Spring 2007 101.002:
History &Memory in South Asia 2523
Tolman
3223 Dwinelle Hall, 642-1102, pdeshpande@berkeley.edu
This is a seminar, geared towards producing a final research
paper of 30-35 pages, due on April 25.
We will examine the different kinds of history writing in South Asia, its
relationship to modernity and the impact of British colonialism on narratives
of history. We will investigate the political and social contexts that produce
different kinds of narratives and the different pasts that are generated
through them. The first few weeks we will read some contemporary scholarship on
these narratives, and some seminal historical representations. The rest of the
semester will be spent developing a paper prospectus (10% of final grade),
class discussions and oral presentations (25%). All assignments listed below
are designed to contribute to the writing and refinement of the final paper
(65%). Paper topics, which will be chosen in consultation with the instructor,
can range from examinations of the representations of specific episodes of
history, such as the 1857 revolt or Partition; Hindu nationalist or Pakistani
narratives; gender and history-writing; novels/films and historical representation,
etc.
Class and writing schedule:
Week I:
Wed Jan 17: Intro to class: informal discussion of paper
topics
Week 2:
Mon Jan 22: History and the nation, history and the
community
Romila Thapar, Somanatha: Many Voices of a History (read whole)
Ayesha Jalal, “Conjuring Pakistan: History as Official
Imagining” International Journal of Middle East Studies, 27, (1995), pp. 73-89.
http://www.tufts.edu/%7Eajalal01/Articles/conjuring.pdf
Wed Jan 24: Pre-Colonial historical narratives
Elliott and Dowson, “Introduction,” to The History of
India as Told By its Own Historians: http://persian.packhum.org/persian/
(click on “Title List,” and then on “History of India…”,
then on “Introduction,” then on “Elliott’s original preface)
Ian Raeside, ed. “The Bhausahebanchi bakhar,” sections (CP)
(write a one-paragraph critical summary on each of the
four readings)
Week 3:
Mon Jan 29: Note-taking, critically reading secondary and
different kinds of primary sources
Extracts from the journal “Indian education,” http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/dcd/page.php?title=ie&action=next&record=4526
(read till p. 301)
B.G. Tilak’s nationalist editorials, from Collected Works
(CP)
Imperial Gazetteer on Karnal District:
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_054.gif
(read until p. 59)
Wed Jan 31: Antoinette Burton, “House/Daughter/Nation:
Interiority, Architecture, and Historical Imagination in Janaki Majumdar's
"Family History"” The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 56,
No. 4. (Nov., 1997), pp. 921-94 (CP)
Emily Eden, “Up the Country” sections (CP)
Week 4: No class; work on paper
Week 5:
Mon Feb 12 Submit prospectus
Present a one-page summary statement of your topic: the
reasons for your choosing it; the puzzle you hope to solve through the paper;
the historiographical context, and the sources you will be using. Include at
least five secondary and three primary sources
Wed Feb 14. No class; work on paper
Week 6: No class; work on paper
Week 7:
Mon Feb 26 Meet individually with me to discuss progress
Wed Feb 28 Dissecting a primary source
Bring at least one crucial primary source to class, to
discuss it in the context of your paper. Tell us how it will figure in your
project.
Week 8: No class, work on paper, and BEGIN WRITING!!
Week 9:
Mon Mar 12 No class, work on paper
Wed Mar 14 Initial draft due
Hand in atleast 4-5 pages of the first draft; meet in
class to discuss progress, problems, organization of research materials, etc.
Week 10: No class; work on paper
Week 12:
Mon Apr 2 No class, work on paper
Wed Apr 4 Oral Presentations
Detailed presentation for 15-20 mins, with main argument,
historiographical discussion and sources
Week 13:
Mon Apr 9. Oral Presentations, and hand in
penultimate draft of completed paper
Wed Apr 11 Individual meetings with me to discuss final
revisions
Week 14: No class; continue working on paper
Week 15:
Mon Apr 23 No class, continue working on paper
Wed Apr 25 FINAL PAPER DUE
