India: National Identity and the Arts

Explore the living legacy of an ancient civilization through its arts.

Please note that the information on this program in the SIT Study Abroad course catalog for 2012 is no longer accurate. The website contains the most up-to-date information.

This program studies the visual and performing arts of India—its architecture, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, film, dance, music, and drama—in historic and contemporary contexts. Students are challenged to consider the relationship between religion, art, and identity.

Taking advantage of Delhi’s rich artistic heritage and lively contemporary arts scene, the program includes time at:

Historical and cultural sites
Museums and art galleries
Concerts and recitals
Film festivals
Dance and drama performances

Time outside Delhi could include visiting several of the following locations:

Agra, Gwalior, Datia, Varansai, Bodhgaya, Khajuraho, Orchha, or Bandhavgarh, a tiger sanctuary and site of a tenth-century fort in Madhya Pradesh.
South India (Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, and Madurai), East India (Orissa and Kolkata), Jaipur, or Dharamsala for small-group workshops.

Intensive Hindi language instruction, interdisciplinary lectures, and an independent research project complete the study of art history as a window through which to view this complex nation.

The program’s lecturers are drawn from institutions such as:

Listen to a diverse anthology of Indian music covering many genres: classical, devotional, Bollywood, folk, Jazz, and even Indo-Western collaboration. The collection reveals many of the rich and complex traditions of Indian music you will experience on this program.

Note to Prospective Students: India is a challenging environment, and the program is academically rigorous. Successful students are robust, mature, and academically curious and eager. We encourage students to prepare for India by building stamina, flexibility, and strength in order to be able to adjust to a new climate. This includes developing a balanced diet and physical self-awareness. Patience, flexibility, humor, and compassion will pay off in a rewarding experience in India!

Fall 2010 Students Produce Cookbook of Delectable Indian Dishes
Students have the chance to complete a practicum in sitar, tabla, yoga, pottery, painting, heritage walks, dance, or cooking as part of the program’s National Identity and the Arts Seminar. After receiving eight lessons in the chosen discipline, students demonstrate their new skills to fellow students and teachers.

View Recipes (PDF)

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research