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AASI 298/History 270/ Dr. Sheenu Srinivasan
The Epics of India Fall 2001; Storrs Hall Room 317
Schedule: Tue & Thu 9:30 - 10:45 AM
Course Outline/Objectives
Not unlike the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have guided the lives of the men and women on the Indian subcontinent for millennia. Their influence has not been limited to the common folk. Great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, to name a few in the political arena, have been touched by the depth of values depicted in these great books. The consequences of leading a life outside the framework of Dharma, so thoroughly illustrated in these epics, has played a major role in developing public policy. The grip still retained by these books on the minds of Indians was evident when the two epics were recently serialized for television. It is common knowledge that all activities ceased throughout India and life came to a standstill during the hour the epics were telecast!
Our objective in this course is to critically examine and understand the basis of this influence on India's history by first studying the epics and then attempting an objective view of the impact. C. Rajagopalachari, the first Governor General of India, said that the characters depicted in these epics still walk the streets of India. How true! And how fascinating it is that the exciting stories told in these books continue to serve the modern Indian much as they served the ancients in developing a civilization that has remained essentially the same over the centuries, the introduction of computers, airplanes, telephones, television, the internet, the Beatles etc., notwithstanding! We will explore this phenomenon in detail in this course through a series of lectures, videos, and discussion.
Thus the influence of the ancient epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata,
on Indian life over the centuries will be the principal theme of the
course. A critical review of the epics will be presented in the
context of their grip on religious, social, cultural and political
thought comparable to the influence of the Greek epics Iliad and
Odyssey on western civilization. The recent Indian television
production of Mahabharata will be compared with Peter Brook's
nine-hour drama. A term paper is required.
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(A) Workload:
- Research Paper:
Choose a segment, theme or problem in either the Mahabharata or
the Ramayana and conduct a scholarly study, resulting in a 10-15
page research paper. You may choose a topic and seek approval to
proceed no later than October 2. Paper due date: November 29.
You will present the highlights of your study in class. (40% of grade) - Examinations:
Two take-home examinations to be returned October 18 and November 15
(Each 20% of grade). - Class participation 20%
- Reading: Texts, papers as indicated
Note: Some meetings will include viewing of films on the epics, followed
by discussion.
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(B) Prescribed Textbooks:
Lal, P. tr. The Mahabharata of Vyasa. New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1993.
Lal, P. tr. The Ramayana of Valmiki. New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1994.
Srinivasan, A. V. tr. A Hindu Primer: Yaksha Prashna. Parijata Publication, 1984.
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(C) Recommended Reading (some of which will be placed on
reserve at the library):
Lal, P. Annotated Mahabharata Bibliography. Calcutta: Writers Workshop, 1968.
Carriere, Jean-Claude, The Mahabharata, tr. from French by Peter Brook. NY: Harper & Row, 1987.
van Buitenen, J.A.B., The Mahabharata: The Book of the Beginnings, Vol. 1 U. of Chicago Press.
--above, The Mahabharata, Vol. 2: Books 2 & 3. U of Chicago Press.
--above, The Mahabharata, Vol. 3: Books 4 & 5. U. of Chicago Press.
Wolpert, Stanley, A New History of India, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press.
Clemens, John K. & Douglas F. Mayer, The Classic Touch: Lessons in leadership from Homer to Hemingway. Dow Jones-Irwin, 1987.
Monier-Williams, Indian Epic Poetry
O'Connor, Gary, The Mahabharata: Peter Brook's epic in the making. Mercury House, 1989.
Stephanie W. Jamison, "Draupadi on the Walls of Troy", Classical Antiquity, Vol. 13, No. 1, April 1994
Paula Richman, Many Ramayanas , University of California Press, 1991
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(D) Weekly Schedule; Note M= Mahabharata
and R= Ramayana prescribed texts
Week 1
Introduction: Universal values in classical epic literature, East and West. Epic poems and their characteristics: The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Ramayana, The Mahabharata.
The Mahabharata: The beginnings; the family tree.
Showing of a segment from Peter Brook's filming of The Mahabharata. Discussion.
Reading assignment: M; pp. 1-5, 23-66, 67-88, 237-249.
Week 2
Time and the epic. Evolution and the avatars of Vishnu. The four yugas.
History of the Bhandarkar Institute's critical edition of the Mahabharata, 1917-1966.
Overview of the Ramayana story line.
Showing of a segment from Peter Brook's filming of The Mahabharata. Discussion.
Reading assignment: M; The Forest, pp. 89-106, R;1-48, Williams, Monier, Indian Epic Poetry, pp. 39-53
Week 3
The history of the Mahabharata: the traditional dating of the Kurukshetra battle; of the oral composition. The time scale in the epic: main vs. tangential themes.
The Mahabharata: The Assembly, The Dice game -- seeds of conflict.
The Disrobing of Draupadi; Fundamental question regarding dharma posed.
Showing of a segment from Peter Brook's filming of The Mahabharata. Discussion.
