South Asian Civilisation 3600-7-IN4-CAP(Z)

The aim of the course is to inform students about fundamental aspects of culture, literature, history, religion and philosophy of India and South Asia, presented in an interdisciplinary way. The knowledge is imparted in an interdisciplinary manner, with an emphasis on the interdependencies between the natural environment, history, socio-cultural changes, and the most important achievements of the civilisation of India and the broader South Asian region.
The course is carried out in the form of a five-semester module, while the student achieves all learning outcomes only after completing the entire module.
In the winter semester of the first year of study, the course/subject is taught for 90 hours.

Course coordinators

Term 2025Z:

Karolina Kłoszewska

Term 2026Z:

Justyna Wiśniewska-Singh

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student:

– knows and understands:

K_W03
has extended knowledge of particular problems pertaining to the culture of South Asia (within the scope of culture and literature or language or philosophy and religion or history and socio-political issues)

K_W04
has extended and deepened knowledge of a chosen Indian/South Asian language (Bengali/Hindi/Sanskrit/Tamil)

K_W05
has detailed knowledge pertaining to the state of research on chosen issues related to South Asia as well as in-depth knowledge of research centres in Poland and all over the world

K_W06
knows and understands advanced analysis and interpretation methods of various products of the culture of South Asia, characteristic of chosen traditions, theories, research schools within the scope of linguistics or literary studies, culture and religion studies, philosophy or history

K_W07
knows and understands the local academic tradition (methods of analysis, interpretation and evaluation) in the context of South Asia

K_W10
has wide and profound knowledge of the structures and social relations as well as socio-cultural behaviours of South Asia in the scope conditioning professional social and intercultural verbal communication

– is able to:

K_U03
can acquire knowledge independently and enhance research skills as well as develop abilities to build a professional career

K_U04
can use the knowledge in the field of Oriental studies to expand knowledge of humanities

K_U05
can use the knowledge in the field of Oriental studies to solve problems relating to cultural differences in professional situations

K_U13
can select and translate into Polish most valuable Sanskrit literary works or most valuable literary works/writings in Bengali/Hindi/Tamil

– is ready to:

K_K04
can set appropriate goals and ways to achieve them in the context of academic, professional and social activity

K_K05
is open to new ideas and trends as well as cultural diversity

K_K07
understands responsibility and ethical issues that come with imparting knowledge of South Asia

Assessment criteria

attendance control
oral and/or written assessment at the end of the semester
Comment: the condition for crediting the course is to pass all partial classes. The final grade is the average of the partial grades issued by the lecturers.

Bibliography

Selected by the teacher depending on language group

Term 2026Z:

M. Mejor (red.): Światło słowem zwane. Wypisy z literatury staroindyjskiej, Warszawa 2007. (M. Mejor (red.): Światło słowem zwane. Wypisy z literatury staroindyjskiej, Warszawa 2007. (fragmenty))
Flood, Gavin D. An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Lopez, Donald S., Jr. (ed.). Religions of India in Practice. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1995.
B. Grabowska, T. Herrmann i inn., Słownik mitologii hinduskiej. 1994.
J. Sachse (trans.): Bhagawadgita czyli Pieśń Pana, Wrocław 1989.
J. Sachse (trans.): Bhagawadgita czyli Pieśń Czcigodnego, Wrocław 2019.
J. Brockington: The Sanskrit Epics, Leiden 1998.
Other selected by the teacher.