Modern Hindu Thought

RELG 454 – Winter 2021

Course Instructor: Dr. Arvind Sharma Email: [email protected] Time: Tuesdays, Thursdays 4:05 pm to 5:25 pm

Virtual Office Hours: By appointment

Communication Plan: Via Email

Course Description

An introduction to the main features of modern Hindu thought, as it evolved from 1800 onwards, through the study of the life and thought of its main representatives.

Required Readings

1) Modern Hindu Thought: The Essential Texts by Arvind Sharma

Recommended Reading

To be shared in class.

Class Schedule

Jan. 07. History of Hinduism

Jan. 12. Hinduism: General Introduction

Jan. 14. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Jan. 19. Swami Narayana

Jan. 21. Debendranath Tagore

Jan. 26. Keshab Chunder Sen

Jan. 28. Brahmo Samaj

Feb. 02. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Feb. 04. Swami Vivekananda

Feb. 09. The Theosophical Society

Feb. 11. Dayananda Saraswati

Feb. 16. Mahadev Govind Ranade

Feb. 18. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Feb. 23. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Feb. 25. Mahatma Gandhi (1)

Mar. 09. Mahatma Gandhi (2)

Mar. 11. Mahatma Gandhi (3)

Mar. 16. B. R. Ambedkar

Mar. 18. Jyotirao Phule

Mar. 23. D. V. Savarkar

Mar. 25. Anandamayi Ma

Mar. 30. Ramana Maharishi

Apr. 01. Aurobindo

Apr. 06. S. Radhakrishnan

Apr. 08. Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (Parāmācārya)

Apr. 13. J. krishnamurti

Apr. 15. Rajneesh

Course Grading

This will depend on performance in a mid-term and a class exam.

Grade Distribution

Midterm Exam 50%

In-class Exam 50%

Total 100%

Policy on Academic Integrity

McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures. In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded.

L'Université McGill attache une haute importance à l’honnêteté académique. Il incombe par conséquent a tous les étudiants de comprendre ce que l'on entend par tricherie, plagiat et autres infractions académiques, ainsi que les conséquences que peuvent avoir de telles actions, selon le Code de conduite de l'étudiant et des procédures disciplinaires.