Reading assignment: M; pp. 107-120, R; Balakanda, Srinivasan, A.V., Yaksha Prashna
Week 4
Principles of Hinduism: concept of dharma. I. Yaksha Prashna episode and a code of Hindu values that foreshadows the Bhagavad Gita. II. Dharma as the core concept in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Discussion
Reading assignment: M; pp. 121-133, R; Aranyakanada, Williams, Monier, Indian Epic Poetry, pp. 60-88
Week 5
Sanskrit language and culture: Williams Monier (1863) view.
The story of Rama; concept of government in the Ramayana: Ram Rajya.
The theme of exile and the four stages of life: voluntary and involuntary renunciation.
Film segment from the Ramayana, Discussion.
Reading assignment: R; Kishkindhakanda, Williams, Monier, Indian Epic Poetry, pp. 91-132.
Week 6
Divine intervention vs. human will: Thetis, Zeus, Appolo (Iliad), Kunti, Krishna (Saindhava episode).
A consideration of boons: the boons gained by Keikeyi, and diligent demons such as Mahisha, Ravana and Hiranyakashipu; the pro's and cons of boongiving & boon-getting, theme of loyalty.
The Mahabharata: The Forest.
Showing of a segment from Peter Brook's filming of The Mahabharata, Discussion.
Reading assignment: M; pp. 134-146, R; Sundarakanda, "A total theatre filled with dance, music and myth", Madhur Jaffrey, Smithsonian Journal, March 1979, pp. 68-75
Week 7
The epic vehicle: the Ramayana as oral and dramatic art and as literature from the beginning to date. The popularity of the Ramayana theme in south east Asia. The Ramayana movie entertainment in the mid-20th century; a political harvest. The Ramayana (and the Mahabharata) on television; a 1990's political fallout.
The Mahabharata: The theme of disguise. The kingdom of Virata, Final negotiations, inevitability of war.
Reading assignment: M; pp. 146-154, R; Yuddhakanada, "Peter Brook - Vyasa of the West", M.L. Varapande, India News, September 1-15, 1992, "Self-promotion, Indian-style", Lee Adair, Asian Wall Street Journal, August 15, 1992
Week 8
The Mahabharata: Failure of Krishna's mission, Preparations for war, Rules of war.
Segments from Peter Brook's filming and Indian filming of The Mahabharata, Discussion.
Reading assignment: Jamison: Draupadi on the Walls of Troy
Week 9
Guidelines for Research Papers.
Selected examples of battles fought on the subcontinent, Conflicts and their resolution. War as a solution? Buddha and Ashoka; Gandhi and Freedom via nonviolence; Peace as a better solution.
The Mahabharata: Kurukshetra. The death of Abhimanyu; Arjuna's vow. The carnage of war. Segments of films.
Week 10
Arjuna's dejection on the battlefield, temptation of resignation. The role of the warrior defined. The Bhagavad Gita.
The political makeup of India as described in A) The Ramayana; B) The Mahabharata as compared to Ashoka, British and modern periods.
India in the 90's; the effect of the televised epics: unifying the majority; militarizing the religious right; giving everyone a set of values to recognize as national. Will this lead to unity? What is the lasting effect?
The Ramayana: the war against Lanka
Films/Discussion
Week 11
The Bhagavad Gita.
Queens, goddesses, mothers and daughters, wives, female warriors: female authority roles. Modern role models: Rani of Jhansi; Indira Gandhi.
1: Love and Generation. 2: War and Death.
The Ramayana: triumphant return to Ayodhya
Segments from Peter Brook's filming and Indian filming of The Mahabharata, Discussion.
Reading assignment: M; pp. 154-171
Week 12
Drona the teacher: Fathers and Sons, Brothers, Elders, Kings, Rishis, Gurus: male authority roles. Karna, the "illegitimate son" and Kunti.
The deaths of Drona and Bhishma, revenge of Ashwattama.
Showing of a segment from Peter Brook's filming and Indian filming of The Mahabharata, Discussion.
Reading assignment, M: pp. 172-190.
Week 13
The high cost of victory. Contemporary examples from the modern social and political history of India: Partition and Independence: Gandhi & Rajagopalachari; Nehru; Radhakrishnan.
The place of death: Yama & Savitri; the children of Ganga; the children of Draupadi; Sita's choice
The Mahabharata: The end of war; slaughter of children, the horse-sacrifice, The final ascent to heaven.
Showing of a segment from Peter Brook's filming of The Mahabharata, Discussion.
Reading assignment: M; 190-236, Richman: Many Ramayanas.
Week 14
In class presentations of Research Papers
Ramayana films and discussion.
Week 15
Conclusion.
What survives: In India: the ideal of dharma
Dasara, Vijayadasami, Ram Leela
Dialogues and doctrines; rituals, roles and the play of real life
Traditional viewpoint vs. Vyasa's viewpoint
A worldwide legacy: Peter Brook's Mahabharata play cycle
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All materials © Copyright A. V. Srinivasan -- all rights reserved
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