Value Added Course.
1 (VAC)-2 Credits
(Common for all the UG Programmes)
HIVA 101- Understanding India
Course Overview: This course aims at enabling the students to acquire and
demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of contemporary India with its
historical perspective, the basic framework of the goals and policies of national
development, and the constitutional obligations with special emphasis on
constitutional values and fundamental rights and duties. The course would also
focus on developing an understanding among student-teachers of the Indian
Knowledge Systems (IKS), the Indian education system and the roles and
obligations of teachers to the nation in general and to the school/ community/
society, in particular.
Objectives:
▪ To sensitize the students about the geographical, cultural and linguistic
diversity over and above which the historical unity.
▪ To impart a deep knowledge and understanding of India’s freedom struggle
and of the values and ideals that it represented.
▪ Develop an appreciation of the contributions made by people of all sections
and regions of the country, and cherish the values enshrined in the Indian
constitution.
▪ Prepare for their roles and responsibilities as effective citizens of a
democratic society.
Learning Outcomes: On the completion of the course the students will be
equipped with a sound knowledge of:
▪ the history and culture of ancient India.
▪ Its rich literary traditions, Social and educational institutions.
▪ Its literature, religious and philosophical developments, art and architectural
evolutions.
▪ The dynamics of freedom struggle and the significant features of the Indian
Constitution.
▪ Fundamental rights and directive principles.
Module.1: Geography of India
▪ India on the map of the world and its neighbouring countries.
▪ The idea of Bharatvarsha.
▪ Geographical diversities- Unity of Diversity.
Module.2: Indian Social Structure
▪ Continuity and change of the Indian Social Structure: Caste, Community,
Class and Gender.
▪ Introduction to the Tribal Cultures of India.
▪ Evolution of the social systems in Medieval and modern Periods.
Module.3: Early & Medieval India
▪ An introduction to Indian knowledge systems-Scientific literature and
Technological development of Ancient and Medieval India.
▪ Religions and philosophies of ancient India and Medieval Bhakti Movement.
▪ Education and educational Institutions in Ancient & Medieval India.
Module.4: India's Freedom Struggle & Constitutional Development
▪ Growth and development of Indian Nationalism.
▪ Partition of India and the Aftermath.
▪ Growth of Science & Technology in Post-Independent India
Module.5: Understanding Indian Polity
▪ The evolution of State in India: Nature and origin.
▪ Salient Features of Indian Constitution: Parliamentary System , Federalism -
Fundamental rights and duties.
▪ Directive principles-Federal Structure -Independence of Judiciary and the
Parliamentary system- Challenges to National Integration.
Suggested Readings
Module.1: Geography of India
Basham,A.L.The Wonder That was India. New Delhi.Macmillan.1956.
Deshpande C.D. India: A Regional Interpretation, New Delhi: ICSSR.1992.
Husain, S. Abid. The National Culture of India, National Book Trust,
NewDelhi.2003.
Johnson, B.L.C.(Ed) 2001. Geographical Dictionary of India. New Delhi:Vision
Books.2001.
Sharma,T.C. Economic Geography of India. Jaipur: Rawat Publication. 2013.
Subba Rao,B. The personality of India. Baroda: M.S. University.1956.
Tirtha,Ranjit. Geography of India, Jaipur: Rawat Publication.2002.
Module.2: Indian Social Structure
Mazumdar,R.C. The Vedic Age. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.1950.
Rajesh Kochhar. The Vedic People. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan 1988.
Sheldon Pollock. The Language of the Gods in the World of Men. Delhi:
Permanent Black.2009
The Cultural Heritage of India Series (8 Volumes) Ramakrishna Mission
Institute, Calcutta.2002.
Module.3: Early & Medieval India
Bose D.M., S.N. Sen and B.V.Subbarayappa (ed). A Concise History of Science
in India, Indian National Science Academy, NewDelhi.1971.
History of Technology in India,3 Volumes. Indian National Science Academy,
New Delhi.(1997-2012).
Jha, D.N. Ancient India: In Historical Outline. Delhi: Manohar.1990.
Kapoor,K. & A. K Singh (ed).Indian Knowledge Systems, 2 Vols.Delhi: D.K.
Print world. 2005.
Mohanta, Basant Kumar and Vipin Kumar Singh (ed). Traditional Knowledge
System and Technology in India. Delhi: Pratibha Prakashan.2012.
Satish Chandra. History of Medieval India. Delhi: Orient Longman.2007.
The Cultural Heritage of India Series,8 Volumes. Ramakrishna Mission
Institute, Calcutta.2002.
Module.4: Understanding Indian Polity
Bhattacharya Sabyasachi(ed)Approaches to History: Essays in Indian
Historiography, Delhi: Primus. 2011.
Kejarwal, O.P. The Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Discovery of India’s Past.
New Delhi, 1999.
Sarma, R.S. Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India.
Delhi.Motilal Banarsidass.1991.
Sreedharan,E. Textbook of Historiography:500 BC to AD
2000.Hyderabad:Orient Blackswan. 2004.
Thapar, Romila. Asoka and the decline of the Maryan Empire. Delhi:Clarendon
Press. 1961
Module.5: India's Freedom Struggle & Constitutional Development
Chandra,Bipan, Amalesh Tripathi &Barun De. Freedom Struggle, Delhi: NBT.
1972.
Ishita Banerjee-Dube. A History of Modern India. Delhi: CUP.2015.
Madhav Khosla. The Indian Constitution. New Delhi: Oxford University
Press,2012.
Menon,V.P. Integration of the Indian States. Delhi: Orient Blackswan.2014.
Ramachandra Guha. Makers of Modern India. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard
Univ.Press,2013.
Sarkar, Sumit, Modern India, 1885-1947, Delhi: Macmillan.1983.
Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan. The Origin Story of lndia’s States. Delhi:
Penguin. 2008.
