Introduction to Modern South Asia

South Asia, one of the world’s most populous and diverse regions, encompasses the modern nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and, in some contexts, Afghanistan, the Maldives, Myanmar, and Tibet. This course examines key intellectual, cultural, political, economic, and environmental developments in South Asia and explores their continuing relevance in the present moment. The course begins by introducing students to foundational theoretical and historical frameworks for understanding South Asia, both as a region and as an analytical category. We explore the legacies of empire and their aftermath, followed by engagements with subaltern and postcolonial studies, asking critical questions: Who speaks for history? Whose knowledge counts? Subsequent modules examine gender, caste, bureaucracy, development, and the state. Later units focus on borderlands, militarism, and resource frontiers, exploring how sovereignty and extraction critically shape landscapes and livelihoods.