The purpose of this class is to acquaint the student with the literature and the history of India until the 18th C.E, and the texts that we have chosen attempt to address India's linguistic, regional, and thematic diversity. Since gender is so vexed an issue in India, we will pay particular attention to the representations of, and the voices of women in these various texts. Our encounter with these texts will challenge assumptions of text, nation, caste, gender and language in India. There are four writing assignments for this semester. The papers are due in lecture and late papers will not be accepted.
Regular attendance is mandatory in both lecture and discussion.
We expect you to participate fully and enthusiastically in both lecture class as well as your discussion. The Bhagavad Gita. Translated by Juan Mascaro Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava translated by Hank Heifitz Sanskrit Plays. Translated by P. Lal Ilango Atikal's Cilapatikaram translated by R.Parthasarathy A.K.Ramanujan. Songs of the Saints.