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Ramamurthy, Priti, Ed. Spotlight on Ramayana

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Ramamurthy, Priti, Ed. Spotlight on Ramayana DOCUMENT RESUME ED 426 010 SO 029 230 AUTHOR Wadley, Susan, Ed.; Ramamurthy, Priti, Ed. TITLE Spotlight on Ramayana: An Enduring Tradition. INSTITUTION American Forum for Global Education, New York, NY. SPONS AGENCY Collaborative for Humanities and Arts Teaching.; National Endowment for the Humanities (NFAH), Washington, DC. ISBN ISBN-09-44675-54-9 PUB DATE 1995-00-00 NOTE 368p.; Funding also provided by CHART, Collaboratives for Humanities and Arts Teaching. AVAILABLE FROM The American Forum for Global Education, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005; (Tel: 212-742-8232; Fax: 212-742-8752; e-mail: [email protected] ($40, based on numbers for quantity). PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC15 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Foreign Countries; *Indians; *Instructional Materials; Literature; Multicultural Education; *Non Western Civilization; Secondary Education; Social Studies IDENTIFIERS *India; *Ramayana ABSTRACT This collection of lessons was developed by teachers in an institute focusing on teaching about India and the Ramayana. Essays providing background information are "The Oral Tradition and the Many 'Ramayanas'" (Philip Lutgendorf) and "Bringing Ramayana into the Classroom" (Hazel Sara Greenberg) .After an introduction by Susan Wadley, a Ramayana glossary, a piece called "The Ramayana! A 'Telling' of the Ancient Indian Epic," and maps of India, the sections include: (1) "How is Ramayana Part of the Great Storytelling Tradition?"; (2) "To What Extent Does Ramayana Introduce India and Its Culture?"; (3) "To What Degree Does Ramayana Help Us Comprehend Hindu Values and Religion?"; (4) "How Can Ramayana Help Us Gain an Understanding of Hindu Rituals?"; and (5)"How Does Ramayana Reflect Change Over Time and Space?" There are 25 units with lessons throughout the five sections. A glossary and maps accompany the lessons.(EH) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Spo1/441on arta 6aurinq Jracktion PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Smfl TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES C1 INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) IT"Triisdocument has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. BEST COPY AVALAILLY, 9 Spot441on An, 6icturinqJradition Editors Professor Susan Wadley Chairperson, Department of Anthropology, SyracuseUniversity Dr. Priti Ramamurthy Coordinator, South Asia Outreach Center, SyracuseUniversity Project Coordinator Hazel Sara Greenberg Director of Curriculum, The American Forum forGlobal Education Production Editor Liz Mahony Curriculum Development, The American Forumfor Global Education a publication of The American Forum for Global Education funding for this curriculum was provided by CHART, Collaboratives for Humanities andArts Teaching and the National Endowment for the Humanities 3 Spotlight on Ramayana: An Enduring Tradition (Secondary School Level) Price: $40.00 plus $5.00 postage and handling Funded by CHART, Collaborative for Humanities and Arts Teaching and the National Endowment for the Humanities ISBN# 09-44675-54-9 Copyright © 1995 byThe American Forum for Global Education All Rights Reserved. No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. The contents of this publication may, however, be reproduced if they are intended solely for non-profit, educational use, except in cases where such reproduction may infringe upon entries protected under their own copyrights. All entries from other sources are so indicated. The American Forum for Global Education wishes to acknowledge all publishers and authors for granting permission to reprint materials inSpotlight on Ramayana: An Enduring Tradition.In accordance with copyright law, all reprinted materials have been transcribed accurately and credit to sources are given. Every attempt has been made to obtain permission to reprint enclosed materials. Copyright holders of materials enclosed, that are not in the public domain and are not otherwise noted, are invited to contact The American Forum for Global Education. The American Forum for Global Education, a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization, provides leadership, technical assistance, and resources to promote national citizenship in a global age. We work with educators, school districts and educational organizations, conduct research, publish curriculum and informational materials, host annual conferences for professionals in the field, and support a clearinghouse for global and multicultural educators. The American Forum for Global Education,120 Wall Street, Suite 2600, New York, NY 10005 (212) 742-8232; FAX: (212) 742-8752; E-mail: [email protected] 4 Table of Contents Program Participants iv The Oral Tradition and the Many "Ramayanas"Philip Lutgendorf Bringing