the other indias  

31 January

the other indias

introductory course to the culture and society of contemporary india

Coordination: Constantino H. Xavier (member of the Department of Political Studies, Nova University of Lisbon and IPRI-UNL – Portuguese Institute of International Relations researcher)

Floor 4

Dates: 31 January, 28 February, 21 March, 18 April, 23 May and 20 June

Time: 10.00 to 13.00

Price: € 120.00/six sessions

Age range: Adults

Number of participants: Min. 20, Max. 30

Containing almost a sixth of the world’s population, birthplace of the major Asian religions and with an unparalleled range of cultural diversity, India has always attracted immense curiosity in the West. In contrast, however, with this immense, spiritual, exotic and historical India in tandem there now emerges a new India – modern, materialist, confident and competitive.

This course introduces not only these two but also various other contemporary Indias that are rarely encountered in any extended fashion in Portugal. With recourse to a series of readings and the projection of audiovisual materials as well as the personal experience of the guest speakers, the six monthly sessions cover twelve dimensions (hence, two per session) essential for understanding the new social, cultural, economic and political trends that are now driving the future of India.

Thematic areas:

1. The idea of India and its course, from past to present, according to Swaraj concept
2. India 2020: nationalism and the dream of being a 21^st century superpower
3. Boom Bangalore: from chronic under development an emerging economy
4. Castes, religions an spiritualism: how they survive over capitalism
5. Bollywood, cricket and The Times of India: the new consumer society
6. The big middle class: the fragile commitment between western way of life and tradition
7. The never ending subaltern India: from rural and semi feudal world to religious and sexual minorities
8. From Gandhi and Nehru to Advani amd Mayawati: the new ideologies and political movements
9. Southern Asia geopolitics: the eternal Cashemere and the new threat of urban terrorism
10. Goa, Damon and Diu: what was really left of colonial heritage and its potential
11. Diaspora: a lobby of 25 million global ambassadors
12. Megalopolises, transportation and carbon dioxide: on planning, sustainability and environment.