Literature and Philosophy of South Asia

This course surveys the philosophical bases of the major religions that originated in South Asia (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism) and others that were introduced into South Asia (notably, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism) and examines how their traditions inform exemplary literary texts from antiquity to modern times. Students read selections from the Mahabharata, including the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, and Kalidasa's Sakuntala, as well as a wide range of modern texts by figures such as Tagore, Gandhi, and important Pakistani and Sri Lankan authors.