Centre for International Relations
Understanding India (FYUGP)
Semester: I Course
Code:
Credit: 02 Marks: 50
The Understanding India is to be studied by the students of all four disciplinary areas viz. natural
science, Humanities, Social Science and Commerce.
Course Objectives: To expose the students to our social, economic and cultural heritage.
Course Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this course the students will be able
to have knowledge regarding
i. Contemporary India with its historical perspective
ii. Constitutional obligation: Fundamental Rights and Duties
iii. Indian Knowledge System
iv. India’s struggle for freedom
Course Outline: Background of India’s culture growth and development of Indian education and
literature, leaders of India’s freedom struggle and geographical features of India. Further the
course will introduce the students to people of India, constitution, ideas and an overview of
economy.
Unit I
Background of India’s Culture, Education and Literature (10 Lectures)
I. Harappan Civilization and Vedic Culture
II. Buddhism, Jainism, Sanatan (Hinduism) and Islam
III. Bhart’s Natyashastra, Kalidas, Panani and Patanjali
IV. Taxila, Nalanda, Vishwa Bharati, BHU, AMU, IIT, IISC, AIIMS
Unit II
Leaders of Indian Freedom Struggle and Ideas (7 Lectures)
I. Mahatma Gandhi, J L Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose
II. Freedom fighters from Jharkhand (Tilka Manjhi, Sidho-Kanho, Birsa Munda and Jatra
Bhagat)
III. Non-Violence Satyagraha and Social Justice
IV. Acharya Vinoba Bhave
Unit III
Indian Constitution (4 Lectures)
I. Preamble
II. Salient Features
III. Fundamental Rights
IV. Fundamental Duties
Unit IV
People, Economy and Geographical Features of India (9 Lectures)
I. Physical Features: Mountains, Plateaus, Plan, Coast, Island, Vegetation, Rivers, Soil and
Climate
II. Population, Racial Diversity, Growth and Distribution, Migration
III. Indian Economy: Agriculture, Industry and Trade and Transport
IV. India and its neighbours
Reference List
1. Shashi Tiwari, Harappan Civilization and Vedic Culture, Praitbha Publications,
2010
2. K T S Sarao, Buddhism and Jainism (Encyclopedia of Indian Religions),
Springer, 2017
3. Ramnath Sharma, Rajender Kumar Sharma, History of Education in India,
Atlantic Publishers, 2022
4. Bipan Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence, Penguin Books, 1989
5. A. L. Basham, A Cultural History of India, Oxford University Press, 1997
6. R.C. Majumder (ed.), History and Culture of Indian People (Relevant Volumes
and Chapters), Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay.
7. S. C. Ghosh, History of Education in Modern India, 1758-1986, Orient
Longman, Hyderabad, 1995
8. D D Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Lexis Nexis, 2023
9. Majid Hussain, Geography of India, McGraw Hill, 2022
10.IAS Ayushi Singh, IPS Nityanand Jha, Indian Society for UPSC, McGraw
Hill, 2024
11.Aarti Padole Talekar, Indian Economy for UPSC, Global Education Limited,
2018
12.Mohammed Alam Badrul, India and Her Neighbours: Towards A Proactive
Partnership, Kalpaz Publications, 2015
