THERE ARE THREE CONCENTRATION OPTIONS:

Option A, Sanskrit Language and Literature, is for those students who wish to focus intensively on the task of learning the Sanskrit language and developing the ability to read, in Sanskrit, such texts as the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, the Epics, and, at an advanced level, works of court poetry and philosophy, grammatical studies of the Paninean system, and various Vedic texts in archaic Sanskrit. This is a challenging but rewarding program of study. In order to undertake Option A, a student must take Sanskrit 101a and 101b no later than the sophomore year. In the second year of Sanskrit study he or she will take intermediate Sanskrit and in the third year advanced Sanskrit. Beyond study of the Sanskrit language, students will work out a program of study with the Head Tutor or a designated adviser, drawing upon Sanskrit and Indian Studies courses and those listed as related courses. Since the emphasis in this option is on developing competence in the language itself, no thesis is required, but candidates for honors will take a written general examination.

Option B, South Asian Studies, is for those students who wish to gain a broad understanding of Indian or South Asian civilization as a whole – its complexity and multiplicity, as well as the sources of its unity. While students may develop a particular area of focus or expertise, the emphasis in this option is on the kind of wide-ranging and interdisciplinary studies that are essential to the appreciative comprehension of an ancient and still vibrant civilization. In this option two years of language study in either Sanskrit or Hindi-Urdu are required. In special cases another language may be offered in place of these, if it is culturally related to South Asian Studies and is studied in an academic program approved by the Department.. Beyond the language requirement, students will work out a program of study with the Head Tutor or a designated adviser, drawing upon Sanskrit and Indian Studies courses and those listed as related.

Option C, Joint Concentration, allows studetns to combine training in South Asian languages and cultures with a particular discipline in another department. Program of study is jointly agreed upon by both departments.


Secondary Field:

A secondary field in Sanskrit and Indian Studies enables students whose concentration is somewhat distant from the field to do a solid core of work in Sanskrit Language and Literature or South Asian Studies without having the obligation of doing a joint thesis or culminating project. Students may focus on a coherent group of courses in Hindu or Buddhist tradition; in modern South Asian Literature; in post-colonial studies; or in government or history. They may also choose a more general sampling of courses pertaining to areas of Sanskrit Language and Literature or South Asian Studies.

For complete information and requirements, please see the secondary fields website: http://www.secondaryfields.fas.harvard.edu/SIS/program-desc-SIS.htm

The Director of Undergraduate Studies, Ali Asani ( aliasani@fas.harvard.edu ), is available for advising and information on the Secondary Field in Sanskrit and Indian Studies.

ADVISING

Students are assigned an adviser from the junior and senior faculty; students continue with the same advisor throughout their three years, unless there is a particular reason for making a change. Students meet with their adviser at least once a term and at other times as needed.

RESOURCES

Harvard College Library contains one of the largest collections of Sanskrit manuscripts and printed texts in the West. Together with the Harvard-Yenching Library its holdings of Buddhist texts are perhaps the finest in the world. The Sanskrit Library (Widener A) offers to all concentrators a convenient collection of reference works and periodicals together with a collection of tape recordings of oral recitations.

TO FIND OUT MORE

Questions about the concentration should be discussed with theDirector of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Ali Asani.