Syllabus for Text Course in Hindi I: Literature and Religion in South Asia

Decisions and guidelines

The course is part of the Master's Programme in languages, specialisation Indologi-Hindi (semester 1), and can also be taken as an independent course.

Learning outcomes

In order to obtain the grade Pass on completion of the course, the student should at least be able to:

- translate literary texts and media texts from Hindi to Swedish/English by means of dictionaries;

- account for and discuss the history of Hindi literature in its South Asian context up to today;

- account for and discuss South Asia's history of religions from around 1000 AD till today;

- show advanced knowledge within some part of the following two fields: Hindi-literature or media in South Asia. The field is chosen in consultation with the course coordinator.

- show ability to integrate knowledge, to translate, analyse, assess and handle complex questions, phenomena and situations with limited information, and discuss conclusions, the knowledge and the arguments that underlies these in written and clear account;

- show ability to orally and clearly account for and discuss conclusions and the knowledge and the arguments that underlies these in dialogue with different student groups.

Content

This course treats South Asia's literary and religious development during the colonial and post-colonial time with special emphasis on the decades after independence (1947). The course includes Hindi text reading, a general overview of ideological debates and the modernisation process and its religious and social dimensions, regional differences, changes in the life style of people and attitudes, gender, demography and minorities The course also gives insight in current changes in discourses about religion and secularism following their expression in contemporary literature and in media texts. The course also contains a specialisation within a field chosen by the student in consultation with the course coordinator and a written and oral presentation of this.

Instruction

The instruction consists of lectures, workshops and assessment. In the course, written and oral presentation of the minor essay is included. The student's own learning activities are of crucial weight for the work in the course, which requires attendance and active participation in the lectures.

Assessment

The course includes 3 examination parts:

1. written examination;

2. minor essay (about 10 pages) with a focus on either Hindi-litteratur or media in South Asia;

3. oral presentation of minor essay (normally 15 min, PowerPointpresentation sequence of 10 min. and discussion of the research results).

Part 1 and 2 is assessed accordingly with the mark passed with distinction/passed/failed and part 3 accordingly with passed/failed. In order to obtain the grade Pass, a Pass is required in all parts. For the grade Pass with distinction, the same grading is required in part 1 and 2 and at least Pass in part 3.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

The course may not be included in a degree if equivalent parts have formed part of the requirements within another degree course.