programs in South Asia, contact the SALC undergraduate adviser.

Faculty

M. Alam, E. Bashir, Y. Bronner, D. Chakrabarty, S. Collins, W. Doniger, S. Ebeling, P. Engblom,
J. Grunebaum, N. Jorden, N. Kommattam, V. Katikaneni, J. Lindholm, R. Majumdar, V. Ritter, U. Stark, C. B. Seely

Courses

South Asian Languages and Civilizations (salc)

20100-20200. Introduction to the Civilization of South Asia I, II. (=ANTH 24101-24102, HIST 10800-10900, SASC 20000-20100, SOSC 23000-23100) Must be taken in sequence. This course fulfills the general education requirement in civilization studies. This sequence of courses provides an introduction to core themes in the formation of culture and society in South Asia before colonialism. In the Autumn Quarter, readings selected mainly from Sanskrit and vernacular sources address ideas and practices relating to space, time, self, power, language, love, beauty, death, and spirit. The Winter Quarter focuses on Islam in South Asia, Hindu-Muslim interaction, Mughal political and literary traditions, and South Asia's early encounters with Europe. Autumn, Winter.

20400/48200. The Mahabharata in English Translation. (=HREL 35000, RLST 26800) A reading of the Mahabharata in English translation (van Buitenen, Narasimhan, P. C. Roy, and Doniger), with special attention to issues of mythology, feminism, and theodicy. W. Doniger. Winter.

20500/30500. Film in India. (=ANTH 20600/31100) Some knowledge of Hindi helpful but not required. R. Inden. Autumn.

20701/30701. Postcolonial Theory. This introductory course discusses "colonial discourse analysis" and postcolonial theory and critiques thereof. We also investigate the impact of postcolonial criticism on different disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences. D. Chakrabarty. Autumn. Not offered 2005-06; will be offered 2006-07.

20800/30800. Music of South Asia. (=MUSI 23700/33700, RLST 27700) PQ: Any 10000-level music course or consent of instructor. This course examines the music of South Asia as an aesthetic domain with both unity and particularity in the region. The unity of the North and South Indian classical traditions is treated historically and analytically, with special emphasis placed on correlating their musical and mythological aspects. The classical traditions are contrasted with regional, tribal, and folk music with respect to fundamental conceptualizations of music and the roles it plays in society. In addition, the repertories of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and states and nations bordering the region are covered. Music is also considered as a component of myth, religion, popular culture, and the confrontation with modernity. P. Bohlman. Winter.

20901/30901. Indian Philosophy I: Origins and Orientations. (=DVHR 30200, DVPR 30200, HREL 30200, RLST 24201) Winter. Not offered 2005-06; will be offered 2006-07.

20902/30902. Indian Philosophy II: The Classical Traditions. (=DVPR 30300, HREL 30300, RLST 24202) PQ: SALC 20901/30901. M. Kapstein. Spring. Not offered 2005-06; will be offered 2006-07.

22600/32600. Literature of Bengal: M. M. Dutt and Nineteenth-Century Bengali Identity. In Calcutta during the nineteenth century, various forces shaped (or tried to shape) identities (e.g., what it meant to be Bengali). Thomas Babington Macaulay, in his "Minute on Education of 1835," was probably the most straightforward in his expressed goals: to create "a class of person, Indian in blood and color but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect." What does it mean to be Indian in blood? What does it mean to be English in taste and morals? The course considers Bengali identities during the nineteenth century in Calcutta, focusing on Michael Madhusudan Dutt (1824 to 1873). Texts in English. C. Seely. Autumn.

22900. Politics and Performance in India. (=ANTH 22910/42900) With the explosion of commercial media in India during the last twenty years, much attention has been given to the relationship between political action and mass media. This seminar considers and pushes beyond such much-debated recent instances as the alleged complicity between the televised "Ramayana" and the rise of a violently intolerant Hindu nationalism. We consider the potentials and entailments of various forms of mediation and performance for political action on the subcontinent, from "classical" textual sources, through "folk" traditions and "progressive" dramatic practice, to contemporary skirmishes over "obscenity" in commercial films. W. T. S. Mazzarella. Winter.

