Oriental languages and civilizations

General Framework: Main social and political developments in India from early British rule to independence. Teaching structure: 1) theory and history, 2 hours (historical knowledge and lingering colonial stereotypes; event and representation; methodologies of historical research); 2) historical overview, 6 hours (India’s political systems in the 16th to 18th centuries; rise and decline of the Mughal Empire; birth of regional power centres); 3) a political outline of British colonialism in India, 14 hours (the early phase of the East India Company; British conquest of India; development of political institutions between 1757 and 1947; the colonial economy); 4) Indian nationalism, 16 hours (the ideological basis and the formative phase; evolution of the nationalist movement 1885-1939; separatism and Partition); 5) cultural history of colonialism, 4 hours (interpretative contributions by Said, Foucault, the Subaltern Studies group; India as seen through Orientalism; tradition, reform, orthodoxy, modernity).

Students are expected to have a general knowledge of 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century history, and to be conversant with basic terminology related to political and social institutions.

Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, From Plassey to Partition, Orient BlackSwan, New Delhi, 2008 (or later).

Classroom teaching, seminar, documentaries and visual documents (specific aims 1-3); oral and written tests and exercises (specific aim 4).

Attendance is not compulsory. It is, however, strongly recommended as a large majority of students are not familiar with the themes dealt with.

Attending students: Two written tests relating to parts 1-3 of the course (specific aims 1-2, 4). Final oral examination with marks up to 30/30, relating to the remaining parts (specific aims 3-4). Non-attending students: oral examination with marks up to 30/30, relating to the exam reading list. Marks are given based on: - ability to identify and contextualize historical processes and events; - knowing the subject matter; - ability to approach themes and issues both analytically and synthetically; - ability to use adequate language. Attaining the above abilities fully will result in excellent marks. Attaining the above qualities partially will result in medium to good marks. Failure in some of the abilities will result in only sufficient marks. Failure in most or all the above abilities will result in negative marks.

Classroom teaching, seminar, documentaries and visual documents (specific aims 1-3); oral and written tests and exercises (specific aim 4).