Contemporary India finds itself at the intersection of the trajectories of a number of widely varying notions of truth, falsity, authenticity and illegitimacy. The variation in these trajectories—in their cultural origins and in their content—can make their crossings unpredictable and explosive and often unintelligible. This course will explore with students the claims and negotiations that are fundamental to some of the critical debates in Indian history and politics over the past two centuries. In particular it will aim to alert students to the possibility that underlying these contentious events, ideas and processes are contending claims to truth and authenticity.

The course will focus on a set of truth claims that constitute the interface of cultural interactions within India and between Indian cultures and the rest of the world: stereotypes, stories, histories, myths, corruption and claims to authenticity and ethnicity. Such a study of India, by facilitating the study of cultural interactions through the prism of different configurations of truth and falsity, rather than the prism of power, will also encourage students to think more broadly and deeply about the interplay between notions of truth.

1. Demonstrate the ability to recognize historically and geographically variant notions of truth and falsity
2. Identify the ways in which notions of truth and falsity are configured alongside power relations in South Asia
3. Competently discuss the different notions of truth and authenticity that are employed by different groups speaking of the same event/issue
4. Evaluate the changing role of truth and falsity in history and politics with reference to particular events in India and South Asia
5. Demonstrate competent use of historical, literary and political sources to speak about notions of truth and falsity in Indian politics and history.

Three contact hours per week.

Six university courses (36 units). Incompatible with ASIA6272

Recommended ASIA2070 and ASIA2071 or equivalent.

Readings will be available on Wattle.