Ramayana into the ClassroomHazel Sara Greenberg vii IntroductionSusan Wadley viii Ramayana Glossary xi The Ramayana: A "Telling" of the Ancient Indian Epic xii Maps of India xxvii I. How is Ramayana Part of the Great Storytelling Tradition? UNIT 1, lessons 1-6 31 UNIT 2, lessons 1-9 61 UNIT 3, lessons 1-4 84 UNIT 4, lesson 1 93 II. To What Extent Does Ramayana Introduce India and its Culture? UNIT 5, lessons 1-2 101 UNIT 6, lesson 1 111 UNIT 7, lesson 1 126 III. To What Degree Does Ramayana Help us Comprehend Hindu Values and Religion? UNIT 8, lessons 1-2 131 UNIT 9, lesson 1 161 UNIT 10, lesson 1 165 UNIT 11, lessons 1-2 172 UNIT 12, lesson 1 178 IV. How can Ramayana Help Us Gain an Understanding of Hindu Rituals? UNIT 13, lessons 1-2 185 UNIT 14, lessons 1-4 193 UNIT 15, lesson 1 209 UNIT 16, lesson 1 215 UNIT 17, lesson 1 220 UNIT 18, lesson 1 232 V. How Does Ramayana Reflect Change Over Time and Space? UNIT 19, lesson 1 241 UNIT 20, lessons 1-3 245 UNIT 21, lesson 1 288 UNIT 22, lessons 1-4 299 UNIT 23, lessons 1-2 318 UNIT 24, lessons 1-2 323 UNIT 25, lessons 1-2 331 Appendix 339 Spotlight on Ramayana Video 341 Ramayana Teacher Resources 345 Pro ram Participants Teacher School Units Gina Barresi James Madison H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 2 Daniel Beaupre The Gailer School at Middlebury, VT UNIT 10 Shermila Bharat HIlIcrest H.S., Queens, NY UNIT 10 Miriam Borne George Wingate H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 14 Claire Caste !lino Elmira Free Academy, Elmira, NY UNIT 11 Katherine De Forge Marcel lus Central Schools, Marcel lus, NY UNIT 6 Andrew Hunter Marcel lus Central Schools, Marcel lus, NY UNIT 6 Judith Di Rocco Saratoga Springs City School, Saratoga, NY UNIT 23 Cynthia Duprey North Rose Wolcott H.S., Wolcott, NY UNIT 3 Sheila Emborski Lincoln Middle School, Syracuse, NY UNIT 5 Llewellyn Gardner Thomas Jefferson H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 9 James Gindling Webster Thomas M.S., Webster, NY UNIT 8 William Moore Webster Thomas M.S., Webster, NY UNIT 8 Diana Green Fayetteville-Manlius H.S., Manlius, NY UNIT 22 Hazel Sara Greenberg The American Forum for Global Education, NY, NY UNIT 4,19 Carl Gussin South Shore H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 7 Rhoda Weinstein Franklin K. Lane H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 7 Theodora Horth Pulaski Academy and Central School, Pulaski, NY UNIT 13 Raymond Houck Nottingham H.S., NY Syracuse, NY UNIT 16 Jean lorizzo John Jay H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 1 Della Levine John Jay H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 1 Gloria Johnson George Wingate H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 20 Elizabeth Sills Henninger H.S., Syracuse, NY UNIT 20 Richard Krinsky Madison H.S, Brooklyn, NY UNIT 12 Cynthia Pollard Edward R. Murrow H.S., Brooklyn, NY UNIT 20 Latchman Narain Community School 77, Bronx, NY UNIT 15 Dr. Priti Ramamurthy South Asia Center, Syracuse University, NY UNIT 24 Jagiti Sata Andrew Jackson H.S., Queens, NY UNIT 17 Elizabeth Schaefer Oxford Academy and Central School, Oxford, NY UNIT 21 Vincent Tomeo Francis Lewis H.S, Queens, NY UNIT 18 Larry Tominberg Congruent Specialist, BASIS Superintendency, S.I., NY Ramayana Dr. Susan Wadley Dept. of Anthropology, Syracuse University, NY UNIT 25 6 iv The Oral Tradition and the Many "Ramayanas" by Philip Lutgendorf, Chair, South Asian Studies Program, University of Iowa r11,-H T-Fr3Ta-d-r-*-r 14-1144,-1 31iamn Rama is born in countless ways, and there are tens of millions of Ramayanas... - Tulsidas (16th cent.) Ramcarittnanas 1:33:6 Al right (you may be asking at this point), just how many of these things are there, anyway? The title of this curriculum guide speaks reassuringly of "The Ramayana" but later subheadings suggest a kind of textual population explosion, speaking of "many," "a thousand," and finally, "tens of millions." Is this just epic hyperbole, like the myriads of arrows that shoot forth whenever the hero Rama releases his bow? And if not, how are American educators and students supposed to get a handle on a non-Western text and tradition that is (as they say) growing even as we speak? I've been teaching the Ramayana for years, and (like most of the contributors to this guide) have found that it serves as an excellent window through which to open to American students great vistas of the world of Indian civilization. But I always begin by explaining that "the Ramayana" (in spite of the definitive article) is not a single book like "the Bible" but rather a story and a tradition of storytelling. For more than two millennia, this tradition has enjoyed a unique popularity throughout the subcontinent of South Asia (comprising the modern states of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and beyond - for versions of the tale have flourished in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
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