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: | Arjun Bharadwaj |
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: | 2 |
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: | 30 |
Introduction
This course offers insights into the structures of literary exposition, philosophy and aesthetic appreciation based on the Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharata Muni, which is a classical treatise on aesthetics from the Bharatiya perspective. The nuances of how art, whether in the genres of performing, literary or fine arts, can elevate its connoisseurs, not as merely tools of entertainment, but as sources of enlightenment shall be explored in this course cruising through the structures and frameworks of this elite treatise.
Program educational Objective(s)
- Understand the structure and the śāstra-sadbhāva (governing philosophy) of the Nāṭyaśāstra
- Understand the universality of the principles of the Nāṭyaśāstra, thereby gaining the tools required to appreciate any from of art in the world
- Comprehend the spiritual tradition of Indian arts as gleaned from the Nāṭyaśāstra
Course Outcome
At the end of the course the student will be able to –
- Grasp the purpose of art and literature as envisaged in Natyashaastra
- Understand the fundamental building clocks of Indian arts
- Use / appreciate the guiding principles of composition, presentation and stylization of Indian arts
Curriculum
Module I
The structure of the Nāṭyaśāstra and its purpose; the pre-requisites (anubandha-catuṣṭaya) for learning the text.
The responsibilities of artists and connoisseurs as metaphorically enunciated in the Nāṭyaśāstra
Module II
Understanding the Rasādhyāya and the Bhāvādhyāya (sixth and seventh chapters of the treatise), as fundamental to all arts in the world and in particular to Indian arts – poetry, dance, music, sculpture and painting
Module III
- Understanding the philosophy of the chapter on Daśarūpakas and Sandhi-prakaraṇam, as guiding principles for composing a literary work or choreography dance and drama
- Realistic presentation and stylization in art
Evaluation & Assessment Methods Used
Formative Assessment:
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- Continuous Evaluation (Continuous Assessment)
- 40% weightage: 40 marks
- Formative Assessment will be based on a continuous comprehensive pattern
- There shall be assignments and quizzes
Summative Assessment:
- End Term Examination
- 60% weightage: 60 marks
- There shall be an End-term examination of 60 marks
Formative Evaluation-The answer sheet of the formative examination will be shown to individual students, and the student will be guided on how to improve upon the performance.
Summative Evaluation – The end term examination shall be conducted as per the university examination schedule. The paper, for Theory, shall be assessed by the teacher who teaches the course.
References
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- Original Text of the Nāṭyaśāstra with Abhinava-bhāratī (compiled by R.S. Nagar)
- English translation of the Nāṭyaśāstra by Manmohan Ghosh
- Prekṣaṇīyam, original work of Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh, adapted into English with additional material by Arjun Bharadwaj
- Sanskrit Drama – Its Aesthetics and Production by V. Raghavan
- Works of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and R. Sathyanarayana
- Introduction to the Saṅgīta-darpaṇa of Gaurīśvara – critically edited and translated by Arjun Bharadwaj
Indic Knowledge Landscape
Credits 2 (L-T-P 2-0-0, Lecture 30 hours)
Why should you attend?
If you are curious to know whether there is an indigenous knowledge in India and its diversity and spread of coverage, this course is for you. It will demystify the various sources from vedas to folklore encompassing Indian culture in just 30 hours. You will get to know what is the subject matter of the Vedas, Upanishads, Shastras, Puranas etc., in a way you can relate to modern knowledge.
Course Objectives
To introduce learners to the landscape of Vedic literature with broad taxonomy of Indic knowledge systems.
Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge of the sources of Vedic knowledge
- Comprehension of the seamless nature of Vedic knowledge
- Understand the purpose and utility of Vedic knowledge systems in enriching human life
Indic Reasoning and debating
Credits 2 (L-T-P 2-0-0, Lecture 30 hours)
Why should you attend?
Have you ever felt that something you read on social media does not make any logical sense but do not know why? Have you felt the need to win arguments with friends regardless of their motive of argument? Did you know that there are sixteen types of mistakes one can commit and you can counter any opponent in a debate by learning India’s celebrated science of debate?
