Modern Hinduism

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Long hailed as one of the world’s oldest and most diferse cultural traditions, Hinduism has shifted radically in the last few centuries. What is Hinduism and how does it shape the world today? In this course we will explore myriad dimensions of Hinduism in the Republic of India today, from belief to scripture to practice. We will study spiritual poetry, political manifestos, Bollywood films, graphic novels and even digital Hinduism. We will explore gender and queer politics alongside controversies about climate change and economic development. Leaving South Asia we will travel with diasporic Hindus to examine their global reach and importance. This interdisciplinary course is not interested in singular pronouncements but in gaining an understanding of how humans live with their past.