CLC 2134A Bombay to Mumbai J. Miller May 20, 2014 WESTERN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (UC 115) CLC 2134A -- Bombay to Mumbai: Hinduism and Literature Fall (1 st semester) 2014 Instructor: James Miller (jmiller@uwo.ca) Time: Mon (2:30-3:20) and Wed (2:30-4:20) Office hours: by appt (Pride Library) Location: TBA Gateway of India Monument, Mumbai Course Description Under the British Raj, Bombay was imagined as a gateway city connecting the industrial West to the mystical East. This course examines its tumultuous transformation into modern Mumbai: a paradoxical mega-city where orientalist fantasies of a "pure" Hindu past are both
vigorously sustained and vehemently countered in literature and film. In the nineteenth century, Bombay was imagined as a threshold city between the West and the East, simultaneously connecting India to the World outside and drawing the World deep into India s mysterious womb-like interior which her poets identified with the Hindu cave temples of the Androgynous Shiva on Elephanta Island. Between 1911 and 1924, the imperial symbolism of Bombay was given architectural form in the basalt arches of the Gateway of India, the now famously ironic monument commemorating the triumphant arrival of King George V and Queen Mary on Indian soil for the Delhi Durbar. Through the same arches, in 1948, would march the last battalion of British troops to leave the Subcontinent. Against the background of these competing fantasies of colonial urbanization we shall explore the development of the city s remarkably energetic literary culture after Independence, especially during the past two decades when Bombay vigorously and violently transformed itself into Mumbai. Postcolonial countervisions of the city will be examined in the writings of Salman Rushdie, Mahesh Dattani, Vikram Chandra, Gregory David Roberts, Suketu Mehta, and Rohinton Mistry. In light of recent convergences between postcolonial studies, queer theory, and comparative religion, special attention will be given to the seismic ironies generated by the impact of resurgent Nationalistic Hinduism on the city s multi-religious, multi-racial, multi-lingual character; to the complex intersections of spirituality and sexuality in the narratives of its modernization; and to the impact of Bollywood on its collective identity formation. Androgynous Shiva (Ardhanarishvara), Hindu temple sculpture, Elephanta Island
Learning Outcomes 1. Basic comprehension of the theological significance of the primary gods (e.g. Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu) and goddesses (e.g. Parvati, Durga, Kali) in ancient Hinduism through an introductory study of Hindu mythology 2. Diachronic understanding of the development of major Hindu ethical concepts (e.g. dharma, moksha, bhakti, kama, artha) as expounded in the Bhagavad Gita 3. Acquisition of sufficient background knowledge about the political, social, and religious history of Old Bombay to provide empathetic access to the vibrant literary/cinema culture of contemporary Mumbai 4. Confidence in applying contemporary critical approaches drawn from postcolonial studies, gender studies, queer theory, and comparative religion to the interpretation of works by major authors associated with Bombay/Mumbai 5. Heightened sensitivity to the profound cultural ironies generated by the complex intersections of race, religion, class, and sexuality in narratives of the modernization of Bombay after Indian Independence (1947) Grade Breakdown a. Short Story Review (5 pages: due Oct XX)..20 % Learning outcomes 1, 2 b. Midterm Test (on Oct XX) 30% Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 c. Final Examination...50 % Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Required Readings/Viewings 1. Vikram Chandra, Love and Longing in Bombay (ISBN: 0316136778) 2. Suketu Mehta, Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found (ISBN: 0375703403) 3. Rohinton Mistry, Tales from Firozsha Baag (ISBN: 0771060955) 4. Salman Rushdie, The Ground Beneath Her Feet (ISBN: 0312254997) 5. Mahesh Dattani, A Muggy Night in Mumbai [script on reserve in the Pride Library] 6. David Gregory Roberts, Shantaram (ISBN: 0312330537) 7. The Bhagavad Gita, trans. Eknath Easwaran (ISBN-13: 978-1586380199) 8. Slumdog Millionaire [2008 film on reserve in Film Studies Resource Room]
Contact James Miller UC 351 (Office) or The Pride Library (Weldon Mainfloor) ex 85828 (UWO) jmiller@uwo.ca Statement on Academic Policies The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Policies which govern the conduct, standards, and expectations for student participation in Modern Languages and Literatures courses is available in the Undergraduate section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures website at http://www.uwo.ca/modlang/undergraduate/policies.html. It is your responsibility to understand the policies set out by the Senate and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and thus ignorance of these policies cannot be used as grounds of appeal Schedule of Topics and Readings Week One: Elephanta Island Readings: none Sept 8: Trimurti: Unity and Diversity in the Hindu Pantheon Sept 10: Shiva and his Consorts Week Two: The Field of Dharma Reading: The Bhagavad Gita Sept 15: The World of The Gita Sept 17: Main Ethical Concepts in Hinduism Week Three: Maximum City (1) Reading: Suketu Mehta, Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found Sept 22: Personal Geography Sept 24: Powertoni ; Number Two after Scotland Yard Week Four: Maximum City (2) Reading: Suketu Mehta, Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found Sept 29: A City in Heat Oct 1: Distilleries of Pleasure ; Goodbye World Week Five: The Fisherman s Rest Oct 6: Dharma Oct 8: Shakti
Week Six: Colaba Oct 13: Thanksgiving Holiday Oct 15: Kama Week Seven: Marine Drive Oct 20: Artha Short Story Review (5 pages on Shanti ) due Oct 22: Hour 1: Midterm; Hour 2: The Parsi Community Week Eight: Fire-Temple and Maidaan Reading: Rohinton Mistry, Tales from Firozsha Baag Oct 27: Condolence Visit Oct 29: Of White Hairs and Cricket ; Squatter Week Nine: Slums Reading: David Gregory Roberts, Shantaram Nov 3: Part One Nov 5: Parts Two and Three Week Ten: Underworlds Reading: David Gregory Roberts, Shantaram Nov 10: Part Four Nov 12: Part Five Week Eleven: Bollywood Posters Reading: Mahesh Dattani, A Muggy Night in Mumbai Nov 17: Bollywood as Backdrop Nov 19: Performing Gender in Mahesh Dattani s Mumbai Week Twelve: West Meets East: Orpheus in Bombay Reading: Salman Rushdie, The Ground Beneath Her Feet Nov 24: Chapters 1-2 Nov 26: Chapters 3-8 Week Thirteen: East Meets West: Orpheus in Mumbai Screening: Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Dec 1: City of Dreams