ACM

India Studiesin Pune, India

Women at a village near Bhimabhankar.

At the ruins of the Vijayanagar Kingdom in Karnatika.

Photos courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

Left: On a program field trip to the Ajanta caves.

Photo courtesy of Natalia Futasova.

Pune, the site of the program, is a city of 3 million

in the state of Maharashstra.

Pune is known as the “Cultural Capital of Maharashtra” and the “Oxford of the East.”

Marathi is the language spoken in Pune and Maharashtra.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

Pune is home to several colleges, including Pune University and Symbiosis. The city is also a center for the study of Iyengar Yoga.

The yearly Pune Festival in August and September includes classical dance and music recitals, plays, film screenings and sports.

At the Hanuman Temple in Hampi, near Pune.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

The ACM office is located near Fergusson College.

Marathi teacher Sucheta Paranjpe and Seema Gunjal, the office assistant (top), sociology professor Vidyut Bhagwat (above), India Studies Field Director Suneeta Nene (above right), and political science professor Shrikant Paranjpe (right).

Academic program

India Studies is an interdisciplinary program during the fall semester (July to December).

Recommended credit is equivalent to one extended semester (18 semester hours).

Program components:

● Orientation – five weeks at the beginning of the program.

● Marathi language – intensive language during orientation, with regular classes continuing throughout the semester.

● Courses during two seven-week academic terms. Students choose among offerings in philosophy, history, architecture, performing culture, ayurved, sociology, environmental science and art.

● Independent study project – an academic and experiential project under the guidance of a university faculty member or a local professional or artist. Research may be conducted in most fields in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

Projects have included the following:

● North Indian Classical Music● Gandhi’s System of Basic Education● Christian Churches in Pune● Medical Applications of Massage & Yoga● Indian Cultural Context for Scientific Research● Exploring Untouchability: Oppression & Activism● Healing & Diagnosis in Ayurveda● Underprivileged Children in India● Women & Violence within Patriarchal India● Indian Astrology: Hindu Astrology● Folk & Tribal Ornamentation● Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Experience in India● Distribution of Water in Sanauri

Shiva Temple on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

● Extracurricular activities

Music lessonsDance lessonsVolunteer work, such as in hospitalsYoga lessonsBatik and weaving

Tabla lessons (above).

Performing classical Indian dance (left).Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

At the Sassoon Hospital Orphanage (right).Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

Students perform classical Indian dance (above) and music (right) at the program’s farewell dinner.On the wall are batiks made by program participants.

Photo above courtesy of Natalie Futasova.

Photo at right courtesy of Jodie Rutz.

Program participants with students in Phaltan.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

● Field trips

Ajanta and Ellora rock-cut caves in AurangabadKarlaMahableshwar, a hill station near PuneSihagad FortSanskriti

Above photo courtesy of Natalie Futasova.

Views of the Ajanta and Ellora caves.

Students join in a festival at

a Hindu temple in Jejuri (above).

At Jezudi Temple (right).

Photo courtesy of Jessica

Schachterle.

A program participant talks with a group of people outside the Dnyaneshwar Temple in Alandi, which is a short bus ride from Pune (above).

Photo courtesy of Jody Rutz.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

Host families

Students are “adopted” by host families in Pune.

Past participants rank the experience of living with families as the best part of the program. Typically, the students● participate in family celebrations● learn to cook● interact with host-siblings and their friends● learn about an Indian neighborhood by living there● see the family structure firsthand.

Above: A student with her host sister.

At left, a student has her first dinner with her host family. Before eating, the family fed the Palki Pilgrims who were passing through Pune.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Futasova.

Students travel on their own in India

Students travel during holidays and the two-week program break. Favorite destinations include:

● New Delhi, the capital of India, and Utter Pradesh● Agra, known for the Taj Mahal (shown at right)● Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the Arabian Sea● Rajasthan● Kerala

At right, a view of Mumbai, India’s chief commercial center, which is

easily accessible from Pune by train.

Taj Mahal photo courtesy of Natalia Futasova.

ACM India Studies – Fall 2005

● Dates: July 14 – December 11, 2005 (tentative)● Enrollment: maximum of 20 students● Coordinating Representative: Jonathan Lee, Philosophy, Colorado College● Field Director in India: Suneeta Nene● Contact your campus program advisor for application materials and more information. Or downloadan application from the ACMWeb site.

www.acm.edu/india

Stairs leading to Jezudi Temple (above).Photographing a temple elephant at the Hanuman Temple in Hampi (left).Photos courtesy of Jessica Schachterle.

Jonathan Lee