Course Title: Understanding India
Nature of Course: VAC
Course Code: VAC 1
Total Credit: 2
Distribution of Marks: 40 (End-Sem) +10 (In-Sem) =50
Objectives: The objective of the paper is to have a thorough as well as a comprehensive
understanding about India, its cultural development through art and architecture, religions
and philosophies of ancient India. The paper also deals with various constituent assembly
debates along with the formation of the Indian Constitution.
Course Contents:
Topic Credit
Unit-1 Lecture Tutorial
Marks Distribution: 13
1.1 The idea of Bharatvarsha; 2 1
Ancient Indian literature-
Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, Tamil
1.2 Scientific literature and 2 1
development of science in
Ancient India
1.3 Religions and philosophies of 2 1
ancient India-Vedic, Buddhism,
Jainism
1.4 Education and educational 2 1
Institutions in Ancient India
Unit- 2 Marks Distribution: 13
1
2.1 Art and architecture of ancient 2 1
India
2.2 Art and architecture of Medieval 2 1
India
2.3 Medieval Bhakti Movement and 2 1
The Sufi Tradition
Unit- 3: Marks Distribution: 14
3.1 Main currents of Indian National 3 1
Movement-Growth and
development of Indian
nationalism and Indian national
movement-Independence
Building a framework of the new
nation
Making of the Indian 2 1
3.2 Constitution
3.3 Basic features of Indian
constitution: Basic Structure 2
Doctrine, Fundamental rights
and duties, Directive principles,
Federal Structure, Independence
of Judiciary and the
Parliamentary system
MODES OF IN-SEMESTER ASSESSMENT: (10 Marks)
One Internal Examination - 05 Marks
Others (Any one) - 05 Marks
o Group Discussion
o Seminar presentation on any of the relevant topics
o Debate
Learning Outcome:
To have an understanding on history and culture of ancient India.
The students will be acquainted with the literature, philosophy, art and architectural
developments in India during the period concerned.
The students will also get to know about their constitutional rights and duties.
2
Suggested Reading List:
A.L. Basham,The Wonder that Was India, Picador India,1971
R.S.Sharma,India’sAncientPast, NewDelhi, OUP, 2007
Upinder Singh, The History of the Ancient and Early Medieval India, Pearson, 2008
Satish Chandra, History of Medieval India, Arihant Publication, 2020
Durga Das Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Lexis Nexis, 2018
