Travis L. Smith
Department of Religion, CLAS
Indic Landscapes: Mind, Body, Cosmos
This grant will be used for research toward a proposed UF in India study abroad program for the Summer 2009 semester; this will constitute an extension of the current UF in India program scheduled for Summer 2008. Specifically, the research will enhance the program-specific course entitled Indic Landscapes: Mind, Body, Cosmos (REL4956), the current version of which is attached. With support from this grant, the primary location of the UF in India program will be shifted to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), while maintaining ties to its current base at Navdanya Institute, Dehradun (Uttaranchal). The expectation is that the future UF in India program will be based primarily in Varanasi, and will include a significant component of the program at Navdanya; the students will thus have the benefit of experiencing two very different cultural environments during their stay in India.
The plan to expand the program to Varanasi will broaden the appeal of the program and enhance its offerings. Situated on the western bank of the Ganges River, Varanasi is the premier site of Hindu pilgrimage in India, the sacred city to which all others are compared. One the most ancient continually inhabited cities in the world, the cultural resources of this “City of Light” are unparalleled; just as it draws millions of tourists from all over India and abroad, it will appeal to our students, who will benefit greatly from an opportunity to study in this hub of cultural activity.