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. Recognize and evaluate contentious notions of truth and falsity in Indian history and politics
2. Assess the critical role played by the ephemeral notions of truth, authenticity, falsity and illegitimacy in critical political and historical debates in India
3. Identify the genealogies of the different notions of truth and falsity
4. Discuss with demonstrated empirical knowledge debates that employ different notions of truth and falsity
5. Evaluate the centrality of truth claims in cultural negotiations in India
6. Demonstrate the ability to competently critique studies of Indian history and politics by locating their truth claims

2 hours lectures and 1 hour tutorial per week

Undergraduate degree

Recommended ASIA2070 and ASIA2071 or equivalent

Readings will be available on Wattle