JCCC students have several new opportunities to explore South Asian studies. The college’s International Education office has collaborated with departments and faculty in the development of a new course on the history of India, a faculty-led trip to Northern India, and a regional conference to be held at JCCC focusing on Sri Lanka. In addition, thanks to a federal Title VI grant through the University of Texas, faculty have new opportunities to infuse South Asian studies into the undergraduate curriculum.

Through International Education’s Title VI-A grant, Dr. Ed Bushey, adjunct professor of history and religious studies, has developed a new History of India course that will be introduced in spring 2011. This exploration of an ancient civilization will be offered on a yearly basis. As an emerging economic and world power both in South Asia and worldwide, India’s rich historical traditions are complicated and copious.

Bushey has also planned a trip to Northern India during winter break in January 2011 for students, faculty and community members. Travelers will explore the Golden Triangle of India and visit the famous cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. These cities contain the vibrant realities of contemporary India as well as the ancient vestiges of the Delhi Sultante, the Mughal Empire and the medieval Hindu Rajputs. Special attention will be given to Hindu and Muslim identities and realities from the medieval period through the British Raj. Students on the trip may connect their travels as academic fieldwork for Honors credit for the History of India course or for other related courses.

Closer to home, in February 2011 JCCC is hosting an academic conference on the topic of Sri Lanka  called Crossroads of Change: Sri Lanka, Post Tsunami and Civil War. The panel of scholars includes Dr. Dennis McGilvray, professor of anthropology at the University of Colorado-Boulder; Dr. Patrick Peebles, professor emeritus of history of the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Dr. Susan Reed, professor of anthropology at Bucknell University. The topics of their presentations will range from religious identities to the challenges of democracy since independence to the politics of dance.

Dr. Bill Stockton, professor, history, and Bushey have been selected to participate in a federal grant through the University of Texas to infuse South Asian studies into the undergraduate curriculum at JCCC. Each will develop a new course to be offered here as a selected topic in history. Stockton’s course will focus on Sufism (Islamic mysticism) in South Asian history, while Bushey’s course will explore religious identities in India from the medieval period to the present. Both professors will work with world-renowned scholars at the Center for Asian Studies at the University of Texas to prepare these new courses.