Indian Culture I
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to:
- equip students with a robust knowledge and understanding of the peculiarities of Indian society, as well as of the range of traditions, customs and religions on Indian soil;
- raise awareness on the heterogeneity of Indian culture and society and how they were shaped throughout history, providing students with an understanding of their pillars;
- train the students' ability to successfully and exhaustively expand their knowledge of familiar topics on their own, as well as to explore subjects unknown to them, by instructing them on how to compile a list of reliable bibliographic sources;
- provide knowledge and tools to navigate the huge variety of texts focusing on India, operating a distinction between academic literature and the widespread stereotypical and stereotyped descriptions of Indian culture.
- equip students with a robust knowledge and understanding of the peculiarities of Indian society, as well as of the range of traditions, customs and religions on Indian soil;
- raise awareness on the heterogeneity of Indian culture and society and how they were shaped throughout history, providing students with an understanding of their pillars;
- train the students' ability to successfully and exhaustively expand their knowledge of familiar topics on their own, as well as to explore subjects unknown to them, by instructing them on how to compile a list of reliable bibliographic sources;
- provide knowledge and tools to navigate the huge variety of texts focusing on India, operating a distinction between academic literature and the widespread stereotypical and stereotyped descriptions of Indian culture.
Expected learning outcomes
In addition to the theoretical contents covered by the course and by the texts included in the course syllabus, by the end of the course students should be able to communicate proficiently both orally and in writing, with clarity and using the appropriate terminology. This means that they should have a full command of the subject-specific vocabularies, in Italian and Indian, pertaining to the different topics covered by the course (society, politics, history, religion and spirituality, art etc.). Moreover, students should be able to further their knowledge of theoretical concepts and topics on their own, by relying on academic literature and opting for credible sources of information, while disregarding unreliable contents.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
In the run-up to the forthcoming 80th anniversary (15 August 1947-15 August 2027) of India's independence from British colonial rule and the formation of the Indian Union, the course content will focus, first and foremost, on an analysis of some of the most significant events that have marked the history of independent India, helping to shape the country's current socio-cultural profile. The examination of the events and periods under consideration will be accompanied both by a detailed analysis of the contemporary socio-cultural context and by in-depth studies designed to provide students with all the knowledge and tools necessary to fully understand the significance and scope of the events in question. Where necessary, this will involve tracing, through the various phases of Indian history, the origins and development of cultural and religious phenomena, such as, for example, Hinduism and Sikhism. An analysis of a selection of key moments that have marked the first eighty years of the Indian Union will help to provide an overview of the country's most recent history, the relationships, logics and dynamics that underpin its social fabric, and the ongoing re-elaboration to which India's diverse and rich cultural heritage is subject. The analysis provided by the course will focus on the consequences of the partition and the communal rift accompanied and cemented by the dual migratory movement to and from the two newly formed nations of India and Pakistan; Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure and the ideological framework of 'unity in diversity' within which it found expression; Operation Blue Star and its consequences, including in relation to the Indian diaspora and Italy's emergence as a destination country and host nation for Punjabi migration; the factors that led to the gradual rise of the Hindutva ideology up to the first electoral triumph of the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; the definitive establishment of yoga as a transnational phenomenon and its recognition, within the Indian therapeutic landscape, as a fully-fledged medical discipline. The course will then explore one of the major currents of philosophical, spiritual and devotional thought originating in India: Buddhism, examining both its history spanning several millennia and its presence within the current Indian social fabric. Having outlined the structure of Buddhism within the three major vehicles of the Indian tradition, the course will analyse the reasons for its disappearance from India and its subsequent re-emergence in the last century, reflecting on the role assigned to it in the debate concerning whether or not the injustices embodied in the caste system can be rectified. Finally, the exploration of the first eighty years of the Indian Union and the key moments and events that have helped shape the country's historical, social and cultural profile will be concluded in the third module, which will provide a comprehensive introduction to the Indian legal system through an examination of case law: the presentation and analysis of judgements deemed particularly significant and evocative of the country's journey over the last eighty years will, on the one hand, enable a better understanding of the sentiments and dynamics that permeate and drive Indian society, and, on the other, introduce students to the distinctive features of the Indian legal system.
