Culture, Development and Globalization in India

Bangalore, India: January 3 - 19, 2012

Contemporary representations of India either paint the subcontinent as a vast treasure trove of exotic culture and tradition and/or as an emergent economic powerhouse, rapidly modernizing to overtake the West. Sitting uneasily between these two images is the idea of India as a third world country, struggling with disparities of well being by trying to "develop" itself. During this two-week course based in Bangalore, India, students are offered an interdisciplinary learning experience that explores the dynamics of culture and development within globalizing India.

Bangalore, considered the “Silicon Valley” of India, is at the epicenter of India’s information technology boom—its changing urban landscape a microcosm of third world urban development and globalization. In the classroom, students will be introduced to the philosophical underpinnings and practice of “development” as an important framework through which ideas of culture, economy, politics, tradition and modernity are organized and managed by the Indian state and international organizations. Background historical works will explore how the idea and practice of development are linked to colonialism and anticolonialism, capitalism, nationalism and globalization. Readings will also explore the cultural politics of tradition, tourism, heritage and monuments and the environment in order to understand how tourism is linked to development.

Taught by a Gallatin faculty member and a faculty member of the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, students will have the opportunity to share classroom time, assignments and non-classroom learning experiences with peer undergraduate students of Srishti, who will take the same class.

Excursions will include visits to heritage sites and community based NGOs focused on environmental sustainability within Bangalore.  Students will also travel to the state of Karnataka and neighboring Kerala, enabling students to understand how local NGOs and other community based organizations seek to leverage local communities, culture and history as a platform for development.

In Bangalore, students will be accommodated at Droog House in a spacious, furnished double occupancy room that includes a TV, telephone with domestic and international calling facilities, and WiFi. This is a safe and secure facility with clean and comfortable accommodations. Daily transportation to classroom facilities and on-site visits will be arranged. Outside Bangalore, students will be accommodated in suitable hotels.  Students are required to live in program housing provided by NYU Gallatin.

Students, faculty and program assistant will fly to Bangalore on a group flight departing from NYC on Jan. 3.

Faculty: Ritty Lukose, Associate Professor, NYU Gallatin

Expenses: Tuition for 4 points: $4,636

Deposit (applied to program costs, non-refundable): $400 

Program Fee (includes airfare, some meals, entrance fees, and housing): $1,000

Incidental Costs: Vaccinations, visa fee

The application deadline is October 14, 2011.  Admission decisions are based on strength of academic performance, interview, personal statement, and space remaining in the program. Preference will be given to students who have taken either one of two Gallatin Courses: Nationalisms in South Asia or Imagining India.  Program is filled on a rolling basis and may fill without notice. After you have been notified of acceptance, an initial deposit of $400 is due in order to secure your place in the program.

For more information regarding the application process, please contact Melissa Daniel at 212-998-7316 or melissa.daniel@nyu.edu.

Course Notes: This course is open to undergraduate students of all NYU schools and fulfills 4 credits. Gallatin students please note this course fulfills 4 Interdisciplinary Seminar credits.

Information for Admitted Students

Students accepted to this course should visit the admitted students page to learn how to obtain a tourist visa, read about CDC recommendations for vaccinations and to print the required Gallatin Travel Forms.