Understanding India's Cultural Heritage

• INTRODUCTION:

  The purpose of the seminar is to provide the US educators a broader understanding of India's history, art and cultural heritage, which will help them in identifying reference materials on study of India. India is a country of great diversities. Every region of the country portrays different customs, traditions, languages, manners, habits and tastes. The seminar will also give them an exposure to the richness of this diversity and challenges that the nation faces. The impetus of the seminar is to help these educators understand contemporary India against the backdrop of her history and culture.
  
  The seminar consists of two phases, namely, academic study and field visits. The five-day academic program in New Delhi, using a multi-disciplinary approach, will involve formal lectures, interviews, and discussions with prominent scholars and public personalities. The field visit phase of four weeks will take participants to Pune, Cochin, Chennai, Kolkata, Varanasi, Agra and Jaipur exposing them to geographical diversities and cultures. Special effort will be made to include visits to museums and Indian villages to observe life in rural settings.
  
  The seminar is designed to enrich participants' knowledge by combining academic and cultural experiences. Visits to schools, colleges and museums, and rural areas will be interspersed with demonstrations of Indian dance and music. Visits will also be arranged to NGOs working on developmental issues in both rural and urban settings. The program will allow the participants to pursue their individual academic interests and work on their respective curriculum projects.

  Schedule in India
  Participants Brief CVs
  Curriculum projects Abstract