23002/33002. Gender and Literature in South Asia. (=CMLT 23500, GNDR 23001/33001) Prior knowledge of South Asia not required. This course investigates representations of gender and sexuality, especially of females and "the feminine" in South Asian literature (i.e., from areas now included in the nations of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka). Topics include classical Indian literature and sexual motifs, the female voice as a devotional/literary stance, gendered nationalism, the feminist movements, class and gender, and women's songs. Texts in English. V. Ritter. Spring.

23900. Philosophical Education in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. (=RLST 23901) This course surveys the various trajectories of philosophical thought that arise from the Indian Buddhist tradition during its scholastic phase, based in part on the representation thereof in Tibetan monastic textbooks. Particular attention is paid to the practical and pedagogical context for the traditional study of Buddhist philosophy, as well as to the question of the role of such study as an example of what Foucault refers to as "technologies of the self." D. Arnold. Autumn.

25701/35701. Religion, Sex, Politics, and Release in Ancient India. (=HREL 32200, RLST 27300, SCTH 35600) This course is a study of the four goals of human life (purusharthas) in classical Hinduism with readings in the Laws of Manu, the Kamasutra, the Arthashastra, and the Upanishads. Texts in English. W. Doniger. Winter.

26701/36701. Introduction to Modern South Asian History. (=HIST 26900/36900) This course concentrates on historiographical debates in modern South Asian history, including Cambridge school, nationalist history, feminist history, history of sexuality, Subaltern studies, and other approaches. D. Chakrabarty. Not offered 2005-06; will be offered 2006-07.

27701/37701. Mughal, India: Tradition and Transition. (=HIST 26602/36602) PQ: Advanced standing and consent of instructor. Prior knowledge of appropriate history and secondary literature. The focus of this course is on the period of Mughal rule during the late sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, especially on selected issues that have been at the center of historiographical debate in the past decades. We discuss some of the major texts on the basis of which Mughal legitimacy was defined and defended in the period and examine the efforts in the eighteenth century to define a stable basis for Mughal rule after the challenges posed from the outside and the provinces. M. Alam. Spring.

29800-29801-29802. B.A. Paper. PQ: Honors standing, consent of faculty supervisor and undergraduate studies adviser. Students register for this course for two quarters. One quarter is for directed reading; and the second quarter is for writing and submission of the B.A. paper, which can be credited toward the SALC major requirements. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

