Hist 391: Modern India Through Biography Winter Term 2012 St. Jerome s University in the University of Waterloo Department of History

Transcription

1 1 Hist 391: Modern India Through Biography Winter Term 2012 St. Jerome s University in the University of Waterloo Department of History Course Outline Prof. Ryan Touhey Office: SJU 3003 Phone: , ext ryan.touhey@uwaterloo.ca Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:00-11:30 or Thursdays 2:30-3:30pm Seminar: STJ 3020, Tuesdays 9:00am to 10:50am This course will be structured as a seminar. Students will meet as a group with Professor Touhey weekly to discuss and debate the assigned readings. This course will examine the history of modern India through the lives of historical figures who helped shape post-independence India and Pakistan. The biographies to be read and considered will examine the lives of Mahatma Gandhi (spiritual leader of non-violence and the early Indian independence movement), Mohammad Ali Jinnah (the founder of Pakistan), Jawaharlal Nehru (a key leader in the Indian independence movement and India s first prime minister), and Indira Gandhi (Nehru s daughter and the first female prime minister of India). These four individuals continue to have a profound impact on the course of modern Indian political, social, economic, and sectarian discourse. The biographies will expose students to these dominant personalities and will prompt students to consider what biography reveals, and obstructs, in the telling of modern Indian history. Note: If a student has not taken Hist 291(now Hist 282): History of South Asia before enrolling in this course it is advised that they read a general survey of Indian history since the 1800s i.e. Stanley Wolpert s A New History of India Learning objectives: Students will be exposed to a comprehensive examination of the leading political actors who have influenced the history of modern South Asia. Through the seminar readings/discussions students will enhance their knowledge of this region/era. The readings will provoke the students to consider how historians/journalists use biography as a means to understand the past. The written assignments will seek to further the students ability to develop thoughtful analysis expressed in clear and concise prose.

2 2 Evaluation Essay Proposal: 10% 2-3 pgs (Feb 7 in class) Essay: 35% pages (March 15) Participation: 40% Book Review: 15% 3-4 pgs (March 30 in my office/drop box by 10am) Course Texts: Joseph Lelyveld---Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India Benjamin Zachariah----Nehru Reserve (SJU circulation desk): Indira by Katherine Frank; Jinnah by Stanley Wolpert Jan 10th readings available electronically on e-reserve Seminar Participation (40%) Students are expected to actively participate in the weekly seminars. Regular reading requirements will be approximately 100 pages a week. As in all seminars, there will be little to no lecturing. Attendance is a prerequisite to successful completion of the course, but students must also come prepared to discuss the required readings each week. Students are forewarned that oral participation is a critical component of the course evaluation. Simply showing up to seminar and offering a few vague words on the readings will not earn a student minimum marks i.e. 2/5. Students aiming to receive top participation marks in each seminar will be active listeners, they will consistently engage each other in discussion, and they will demonstrate through their comments that they have a solid grasp of the readings. Note: failure to attend the majority of seminar will result in an automatic failure.

3 3 Written Assignments Annotated bibliography/essay proposal Students are permitted to choose a wide range of idea for essay topics. To help students narrow and refine their topic on 7 February they will submit a proposal (2-3 pages) including: The historical topic and the main question(s) that they are asking (in question form); The approach they plan to pursue, and a tentative thesis; 8-10 secondary sources i.e. academic monographs/journal articles; primary sources will also be accepted The following are not permissible sources: a) Encyclopedia/ General/generic/government websites (in fact---just avoid websites) b) survey textbooks without footnotes i.e. Wolpert s history of India is one such example c) book reviews of actual books as opposed to using said actual book Sources to assist you with your research essays include: Journals: India Review Journal of Commonwealth and Imperial History South Asia Review History Today The Pacific Review Recent surveys with helpful suggested readings: Maria Misra---Vishnu s Crowded Temple---India Since the Great Rebellion Ramachandra Guha----India since Gandhi Ian Talbot---Pakistan: a modern history Judith Brown---Modern India: The origins of an Asian democracy Essay (35%) The research essay will be pages on a topic considering modern India/Pakistan ( s). In evaluating your essay, I will look for the following: 1. Double-spaced 12pt Times New Roman font, with page #s, 2. The extent of the analysis (rather than description) of your essay.

4 4 3. A thesis statement or interpretation that you argue throughout. 4. A good writing style, with proper sentences, proper grammar, punctuation, and logic. 5. Proper footnoting/endnoting and bibliographic citations. Book Review (15%): Students will write one book review of minimum three to four (3-4) pages, double-spaced 12pt Times New Roman font, on one of the assigned seminar biographies. This is due on 30 March by 10am. This is expected to be a critical review more concerned with assessing the book, its arguments, approach, and interpretation than in summarizing its contents. You will receive a more specific handout in the seminar on how to prepare a scholarly book review. For examples of reviews, you can consult journals like India Review, The Journal of Commonwealth and Imperial History, South Asia Review. If you have little to no experience writing a scholarly book review, see The Book Review Tutor at Seminar schedule Jan. 3 Jan. 10 Introduction Setting the stage---pros and cons of biography; intro to the figures. Reserve Readings: Wolpert---Biography as history Brown---Life histories; and Gandhi/Nehru frustrated visionaries Talbot Jinnah and the making of Pakistan Akbar---Jinnah and the quest for Muslim identity Jan. 17 Lelyveld---Great Soul (Gandhi) chpts 1 4 Jan. 24 Lelyveld Great Soul (Gandhi) chpts Jan. 31 Essay Proposal chat--students meet with Professor Touhey individually Feb. 7 Lelyveld----Great Soul (Gandhi) chpts 9-12 Essay Proposal Due

5 5 Feb. 14 Zachariah----Nehru Chpts Intro., 1-2 **********Feb Reading Week**************** Feb. 28 Zachariah----Nehru Chpts 3-Interlude Mar. 6 Zachariah---Nehru Chpts 5 to conclusion Mar. 13 Wolpert---Jinnah or Franks Indira Gandhi (class to decide by Jan 10 th ) Essays Due Thursday March 15th Mar. 20 Wolpert---Jinnah or Franks Indira Gandhi Mar. 27 Wolpert---Jinnah or Franks Indira Gandhi Biography Review Due March 30 th by 10am in my office/or drop box PROFESSOR S POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS/ESSAYS NOTE: A late mark of 5% per day will be deducted for the essay assignment. An assignment that is 1 week late will be docked 30% and so on. OTHER INFORMATION Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo and its Federated University and Affiliated Colleges are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. Discipline: All students registered in courses at St. Jerome s University are expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for their actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about rules for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under St. Jerome s University Academic Discipline Policy and UW Policy 71 Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university

6 6 life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. In such a case, contact the St. Jerome s University Grievance Officer. Read St. Jerome s University Handbook, Section4, item 8, Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under St. Jerome s University Academic Discipline Policy or Grievance Policy if a ground for an appeal can be established. In such a case, contact the St. Jerome s University Appeals Officer. Read St. Jerome s University Handbook, Section 6.4, Academic Integrity website (Arts): Academic Integrity Office (University): Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: Note for students with disabilities: The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term.