BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI (RAJASTHAN) INSTRUCTION DIVISION First SEMESTER 2013-2014 Course Handout (Part

II) Date: 31/8/2013 In addition to part-I (General handout for all courses appended to the time table) this portion gives further specific details regarding the course. Course Number Course Title Instructor In-Charge Course Description South Asia as a region; culture and its representation through literature and cinema; politics of representation, breaking the stereotypes; bringing in the marginalized voices; writings of women; identity formation; concept of majority and minority; commonality in spite of all the differences, violence, migration and dislocation. 1. Scope and Objective of the Course: The objective of the course is to introduce students to Literature and Popular Culture of South Asia. In doing so, it will familiarize students to perspectives and scenarios that differ from their own culture, thereby, helping them to have deeper understanding of other cultures. This course aims to bridge the gaps in our understanding of our neighbors and enable us to have broader perspectives 2. Text Book: We will pick and choose from the following texts. T-1 Katha Series: 20 Stories from South Asia. New Delhi, 2012.
1. Taslima Nasreens Shame A Novel 2. Lavanya Sankarans The Hope Factory

HSS C316/ HSS F316 Popular Literature and Culture of South Asia MAYA VINAI

3. Samrat Upadhyay's Arresting God in Kathmandu 4. Khaled Hosseinis The Kite Runners 5. Michael Ondatjee's Anil's Ghost 6. Bapsi Sidhwas Breaking it up in Their Language of Love. Films: We will pick and choose from the following films. 1. The Kite Runner (2007) 2. Osama (2003) 3. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) 4. The Monsoon Wedding (2009)

3. Course Plan Lecture Learning Objectives No. 1 Introduction to South Asia Topics to be covered Introduction to South Asian society and culture An Overview of Contemporary Literature Understanding Afghanistan through pop lit and films Understanding research and incorporation of sources Understanding Pakistan through pop literature Understanding Bangladesh through pop literature Understanding Nepal through pop literature Understanding Srilanka through pop literature Reference to Chap/Sec/Book Reading Material

2-4

5-10

Characteristic Features of South Asian Culture, Society and Literature Afghanistan

Reading Material

The Kite Runners: both text and film; Osama (2003) Library Work

11-12

Library Visit: How to write a research paper

13-17

Pakistan

18-22

Bangladesh

Bapsi Sidhwas Breaking it up in Their Language of Love. T1 or Shame: A Novel

23-27

Nepal

28-31

Srilanka

T-1 or stories from Arresting God In Kathmandu. T-1 or Anil's Ghost

32-37

India

38-41

Comparative analysis of the texts already read and the movies already watched. Summing up

Understanding The Hope Factory; India through Slumdog Millionaire pop literature and (2008) film Comparative All discussed above plus analysis The Monsoon Wedding

42-43

4. Evaluation Scheme Component Test 1 Class Assignment Test 2 Comprehensive Duration 60 minutes 60 mins 2 hours Marks allotted 40 20 40 100 Date & Time Remarks CB -to be announcedOB CB CB

5. Chamber Consultation Hour To be announced in the class 6. Notice: Notices concerning this course will be displayed on the Humanities and Languages Group Notice Board only. 7. Plagiarism will be highly penalized. 8. Make-up Policy Make up will be granted only in genuine cases. Dr. Maya Vinai Instructor In-charge