29900-29901-29902. Informal Reading Course. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. This individual reading course with faculty may be used for topics not requiring use of a South Asian language, for independent study, and by nonmajors wishing to explore a South Asian topic. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Bangla (Bengali) (bang)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Bangla (Bengali) I, II, III. PQ: BANG 10300 or equivalent. The basic grammar of Bangla is presented in this coruse. Students are expected to be able to read simple graded texts and to speak at a "low-intermediate" level by the end of Spring Quarter. C. Seely. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Bangla (Bengali) I, II, III. PQ: BANG 10300 or equivalent. Selected texts from modern Bangla prose and poetry are read in class. Students are expected to be able to read, with the aid of a dictionary, modern Bengali literature and to speak at a "high-intermediate" level by the end of Spring Quarter. C. Seely. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Hindi (hind)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Hindi I, II, III. This course presents basic grammar of Hindi, the Nagari writing system, conversation practice, oral drill, written exercises, lab work, and simple reading. The Urdu writing system is introduced in the Spring Quarter. J. Grunebaum. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Hindi I, II, III. PQ: HIND 10300 or equivalent. This intermediate Hindi course presupposes a knowledge of the basic grammar of Hindi and requires a fair amount of reading and translating Hindi prose, along with discussion of advanced topics in Hindi grammar. Regular attention is given to conversation and composition. Texts in Hindi. J. Grunebaum. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Marathi (mara)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Marathi, I, II, III. This course follows the newly developed textbook Marathi in Context in its focus on developing the basic skills (comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing) of Marathi language use. It covers all the fundamentals of Marathi grammar, but only as they are encountered in context within a wide array of social and conversational "situations." P. Engblom. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Marathi, I, II, III. PQ: MARA 10300 or equivalent. This course significantly extends both the breadth and depth of the social and conversational situations introduced in the first year and includes numerous readings. It covers all the grammar required for reading most kinds of modern Marathi prose texts. P. Engblom. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Pali (pali)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Pali I, II, III. This course is an introduction to the language of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Essentials of grammar are emphasized, with readings in simpler texts by the end of the first quarter. S. Collins. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Pali I, II, III. PQ: PALI 10300 or consent of instructor. Students in this intermediate Pali course read Pali texts that are chosen in accordance with their interests. The texts read in the introductory course are usually taken from a single, early stratum of Pali literature. The intermediate course takes examples of Pali from different periods and in different styles. Texts in Pali. S. Collins. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Sanskrit (sans)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Sanskrit I, II, III. The first half (about fifteen weeks) of the sequence is spent mastering the reading and writing of the Devanagari script and studying the grammar of the classical Sanskrit language. The remainder of the sequence is devoted to close analytical reading of simple Sanskrit texts, which are used to reinforce the grammatical study done in the first half of this course. The aim is to bring students to the point where they are comfortably able, with the help of a dictionary, to read simple, narrative Sanskrit. Texts in Sanskrit. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Sanskrit I, II, III. (SALC 20200=SALC 48400, HREL 36000) PQ: SANS 10300 or equivalent. This course begins with a rapid review and consolidation of grammar learned in the introductory course. Reading selections introduce major Sanskrit genres, including verse and prose narrative, lyric poetry, drama, and the intellectual discourse of religion, philosophy, and the sciences. Analysis of the language and style employed in commentatorial texts and practice in reading such texts is also emphasized. S. Collins, Autumn; W. Doniger, Winter; W. Doniger, Spring.

Tamil (taml)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Tamil I, II, III. The grammar of modern Tamil and a large amount of basic vocabulary are acquired through emphasis on both the reading and aural comprehension of graded texts (largely tales, myths, and fictional and historical anecdotes) that provide constant contextual reinforcement of the major aspects of grammar and vocabulary. Written, oral, and language lab exercises focus on ensuring accurate conceptual understanding and efficient functional control of these basics. This course also emphasizes development of basic conversational skills. J. Lindholm. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Tamil I, II, III. PQ: TAML 10300 or equivalent. Students engage in the following activities that collectively are designed to promote development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking proficiency: (1) use texts such as folktales, religious narratives, short stories, and newspaper articles to develop efficient reading comprehension and to learn about conceptual areas of cultural importance; (2) work with audio tapes, films, and free conversation to develop listening and conversational skills; and (3) complete composition assignments. J. Lindholm. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Telugu (tlgu)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Telugu I, II, III. V. Devi. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Telugu I, II, III. V. Devi. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Tibetan (tbtn)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Tibetan I, II, III. The Tibetan language, with a history going back more than one thousand years, is one of Asia's major literary languages. At the present time, it is the first language of close to seven million people in the Tibetan regions of China, as well as in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. This introductory course covers the script and pronunciation, the grammar of the modern Lhasa dialect, and basic reading and speaking skills. N. Jorden. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Tibetan I, II, III. PQ: TBTN 10300 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. This intermediate course covers second-level pronunciation and grammar of the modern Lhasa dialect, and intermediate-level reading and speaking skills. N. Jorden. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Urdu (urdu)

10100-10200-10300. First-Year Urdu I, II, III. This three-quarter sequence presents the basic grammar and vocabulary of Urdu, a language spoken by thirty-five million people in South Asia and one of the official languages of Pakistan. The text used is C. M. Naim's Introductory Urdu and the emphasis is on the written language. E. Bashir. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20100-20200-20300. Second-Year Urdu I, II, III. PQ: URDU 10300 or equivalent. This course is a continuation of URDU 10100-10200-10300. E. Bashir. Autumn, Winter, Spring.