MODULE I:
The first module will be devoted to an analysis of the moments and events considered most significant in the history of independent India. The examination of the events and periods under consideration will be accompanied both by a detailed analysis of the contemporary socio-cultural context and by in-depth studies designed to provide students with all the knowledge and tools necessary to fully understand the significance and scope of the events in question. Where necessary, this will involve tracing, through the various phases of Indian history, the origins and development of cultural and religious phenomena, such as, for example, Hinduism and Sikhism. An analysis of a selection of key moments that have marked the first eighty years of the Indian Union will help to provide an overview of the country's most recent history, the relationships, logics and dynamics that underpin its social fabric, and the ongoing re-elaboration to which India's diverse and rich cultural heritage is subjected. The analysis provided by the course will focus on the consequences of the partition and the communal rift accompanied and cemented by the twin migratory movements to and from the two newly formed nations of India and Pakistan; Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure and the ideological framework of 'unity in diversity' within which it found expression; Operation Blue Star and its consequences, including in relation to the Indian diaspora and Italy's emergence as a destination country and host nation for Punjabi migration; the factors that led to the gradual rise of the Hindutva ideology up to the first electoral triumph of the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; the definitive establishment of yoga as a transnational phenomenon and its recognition, within the Indian therapeutic landscape, as a fully-fledged medical discipline.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- H. Kulke-D. Rothermund, Storia dell'India, Odoya, Città di Castello, 2019. ISBN: 978-88-6288-532-4 (Chapters 7 and 8 in detail for attending students; for non-attending students, all chapters);
- All the materials made available each week on the course page in MyAriel (PowerPoint presentations, readings, etc.);
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Indipendenza, Harper Collins, 2024, ISBN: 9788830594654;
- Mark Tully - Satish Jacob, Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle, Rupa Publications Private Limited, 2006, ISBN: 978-8129109170 OPPURE Shobha Rao, Donne di nessuno, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535145.
- Dominique Lapierre - Larry Collins, Stanotte la libertà, il Saggiatore, 2011 (1975), ISBN: 978-8842817451.
- Gurnaik Johal, Saraswati, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535480.
MODULE II:
The second module will be devoted to the Indian history of Buddhism, beginning with an introduction to the figure of the historical Buddha, whose existence will be traced, on the one hand, to the historical dynamics and socio-cultural forces that were at work, between the 5th and 4th centuries BC, the north-eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, and, on the other hand, to the hagiographic accounts of the life of Prince Siddhārtha Gautama and his previous earthly existences. Having analysed the foundations of Buddhist speculation, the birth and development of the Buddhist community, and the spread of the doctrine both within and beyond the Indian subcontinent, we shall then trace its development through the two successive major schools of Indian Buddhism: Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna. In addition to introducing the specific doctrinal features of both, the course will reconstruct the evolutionary path of Buddhism in India by examining the iconography - which, through the diversity of representations of the Buddha and other subjects depicted, eloquently illustrates the distinctive characteristics of the three schools of Indian Buddhism. Having explored the reasons for the sudden disappearance of Buddhism from India between the end of the first millennium CE and the early centuries of the second millennium, the course will trace the concrete signs of its pan-Indian revival from the mid-19th century onwards. In particular, we shall analyse the role assigned to Buddhism in the dispute between B.R. Ambedkar and M.K. Gandhi concerning whether or not the injustices associated with the caste system could be rectified.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- G.R. Franci, Il buddhismo, il Mulino, Bologna, 2004, ISBN: 88-15-09683-3.
- Aśvaghoṣa, Le gesta del Buddha, Adelphi, 1996 (II edizione), ISBN: 978-8845910364.
MODULE III:
The third module will provide an introduction to the Indian legal system, with particular emphasis on case law which, as will be explained, has played a decisive role in the development of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. Indeed, given the judicial activism that characterises its work, the Indian Supreme Court plays a crucial role in the evolution of the legal system. The course will provide an introductory overview of the legal tradition of ancient India and its evolution. In particular, it will examine the method of dispute resolution followed by the courts established during colonial rule, which drew upon treatises on dharma and Islamic law. The imposition of the common law and the relevant cultural context will be described. Following a historical overview, the legal system of post-independence India will be analysed. Particular attention will be paid to the genesis of the Indian Constitution and the federal system of the Union. Through the analysis of judgments considered particularly significant, fundamental rights will be contextualised and their various manifestations outlined, with particular attention to freedom of religion and the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of one's professed faith. The course will focus on personal laws concerning family and inheritance law, areas in which different rules apply depending on religion or, more precisely, the community to which a person belongs; reference will also be made to the application of such legislation within the Italian legal system. The examination of court rulings will provide an opportunity to reflect on the changes that have affected Indian society and its customs over the last eighty years. Practical cases will be addressed, including through classroom simulations.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- Lorenza Acquarone, Tra Dharma Common Law e WTO. Un'introduzione al sistema giuridico dell'India, Unicopli, 2016.
