As histories of India continue to be written and rewritten, this course will explore the history and politics of India through characterizations of ideologies and movements of resistance. The course will examine a few key historical and political events that have been essentially understood as either revolutions, rebellions or reforms. It will bring together different discourses and languages that constitute the event and dismantle them to help us understand the processes of historiography. While the course centrally addresses the question of ‘doing history’, it will also undertake a detailed study of particular moments of resistance.

The course will tentatively address the following set of events: the 1757 Battle of Plassey, the 1857 Mutiny/First war of Independence, the 1835 educational reforms, the Anti-Sati Act and Gandhi’s Satyagraha.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the events identified as revolutions, rebellions and reform
2. Identify and evaluate the significance of these events in framing the histories of India
3. Critically discuss the different languages of resistance that are employed by different groups speaking of the same event/issue
4. Evaluate the legitimacy of historical sources employed in writing histories of resistance
5. Demonstrate competent use of sources to write histories of resistance.

2 hours lectures and 1 hour tutorial each week.

Six university courses (36 units)

Recommend ASIA2270 and ASIA2271. Incompatible with ASIA6272.

Readings will be provided on Wattle.