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| Edited By: Satish Jha |Source: DNA |Updated: Nov 19, 2013, 11:17 PM IST
Gujarat University’s newly-started master of philosophy (MPhil) course in ‘Indian Diaspora’ has been chosen as a model course by at least five universities in India. These universities have already started the process of adopting the course as part of their academic curricula in their campuses with the help of the GU.
The five universities include Delhi University (DU), University of Pune, Nagpur University, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha and Devi Ahilya University (DAU), Indore.
According to Nirja Arun, coordinator of the programme, some of the varsities such as DU and DAU (Indore) have already approached for advice. In fact, these universities have chosen GU as a model agency to help them introduce the course to their respective institutes.
“Our programme has been chosen as a model course by these universities. Recently, some officials of DU and DAU (Indore) approached us to get an idea about the course, so that they can start the same back in their universities,” said Nirja Arun.
In fact, these universities have chosen Arun as an advisor for introducing the course. The GU introduced the course around two years back. Arun is also the principal of Bhavan’s Sheth RA College of Arts and Commerce. She has a good experience of teaching religion, culture and Indian mythology courses.
Last year, there were nine students who completed their MPhil, and the number this year has increased to 11.
The course involves studying India, its culture and political, social, historical and religious movements as penned down by the Indian or Indian origin writers. The study of Indian Diaspora also includes the study of cluster around the common socio-political themes seen from a distance by migrant Indians or non-resident Indians.
It illustrates the kind of discourse that permeates the writings of people of Indian origin; it could be nostalgic, celebratory, passionate, detached or even patronising.
