An examination of South Asian philosophical and religious thought from earliest period
in Indian history of the Indus Valley civilization to the religion of the Vedas, through
the Upanishads, and classical period in Indian thought including the development of
Buddhism and Jainism.
An examination of Medieval to Contemporary South Asian philosophy and religion from
Puranic Hinduism, the influence of Islam upon Indian thought, the development of medieval
devotional Hinduism, and the origin of the Sikh religion. Explores contemporary Indian
philosophy as expressed in the thought of such figures as S. Radhakrishnan, Sri Aurobindo,
Tagore, and most particularly Gandhi.
An examination of one of the world's oldest religious and philosophical traditions
from the 6th century BCE to its influence on contemporary figures, including Mahatma
Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and the Dalai Lama. Topics include
pacifism and non-violence, self-control, non-materialism, compassion, meditation,
and the relationship of the self to divine consciousness.
An examination of non-Western religious traditions for an environmental philosophy
geared toward assessing global environmental issues with a focus on South Asian and
East Asian philosophical and religious traditions.
Examines the expansion and growth of the English East India Company, the transition
to British Crown rule after the rebellion of 1857, and anti-colonial movements leading
up to the partition of India in 1947.
Examines the contemporary histories of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and the Maldives Islands) from 1947 onward, including
the 1947 partition of India, India-Pakistan relations since 1947, the role of Afghanistan
in South Asia, and themes such as religion, caste, gender, minorities, cinema, popular
culture, and sport.