If so, this course is for you. It will make you appreciate why India was the capital of knowledge and debates for millennia and why people came from all over the world to study here. This course will introduce Tarka – The Indian logic system and methodology of structured debate.
After completing this course you can exactly pinpoint fallacies in social media arguments.
Course Objectives
- Ability to make use of debate exchanges and definitions and classification systems drawn from Indic manuals, learners understand the systematic process to challenge and defend assertions made in the course of debate.
Learning Outcomes
Learner transforms into a persuasive communicator with ability to-
- Defend statements using clear, logical reasons
- Choose relevant statements to defend
- Support the arguments with well-chosen evidence, which is explanatory and thoroughly analyzed
The structure and method of Indic shastras
Credits 2 (L-T-P 2-0-0, Lecture 30 hours)
Why should you attend?
Did you know that India is unique in having a science of how to do scientific enquiry? All Indian sciences follow a standard template that enables the systematic mining of Indic texts. If you know this template you can understand any shastra(Indic sciences) easily. It also helps in artificial intelligence where knowledge representation is crucial.
Course Objectives
To understand the exposition style common to all Indian Shaastras or scientific treatises. This throws light on Bhaaratiiya method of scientific discourse.
Learning Outcomes
- Ability for independent study of Indic shaastra texts to explore contemporary relevance
- Ability to navigate Indic texts for concept search and knowledge mining applications
- Ability to paraphrase Indic shaastra content to novice mainstream-educated audience
Vedic human psychology
Credits 3 (L-T-P 3-0-0, Lecture 45 hours)
Why should you attend?
Who does not want to be happy all the time? But we are constantly surrounded by things that make us unhappy. What is in us that causes grief. Is it the outside circumstance or something in us that responds? Who am I? How Many Grades of Happiness exist? Why do I like some things and do not like others? How to help others in distress?
The answer to all these questions was the central pursuit of India for millenia. India offers the most comprehensive understanding of human nature that is central to all aspects of human life. This course gives you the essence of this knowledge without overwhelming you with the details.
It unifies spirituality, religion, psychology, aesthetics by enunciating their common underlying principles.
Course Objectives
To give a basic understanding of human psychology and the motives of human behavior. To serve as the foundation for all humanities disciplines. This course integrates several western models of psychology with a common taxonomy derived from Vedic perspective. It also introduces a novel Vedic model derived from several Vedic sources including Upanishads, Sankhya-Yoga, Tantra, Bhaagavatam, Jyotisha, Natyashaastra and Mimaamsa.
Learning Outcomes
After completion of this course students will be able to
- Comprehend the basic meaning & nature of western psychology
- Compare and contrast various paradigms of western psychology
- Understand and evaluate various fundamental concepts of Vedic psychology
- Juxtapose western and Vedic understanding of human personality
- Diagnose various psychological issues and create an intervention plan by integrating western and Vedic principles
Scientific thinking
Credits 2 (L-T-P 2-0-0, Lecture 30 hours)
Why should you attend?
Modern-day parents want their children to imbibe scientific thinking and be innovators in whatever area they choose to pursue. However, today’s school education system focuses on informing the findings of science but not the method of scientific thinking and model-based reasoning in a formal way. This course hones three key skills of scientific thinking, namely, abstraction, classification and inference essential to become a creative scientist.
This course introduces India’s science of building scientific models and analyzing the soundness of any theory. It helps one become a discerning scientist and appreciate scientific works better.
Course Objectives
To elucidate the fundamental aspects of knowledge, its creation, its process and the method of scientific inquiry. To introduce the Navya Nyaya approach of model building.
Learning Outcomes
After the completion of this course students will be able to
- Understand Model based reasoning as the method of all scientific inquiry
- Assess the robustness of scientific models according to criteria laid out in Vedic scientific system
- Build robust scientific models for use in simulating real world systems
- Recontextualize Vedic shaastras as scientific models for a contemporary application.
