Spring Break
University taking strides to educate students on Indian culture
by Michael Newborn
News | 11/4/08
Posted online at 2:52 AM EST on 11/4/08
The University's Office of Global Affairs recently disclosed its initiative to increase Brandeis' connection with India through an expansion of the South Asian Studies course offerings, a greater array of Indian academic and cultural events and an initiative to establish educational partnerships with universities and institutions in India in collaboration with Indian alumni.
"Brandeis has long-standing ties to India, mostly through an outstanding group of students and alumni. But in relation to India's place as the world's largest democracy, its expanding economy and its rich culture and history, Brandeis needs to do more. The Brandeis-India initiative is designed to fulfill our research and education potential in one of the most dynamic countries in the world," said Associate Vice President for Global Affairs Daniel Terris.
Terris expressed that both professors and students alike have petitioned over the years for this academic expansion into Indian history and culture.
Prof. Sarah Lamb (ANTH), co-chair of the new South Asian Studies department, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "Co-Chair Prof. Harleen Singh (GRAL) and I have been working to develop the curriculum in South Asia at Brandeis for many years, and finally we are thrilled that there are just enough faculty on campus (with the inclusion of some visiting professors, like Prof. [Smita Tewari] Jassal [ANTH]) with expertise in the region to offer our modest minor. It's terrific that the Global Affairs Office is concentrating on India just now, because it helps bolster our academic program."
She cited the recent Shubha Mudgal Hindustani music concert Oct. 18; a talk by the Madeleine Haas Russell Visiting Professor of Anthropology and South Asian Studies, Smita Jassal, on lower-class agricultural women in northern India; and the "Tiger by the Tail" art exhibit last fall, which presented culturally expressive contemporary female Indian art, as examples of Brandeis' recent engagement with aspects of Indian culture.
"Brandeis has long-standing ties to India, mostly through an outstanding group of students and alumni. But in relation to India's place as the world's largest democracy, its expanding economy and its rich culture and history, Brandeis needs to do more. The Brandeis-India initiative is designed to fulfill our research and education potential in one of the most dynamic countries in the world," said Associate Vice President for Global Affairs Daniel Terris.
Terris expressed that both professors and students alike have petitioned over the years for this academic expansion into Indian history and culture.
Prof. Sarah Lamb (ANTH), co-chair of the new South Asian Studies department, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "Co-Chair Prof. Harleen Singh (GRAL) and I have been working to develop the curriculum in South Asia at Brandeis for many years, and finally we are thrilled that there are just enough faculty on campus (with the inclusion of some visiting professors, like Prof. [Smita Tewari] Jassal [ANTH]) with expertise in the region to offer our modest minor. It's terrific that the Global Affairs Office is concentrating on India just now, because it helps bolster our academic program."
She cited the recent Shubha Mudgal Hindustani music concert Oct. 18; a talk by the Madeleine Haas Russell Visiting Professor of Anthropology and South Asian Studies, Smita Jassal, on lower-class agricultural women in northern India; and the "Tiger by the Tail" art exhibit last fall, which presented culturally expressive contemporary female Indian art, as examples of Brandeis' recent engagement with aspects of Indian culture.
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