- Lorenza Acquarone, Voci audaci. La stand-up comedy in India sfida tabù e censura, Le Lucerne, 2023.
MODULE I:
The first module will be devoted to an analysis of the moments and events considered most significant in the history of independent India. The examination of the events and periods under consideration will be accompanied both by a detailed analysis of the contemporary socio-cultural context and by in-depth studies designed to provide students with all the knowledge and tools necessary to fully understand the significance and scope of the events in question. Where necessary, this will involve tracing, through the various phases of Indian history, the origins and development of cultural and religious phenomena, such as, for example, Hinduism and Sikhism. An analysis of a selection of key moments that have marked the first eighty years of the Indian Union will help to provide an overview of the country's most recent history, the relationships, logics and dynamics that underpin its social fabric, and the ongoing re-elaboration to which India's diverse and rich cultural heritage is subjected. The analysis provided by the course will focus on the consequences of the partition and the communal rift accompanied and cemented by the twin migratory movements to and from the two newly formed nations of India and Pakistan; Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure and the ideological framework of 'unity in diversity' within which it found expression; Operation Blue Star and its consequences, including in relation to the Indian diaspora and Italy's emergence as a destination country and host nation for Punjabi migration; the factors that led to the gradual rise of the Hindutva ideology up to the first electoral triumph of the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; the definitive establishment of yoga as a transnational phenomenon and its recognition, within the Indian therapeutic landscape, as a fully-fledged medical discipline.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- H. Kulke-D. Rothermund, Storia dell'India, Odoya, Città di Castello, 2019. ISBN: 978-88-6288-532-4 (Chapters 7 and 8 in detail for attending students; for non-attending students, all chapters);
- All the materials made available each week on the course page in MyAriel (PowerPoint presentations, readings, etc.);
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Indipendenza, Harper Collins, 2024, ISBN: 9788830594654;
- Mark Tully - Satish Jacob, Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle, Rupa Publications Private Limited, 2006, ISBN: 978-8129109170 OPPURE Shobha Rao, Donne di nessuno, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535145.
- Dominique Lapierre - Larry Collins, Stanotte la libertà, il Saggiatore, 2011 (1975), ISBN: 978-8842817451.
- Gurnaik Johal, Saraswati, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535480.
MODULE II:
The second module will be devoted to the Indian history of Buddhism, beginning with an introduction to the figure of the historical Buddha, whose existence will be traced, on the one hand, to the historical dynamics and socio-cultural forces that were at work, between the 5th and 4th centuries BC, the north-eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, and, on the other hand, to the hagiographic accounts of the life of Prince Siddhārtha Gautama and his previous earthly existences. Having analysed the foundations of Buddhist speculation, the birth and development of the Buddhist community, and the spread of the doctrine both within and beyond the Indian subcontinent, we shall then trace its development through the two successive major schools of Indian Buddhism: Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna. In addition to introducing the specific doctrinal features of both, the course will reconstruct the evolutionary path of Buddhism in India by examining the iconography - which, through the diversity of representations of the Buddha and other subjects depicted, eloquently illustrates the distinctive characteristics of the three schools of Indian Buddhism. Having explored the reasons for the sudden disappearance of Buddhism from India between the end of the first millennium CE and the early centuries of the second millennium, the course will trace the concrete signs of its pan-Indian revival from the mid-19th century onwards. In particular, we shall analyse the role assigned to Buddhism in the dispute between B.R. Ambedkar and M.K. Gandhi concerning whether or not the injustices associated with the caste system could be rectified.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- G.R. Franci, Il buddhismo, il Mulino, Bologna, 2004, ISBN: 88-15-09683-3.
- Aśvaghoṣa, Le gesta del Buddha, Adelphi, 1996 (II edizione), ISBN: 978-8845910364.
