This course will introduce students to the myriad visions of South Asia that have been expressed through historical, social, economic, political, religious and cultural movements and debates over the past three centuries. It will focus on the crucial question: what is South Asia? In the multiplicity of dynamic and often ephemeral answers, the course will offer glimpses of the many Indias, Pakistans, Sri Lankas, and so on that reside in peoples imaginations.
It will begin during a critical period of the British Raj and survey the complex processes, events and ideologies that went into the shaping of the nations and regions of South Asia. It will follow the progression of colonialism and the emergence of anticolonial and national movements as well as struggles that slipped under the radar of popular national movements. The course will explore the violent moments of Independence and the contending aspirations of the newly minted nation-states.
Apart from opening up the world of South Asia to students, this course will also foray into questions of what it means to study Asia in the contemporary world. It will explore ways to understand the transformations the region has been undergoing.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of key events, social formations, and conceptual tools used to comprehend South Asian history
- Identify the main controversies in South Asian history and the evidence and arguments that are applied to those debates.
- Evaluate the changing role of colonialism in contemporary historical debates
- Develop critical insights on historical and contemporary issues faced by the region
- Engage in critical thinking and critical reflection on topics within South Asia
Other Information
This is a co-taught course. Any cap on enrolments in one course applies to both courses combined.
Indicative Assessment
- Contribution to discussion (10) [LO 1,3,5]
- Short assignment (1000 words) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Essay (3000 words) (45) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Quiz (15) [LO 1,2,3]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The standard workload for a 6 unit course is 130 hours including in class time and independent study.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
Readings will be provided on Wattle.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2902 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |