Overview
We emphasize a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach to the study of South Asian texts and traditions, focusing on the cultural, intellectual, and social practices they inform. Our work engages with diverse disciplinary perspectives, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and nuances of South Asian cultures, histories, and thought.
Featured Project or Story
Seton Ulhorn
Dissertation Research in New Delhi
Seton Uhlhorn, a doctoral candidate in the Department of South Asian Studies, was selected as a recipient of the Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Grant. The grant aims to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and India through educational and cultural exchange.
She has been in New Delhi since last summer, and has spent the 24-25 academic year conducting research with a local university for her dissertation on the nineteenth-century Urdu poet Insha Allah Khan Insha.
The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
(The Mittal Institute) engages in interdisciplinary research to advance and deepen the understanding of critical issues in South Asia and its relationship with the world.
Related Programs
The South Asian Studies department is connected to a variety of related programs that enhance students’ understanding of the region through interdisciplinary approaches. Programs in history, political science, anthropology, religious studies, and literature frequently overlap with South Asian Studies, offering courses that examine the historical and contemporary dynamics of South Asia. Language programs in Hindi,-Urdu, Sanskrit, Tibetan, or Tamil provide linguistic skills that complement regional studies. Additionally, international relations and global studies programs often incorporate South Asia-focused courses to analyze the region’s geopolitical significance. Departments of film studies, gender studies, and environmental studies may also intersect with South Asian Studies by exploring topics such as South Asian cinema, gender and caste dynamics, or environmental challenges in the region. These interconnected programs allow students to develop a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of South Asia, preparing them for careers in academia, diplomacy, journalism, international development, and beyond.