MODULE III:
The third module will provide an introduction to the Indian legal system, with particular emphasis on case law which, as will be explained, has played a decisive role in the development of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. Indeed, given the judicial activism that characterises its work, the Indian Supreme Court plays a crucial role in the evolution of the legal system. The course will provide an introductory overview of the legal tradition of ancient India and its evolution. In particular, it will examine the method of dispute resolution followed by the courts established during colonial rule, which drew upon treatises on dharma and Islamic law. The imposition of the common law and the relevant cultural context will be described. Following a historical overview, the legal system of post-independence India will be analysed. Particular attention will be paid to the genesis of the Indian Constitution and the federal system of the Union. Through the analysis of judgments considered particularly significant, fundamental rights will be contextualised and their various manifestations outlined, with particular attention to freedom of religion and the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of one's professed faith. The course will focus on personal laws concerning family and inheritance law, areas in which different rules apply depending on religion or, more precisely, the community to which a person belongs; reference will also be made to the application of such legislation within the Italian legal system. The examination of court rulings will provide an opportunity to reflect on the changes that have affected Indian society and its customs over the last eighty years. Practical cases will be addressed, including through classroom simulations.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- Lorenza Acquarone, Tra Dharma Common Law e WTO. Un'introduzione al sistema giuridico dell'India, Unicopli, 2016.
- Lorenza Acquarone, Voci audaci. La stand-up comedy in India sfida tabù e censura, Le Lucerne, 2023.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge of Indian history or culture is required or assumed. This course is designed for students who are studying Indian culture for the first time.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons accompanied by PowerPoint presentations, which will be made available to students on a weekly basis on the course's MyAriel page. Due to the nature of the topics covered, audiovisual material, newspaper articles, works of fiction and cinematic adaptations and reinterpretations will also be used to promote a better and more accurate understanding of the analysed events and how they are perceived and received within and beyond India's borders. Students will be encouraged to participate actively through debates, exercises and simulations reflecting the typical activities of a linguistic and cultural mediator.
Teaching Resources
- H. Kulke-D. Rothermund, Storia dell'India, Odoya, Città di Castello, 2019. ISBN: 978-88-6288-532-4 (Chapters 7 and 8 in detail for attending students; for non-attending students, all chapters);
- All the materials made available each week on the course page in MyAriel (PowerPoint presentations, readings, etc.);
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Indipendenza, Harper Collins, 2024, ISBN: 9788830594654;
- Mark Tully - Satish Jacob, Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle, Rupa Publications Private Limited, 2006, ISBN: 978-8129109170 OPPURE Shobha Rao, Donne di nessuno, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535145.
- Dominique Lapierre - Larry Collins, Stanotte la libertà, il Saggiatore, 2011 (1975), ISBN: 978-8842817451.
- Gurnaik Johal, Saraswati, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535480.
- G.R. Franci, Il buddhismo, il Mulino, Bologna, 2004, ISBN: 88-15-09683-3.
- Aśvaghoṣa, Le gesta del Buddha, Adelphi, 1996 (II edizione), ISBN: 978-8845910364.
- Lorenza Acquarone, Tra Dharma Common Law e WTO. Un'introduzione al sistema giuridico dell'India, Unicopli, 2016.
- Lorenza Acquarone, Voci audaci. La stand-up comedy in India sfida tabù e censura, Le Lucerne, 2023.
- All the materials made available each week on the course page in MyAriel (PowerPoint presentations, readings, etc.);
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Indipendenza, Harper Collins, 2024, ISBN: 9788830594654;
- Mark Tully - Satish Jacob, Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle, Rupa Publications Private Limited, 2006, ISBN: 978-8129109170 OPPURE Shobha Rao, Donne di nessuno, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535145.
- Dominique Lapierre - Larry Collins, Stanotte la libertà, il Saggiatore, 2011 (1975), ISBN: 978-8842817451.
- Gurnaik Johal, Saraswati, Neri Pozza, 2026, ISBN: 978-8854535480.
- G.R. Franci, Il buddhismo, il Mulino, Bologna, 2004, ISBN: 88-15-09683-3.
- Aśvaghoṣa, Le gesta del Buddha, Adelphi, 1996 (II edizione), ISBN: 978-8845910364.
- Lorenza Acquarone, Tra Dharma Common Law e WTO. Un'introduzione al sistema giuridico dell'India, Unicopli, 2016.
