The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Asian Studies
Fall 2010: Asian Studies Course (ANS 340)
Indian Poetry and Religions
Global Cultures and Writing Flag Course
Instructor: Afsar Mohammad, Ph.D
Class Meetings: Tue and Thu 11 to 12:30 at SZB 286
Office Hours: Tue and Thr 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. or by appointment
Office: Homer Rainey Hall 3:102
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This course focuses on the intersections of religion and poetry in the history of Indian literature. The basic question that we explore is: Why religion and poetry are deeply connected in the making of Indian religions? From the Vedas to the recent post-modern/post-colonial manifestations of religious devotion and expressive forms, poetry continues to play its central role in the making of Indian religions. We focus on several streams of poetry beginning with the Vedic to contemporary and study various intersections of religion and poetry. Most importantly, we try to capture the contours of the Indian religious poetry expressed in multiple settings and many variations that include hymns, chants, bhajans, and long poetic narratives along with the new poetic conventions that deal with caste and gender identities as well.
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Required Texts:
1. Donald S.Lopez, Jr. Religions of India in Practice, Princeton University Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0691043258
2. Paula Richman, Extraordinary Child, University of Hawaii Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0824810634
3. Vinay Dharwadker (TR), Kabir: The Weaver’s Songs, Penguin India.
ISBN-13: 978-0143029687
4. Syed Akbar Hyder, Reliving Karbala, Oxford University Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0195373028
5. A.K. Ramanujan (TR), Speaking of Siva, Penguin Classics,
ISBN-13: 978-0140442700
6. Narayana Rao, (TR), God on the Hill, Oxford University Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0195677096
7. Verses From the Center: A Buddhist vision of the Sublime
Grading Scale:
92-100 A
89-91 A-
86-88 B+
82-85 B
79-81 B-
76-78 C+
72-75 C
Class Attendance and Participation:
Regrettably, excessive unexcused absences and persistent failure to prepare the assignments on time have deleterious effects on final grades for the class. On the other hand, vigorous and informed participation in class discussions can help a grade. Other factors, such as student’s progress or effort in the course, may also affect final grades for the class.
Assignments:
1. Informal and Formal Weekly responses to be posted on a blog. (500 Words): 10%
2. Book Review (800 Words): 15%
3. Mid-term paper (2500 Words):15%
4. Peer-review of the mid-term papers: 10%
5. Final paper (2500 Words): 25%
6. Class Presentation: 15 minutes (plus 10 minutes Q & A): 25%
Instructions:
1. Students have to sign for weekly responses and class presentations in the first week of the semester.
2. Students should be prepared to work in groups in and outside the class. Peer-review of the mid-term papers is just one form of this group work.
3. Students have to submit well-edited and proof-read writing assignments. Failure to meet the basic writing requirements is an automatic low grade. Please do not submit rough drafts or drafts in the progress and try to consult the Writing Center on the UT campus before submitting any writing assignment.
4. I’m very particular about the class presentations and you should submit the outline of your presentation one week before the class presentation. Be prepared to a formal question and answer session after every presentation.
A Note on Peer Review:
1. Students share the mid-term papers for the purpose of peer review. The class is divided into several groups and each group shares and discusses the papers. The instructor will ask each group to present their discussions to him and makes suggestions.
2. Students share and discuss presentation outlines and major arguments in the presentations.
3. Students share and discuss presentation outlines and major arguments in the presentations.
Tentative Calendar
August 26th: Introductions
Aug 31st: Reading: Anthony Yu “Literature and Religion” (PDF on the Blackboard)
September 2nd: Reading: Introduction from “Religions of India in Practice”
Sept 7th and 9th: Hinduism and Poetry
Devotional hymns from the Sanskrit / Guy Leon Beck
Sept 14th and 16th: Verses from Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata (PDF on the Blackboard)
Sept 21st and 23rd: Tamil game songs to Siva / Norman Cutler
Tamil songs to God as child / Paula Richman
Sept 28th and 30th: Women's songs for auspicious occasions / Lindsey Harlan
Songs of devotion and praise. Bengali songs to Kālī
October 5th and 7th: Speaking of Siva
Oct 12th and 14th: God on the Hill
Oct 19th t: Sikh hymns to the divine Name / Hew McLeod
21st: Open
Oct 26th and 28th: Kabir: The Weaver’s Songs
November 2nd and 4th: Buddhism: From Nagarjuna to the neo-Buddhist verses
Selections from
“Verses from the Center: A Buddhist vision of the Sublime”
Nov 9th and 11th: Reading: The Extraordinary Child
Nov 16th and 18th: Muslim Poetry and Sufism
Sufism: Readings from Schimmel (By email)
Book Review Due: Nov 18th
Nov 23rd: Reading: Intro to “The Battle of Karbala”
Karbala and Muslim Poetry (Lecture and Discussion)
Nov 25th: Thanksgiving Break
Nov 30th: Reliving Karbala: A Conversation with the author Prof. Syed Akbar Hyder
December 2nd: Last Class Day
Final Paper due: December 10th
Department of Asian Studies
Fall 2010: Asian Studies Course (ANS 340)
Indian Poetry and Religions
Global Cultures and Writing Flag Course
Instructor: Afsar Mohammad, Ph.D
Class Meetings: Tue and Thu 11 to 12:30 at SZB 286
Office Hours: Tue and Thr 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. or by appointment
Office: Homer Rainey Hall 3:102
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This course focuses on the intersections of religion and poetry in the history of Indian literature. The basic question that we explore is: Why religion and poetry are deeply connected in the making of Indian religions? From the Vedas to the recent post-modern/post-colonial manifestations of religious devotion and expressive forms, poetry continues to play its central role in the making of Indian religions. We focus on several streams of poetry beginning with the Vedic to contemporary and study various intersections of religion and poetry. Most importantly, we try to capture the contours of the Indian religious poetry expressed in multiple settings and many variations that include hymns, chants, bhajans, and long poetic narratives along with the new poetic conventions that deal with caste and gender identities as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Required Texts:
1. Donald S.Lopez, Jr. Religions of India in Practice, Princeton University Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0691043258
2. Paula Richman, Extraordinary Child, University of Hawaii Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0824810634
3. Vinay Dharwadker (TR), Kabir: The Weaver’s Songs, Penguin India.
ISBN-13: 978-0143029687
4. Syed Akbar Hyder, Reliving Karbala, Oxford University Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0195373028
5. A.K. Ramanujan (TR), Speaking of Siva, Penguin Classics,
ISBN-13: 978-0140442700
6. Narayana Rao, (TR), God on the Hill, Oxford University Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0195677096
7. Verses From the Center: A Buddhist vision of the Sublime
Grading Scale:
92-100 A
89-91 A-
86-88 B+
82-85 B
79-81 B-
76-78 C+
72-75 C
Class Attendance and Participation:
Regrettably, excessive unexcused absences and persistent failure to prepare the assignments on time have deleterious effects on final grades for the class. On the other hand, vigorous and informed participation in class discussions can help a grade. Other factors, such as student’s progress or effort in the course, may also affect final grades for the class.
Assignments:
1. Informal and Formal Weekly responses to be posted on a blog. (500 Words): 10%
2. Book Review (800 Words): 15%
3. Mid-term paper (2500 Words):15%
4. Peer-review of the mid-term papers: 10%
5. Final paper (2500 Words): 25%
6. Class Presentation: 15 minutes (plus 10 minutes Q & A): 25%
Instructions:
1. Students have to sign for weekly responses and class presentations in the first week of the semester.
2. Students should be prepared to work in groups in and outside the class. Peer-review of the mid-term papers is just one form of this group work.
3. Students have to submit well-edited and proof-read writing assignments. Failure to meet the basic writing requirements is an automatic low grade. Please do not submit rough drafts or drafts in the progress and try to consult the Writing Center on the UT campus before submitting any writing assignment.
4. I’m very particular about the class presentations and you should submit the outline of your presentation one week before the class presentation. Be prepared to a formal question and answer session after every presentation.
A Note on Peer Review:
1. Students share the mid-term papers for the purpose of peer review. The class is divided into several groups and each group shares and discusses the papers. The instructor will ask each group to present their discussions to him and makes suggestions.
2. Students share and discuss presentation outlines and major arguments in the presentations.
3. Students share and discuss presentation outlines and major arguments in the presentations.
Tentative Calendar
August 26th: Introductions
Aug 31st: Reading: Anthony Yu “Literature and Religion” (PDF on the Blackboard)
September 2nd: Reading: Introduction from “Religions of India in Practice”
Sept 7th and 9th: Hinduism and Poetry
Devotional hymns from the Sanskrit / Guy Leon Beck
Sept 14th and 16th: Verses from Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata (PDF on the Blackboard)
Sept 21st and 23rd: Tamil game songs to Siva / Norman Cutler
Tamil songs to God as child / Paula Richman
Sept 28th and 30th: Women's songs for auspicious occasions / Lindsey Harlan
Songs of devotion and praise. Bengali songs to Kālī
October 5th and 7th: Speaking of Siva
Oct 12th and 14th: God on the Hill
Oct 19th t: Sikh hymns to the divine Name / Hew McLeod
21st: Open
Oct 26th and 28th: Kabir: The Weaver’s Songs
November 2nd and 4th: Buddhism: From Nagarjuna to the neo-Buddhist verses
Selections from
“Verses from the Center: A Buddhist vision of the Sublime”
Nov 9th and 11th: Reading: The Extraordinary Child
Nov 16th and 18th: Muslim Poetry and Sufism
Sufism: Readings from Schimmel (By email)
Book Review Due: Nov 18th
Nov 23rd: Reading: Intro to “The Battle of Karbala”
Karbala and Muslim Poetry (Lecture and Discussion)
Nov 25th: Thanksgiving Break
Nov 30th: Reliving Karbala: A Conversation with the author Prof. Syed Akbar Hyder
December 2nd: Last Class Day
Final Paper due: December 10th
"Final paper (2500 Words): 25%"
-Is this a sort of writing an essay on the topic given by instructor?