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Gallatin in India

Gallatin Travel Course: Culture, Development and Globalization in India, K55.9700

January 2 – 16, 2010

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.

Faculty:

Ritty Lukose (Associate Professor, Gallatin School of Individualized Study, New York University)

Rustam Vania (Faculty Member, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology)

Expenses:

Tuition for 4 points: $4312

Program Fee (includes housing, airfare, excursions, local travel and some meals): $1,000

Consulate's Visa Fee: $73

Immunization Fees: Varies by insurance

Housing:

In Bangalore, students will be accommodated at Droog House in a spacious, furnished double occupancy room that includes a refrigerator, microwave, 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.

Deposit: $400 (due on November 18, nonrefundable)

Financial Aid

For information about financial aid for this course, please contact Melissa Daniel at melissa.daniel@nyu.edu or 212-998-7316

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Completed and signed application form
• A 250-500 word personal statement addressing your academic and personal reasons for wanting to study abroad as well as any experience you may have had living or traveling in another country
• Unofficial transcripts
• An interview with the program director or administrator
• Letter of recommendation from a faculty member or primary academic adviser
• Preference will be given to students who have taken either one of two Gallatin Courses: South Asian Nationalisms (fall 2008) or Reimagining India (fall 2009) and/or other courses in East Asian Studies.

Once your application is completed, you will be contacted to arrange an interview. After your interview, a decision will be made in approximately one week. Admission decisions are based on strength of academic performance, interview, personal statement, and space remaining in the program. 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 on November 18, 2009 in order to secure your place in the program.

All application materials should be submitted to: Melissa Daniel Gallatin Office of Global Programs 715 Broadway, Room 614 New York, NY 10003

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

Course Notes: Open to undergraduates. Gallatin students please note this course fulfills 4 Interdisciplinary Seminar K-credits.