- Lorenza Acquarone, Voci audaci. La stand-up comedy in India sfida tabù e censura, Le Lucerne, 2023.
Assessment methods and Criteria
FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
The examination consists of an oral component, which may take the form of either a discussion of the contents of the syllabus or the presentation - accompanied by a PowerPoint slideshow - of an in-depth analysis focusing on an event, a prominent figure, a social or cultural episode, an artistic work, a court ruling or a change in the legal system, which, in the student's opinion, is of particular significance to the history of independent India. Students may present their work during one of the final lectures of the course. Where a presentation is chosen, it must be accompanied by a bibliography of the texts consulted in its preparation. Presentations based on sources lacking scientific value (such as Wikipedia and similar sites) will not be accepted.
FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
The examination consists of an oral test which will assess the student's understanding, knowledge and assimilation of the content of both the texts listed in the bibliography and the materials made available on the course's MyAriel page.
FOR ALL STUDENTS, WHETHER ATTENDING OR NON-ATTENDING
The examination requires the student to present, first of all, a topic in which they are particularly interested (a question of their choice) and to continue with two further questions posed by the lecturer. Where necessary, in the event of unsatisfactory answers or a failure to answer, the lecturer may ask the student further questions.
The examination is designed to assess both the students' full understanding of the topics covered and their mastery of the terminology used in the various disciplinary fields (philosophical, historical, artistic, architectural, choreographic, anthropological, etc.) involved in the analysis provided by the course syllabus, as well as their ability to re-examine the content learnt and subject it to personal and critical reflection. The assessment therefore takes into account the soundness of the student's theoretical grounding, their ability to present ideas clearly, and the development of critical thinking capable of drawing comparisons between the various theoretical positions adopted in the analysis of socio-cultural phenomena. For those who choose to submit an in-depth study relating to the course content, assessment also covers the ability to compile an appropriate bibliography, identifying accredited and reliable sources; to rework the information found in a relevant and convincing manner; and to justify the choice of topic presented, arguing its significance within the recent history of India.
There are no mid-term assessments during the academic year; however, active participation in lectures and cultural initiatives organised both within and outside the University (conferences, seminars, book presentations, exhibitions, etc.) by the course lecturers is taken into due account and assessed positively. The final mark is expressed out of thirty.
The examination consists of an oral component, which may take the form of either a discussion of the contents of the syllabus or the presentation - accompanied by a PowerPoint slideshow - of an in-depth analysis focusing on an event, a prominent figure, a social or cultural episode, an artistic work, a court ruling or a change in the legal system, which, in the student's opinion, is of particular significance to the history of independent India. Students may present their work during one of the final lectures of the course. Where a presentation is chosen, it must be accompanied by a bibliography of the texts consulted in its preparation. Presentations based on sources lacking scientific value (such as Wikipedia and similar sites) will not be accepted.
FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
The examination consists of an oral test which will assess the student's understanding, knowledge and assimilation of the content of both the texts listed in the bibliography and the materials made available on the course's MyAriel page.
FOR ALL STUDENTS, WHETHER ATTENDING OR NON-ATTENDING
The examination requires the student to present, first of all, a topic in which they are particularly interested (a question of their choice) and to continue with two further questions posed by the lecturer. Where necessary, in the event of unsatisfactory answers or a failure to answer, the lecturer may ask the student further questions.
The examination is designed to assess both the students' full understanding of the topics covered and their mastery of the terminology used in the various disciplinary fields (philosophical, historical, artistic, architectural, choreographic, anthropological, etc.) involved in the analysis provided by the course syllabus, as well as their ability to re-examine the content learnt and subject it to personal and critical reflection. The assessment therefore takes into account the soundness of the student's theoretical grounding, their ability to present ideas clearly, and the development of critical thinking capable of drawing comparisons between the various theoretical positions adopted in the analysis of socio-cultural phenomena. For those who choose to submit an in-depth study relating to the course content, assessment also covers the ability to compile an appropriate bibliography, identifying accredited and reliable sources; to rework the information found in a relevant and convincing manner; and to justify the choice of topic presented, arguing its significance within the recent history of India.
There are no mid-term assessments during the academic year; however, active participation in lectures and cultural initiatives organised both within and outside the University (conferences, seminars, book presentations, exhibitions, etc.) by the course lecturers is taken into due account and assessed positively. The final mark is expressed out of thirty.
L-OR/19 - MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours