Description
Course Content:
In contemporary times, following the European Colonization of India, it has become ‘received knowledge’ that the Hindus were and continue to be ritualistic, superstitious, poverty-ridden, timid, bare and barely noticeable as a ‘static’ people, whose history is nothing more than the history of successive waves of invaders and colonizers who made India their home for a time. This course looks beyond this myth set in motion by a 200-year colonial encounter, and examines the evidence for the sciences, technologies, inventions, industry, prosperity, and wealth that made India such a desirable civilization across time. It addresses the question, why did everyone, seemingly the world over, seek out the Hindu civilization, and for what?
This course can be taken as a continuing course in the series titled “Exploring Hinduism”, or as a stand-alone course. Both the parts can be taken sequentially in any order or as a stand-alone course. It can be enjoyed by teenagers in the age group 12-18, on their own or together with their parents and grandparents too.
“Exploring Hinduism” is a series of courses that facilitate a structured exploration of various facets of one of the world’s most ancient families of traditions and civilization. This course moves past the modern myth that the Hindus were ‘other-worldly’ and were immersed in nothing more than the Vedas, Yoga, Spirituality, Meditation, Penance, and in seeking Liberation from birth and death. It uncovers a holistic view of the source of the sustained prosperity and wealth of the Hindus across vast stretches of time. It investigates the question – “Are Hindu ideas obsolete? Or do they have contemporary relevance?”
Over 2 parts of 10 sessions each where each part spans a quarter, this course will cover a variety of areas of innovation, inventions, development and trade, and sustained contributions that characterized the Hindu civilization for millennia. These areas will include Metals, Textiles, Dyes, Spices, Diamonds, Navigation, Fireworks, Perfumes, and how these innovations impacted the world. During this course, students will acquire newfound confidence from the dawning of a recognition that the Hindu Civilization has been quite different from what our received knowledge has led us to believe and renew their trust in the Hindu worldview and way of life, that has been so sustainable and successful for so long.
Course Learning Objectives:
In this course, students will
- Discover the prosperity of the Hindu Civilization that lasted for millennia, till about a few hundred years ago.
- Uncover the advanced state of technology and industry practiced by the Hindus.
- Discover the Hindu ethos and perspective of practicing industry and trade in a sustainable manner.
- Examine the forces that can upset and destroy such millennia-long cultivated prosperity in a short time
- Gain insight into the secret of prosperity and balance that the Hindus possessed which enabled their civilizational advancement and affluence
- Develop the confidence to think laterally with regard to the challenges and problems facing humanity and propose paradigm-shifting approaches towards the future
Class Structure: The course is designed as 2 parts –
Part A – The BIG 5
To gain an understanding of the 5 major contributions that were made by the Hindus to the world. How they impacted the world and the Hindu Civilization? What happened to them and what can we learn from them for today’s context?
Part B – The Game Changer
To gain an understanding of what was the advantage that the Hindus had cultivated, due to which they had been able to rule the tastes, possessions and obsessions of the world. How was this advantage snatched away and how does an understanding of the same bear relevance today?
Each part will span 1 Quarter, with 1 online session per week. Each session will comprise of 90 minutes with live online lectures and interactions with the faculty and will include Quizzes and Assignments.
Each part is independent of the other and can be taken in any sequence.
Course Being Offered: Part B – The Game Changer
Faculty: Dr. D.K. Hari & Dr. Hema Hari
Required/Elective: Elective
Prerequisites: Admission to Program of Study
Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation
Program of Study: Certificate Program in Hindu Studies (CPHS)
Quarter Offered: Winter 2022
1)USA Batch-
Start Date: January 15, 2022
End Date: March 19, 2022
Day: Every Saturday
USA Time: 11:00 AM EST – 12:30 PM EST / 9:30 pm IST – 11:00 pm IST
2)Australia and New Zealand Batch (ANZ)-
Start Date: January 16, 2022
End Date: March 20, 2022
Day: Every Sunday
AUSTRALIA Time: 6:00 PM AEST – 7:30 PM AEST/ 1:30 pm IST – 3:00 pm IST/7:00 PM AEDT – 8:30 PM AEDT/ 9:00 AM CET – 10:30 AM CET
