Culture and Society of Modern South Asia (Master)

The interdisciplinary master’s programme in Culture and Society of Modern South Asia aims at equipping students with extensive interdisciplinary knowledge of the cultural, regional, linguistic and social diversity of the South Asian continent in the present, as well as of the historic developments that have shaped it since the beginning of the modern period. This also includes the acquisition of a critical understanding of the symbolic worlds, ways of actions and perceptions of different actors. Students enhance their linguistic competences in modern Indian languages (specifically Hindi and Nepali) that they acquired in previous studies and actively use them in communications, to deal with written sources and/or oral accounts from the modern media. This way, they expand their knowledge of the cultural and social processes in the modern and present period through primary materials.

Study Programme

The master’s programme consists of modules covering the following subject areas: compulsory modules on modern South Asian society; basics of modern South Asian cultural and intellectual history; alternative compulsory module (A: cultural studies of modern South Asia in practice; or B: modern Indian language in practice); history of modern South Asia; alternative compulsory module (A: basics of contemporary South Asian cultures; B: South Asia in a global context); languages of modern South Asia in practice; and linguistic traditions of modern South Asia). In addition, students have to complete a research seminar for master’s students, write a master’s thesis and pass a master’s examination.