Varied Interpretations of Indo-European Worlds

The culture of India is a confluence of diverse global influences, of which European colonial history is a significant part. From the Portuguese in Goa and Kochi to the French in Pondicherry to the British in Bombay, the imprints of Indo-European exchanges continue to shape contemporary culture. The proposed module seeks to interpret and document how interactions between India and Europe have created unique forms of cultural hybridity. The aim is to contextualise, within socio-historical frameworks, both tangible and intangible heritage such as architecture, culinary traditions, performing arts and music, cultural artifacts, films and visual arts among others. Over the course of the module, students shall examine Indo-European legacy through a combination of academic, archival study and experiential learning with a proposed field visit to the former colony selected for the project. The study will include a multi-media exhibition that synthesises the findings in creative and interactive forms. An open access illustrated book featuring the insights and discoveries made during the research shall also be collectively produced.

The module will be taught over 110 hours across three semesters + 10 hours of masterclasses every year to the undergraduate students of Media and Communication at WWI. A brief overview of the components covered both in the classrooms and in masterclasses is as below. Two of the three semesters will focus on building a theoretical foundation complemented with practical exercises and field visits. One semester will be dedicated to the development of the book under the mentorship of the faculty.

Objectives:

• The module seeks to foster an appreciation for the cultural hybridity born from the historical interactions between India and Europe. To achieve this, the objectives are as follows
• To uncover and analyse the cultural exchanges between European colonial powers and Indian colonies.
• To understand how the blending of European and Indian cultures manifests in material and cultural practices.
• To map Indo-European cultural hybridity onto the contemporary Indian landscape by studying shared heritage in the modern context.
• To develop innovative ways of interpreting and visualising inter-cultural dialogue through media and storytelling.