DOCUMENT RESUME SO 027 999 ED 421 369 AUTHOR Barry, Patricia Literary Vision of Symbolic India: Removing the Veil and TITLE Stepping into Spiritual India. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad 1996 (India). SPONS AGENCY United States Educational Foundation in India. 1997-00-00 PUB DATE 116p.; Some materials may not photocopy well. For other NOTE documents in this 1996 program, see SO 028 000 SO 028 007. PUB TYPE Non-Classroom (055) Guides EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. *Asian Studies; Ethnic Groups; Foreign Countries; Global DESCRIPTORS Education; Grade 6; *Indians; Instructional Materials; Interdisciplinary Approach; Intermediate Grades; Literature; Middle Schools; *Multicultural Education; Religion Studies; Social Studies IDENTIFIERS *India ABSTRACT This curriculum guide was developed to assist middle-school students in understanding the complexity of India. A slide presentation is used in combination with several activities for interdisciplinary study of India through literature and social studies. A comprehensive bibliography provides suggestions for further reading. Sections of the guide include: (1) "Hinduism"; "Buddhism"; "Sacred India"; "Sadhus"; Preface; (3) (5) (4) (2) "Zoroastrianism"; "Sikhism"; "Jainism"; "Islam"; (10) (8) (7) (9) (6) "The Vedas and Upanishads"; "Christianity and Judaism"; "The (12) (11) "The Bhagavad Gita"; "The Mahabharata"; Ramayana"; "Music"; (13) (14) (15) "The Mughals"; "The Ganges"; "Dance"; "Satin; (18) (19) (17) (20) (16) "The Bhagavad Gita and Henry David "Mahatma Gandhi"; "Nataraja"; (21) (22) (23) "Rabindranath Tagore"; "Dhobi Wallahs"; Thoreau"; (25) "Dhaba (24) (27) "Child Labor in India"; "Indian Cuisine"; "Private Lunches"; (28) (26) "Floor Designs of Schools in India"; (31) "Climate"; "Rice"; (29) (32) (30) (33) "Population"; and (34) "Recommended Reading-Bibliography." (EH) India"; ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Literary Vision of Symbolic India: Removing the Veil and Stepping into Spiritual India by Patricia Barry A Curriculum Project Developed During the 1996 Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Program: India Seminar Submitted to Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), USDE by United States Educational Foundation in India U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND Office of Educational Research and Improvement DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to Rosalie Gendimenico improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated in this INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) document do not necessarily represent 1 official OERI position or policy. 2 titerAng Vision of Symbolic labia Arabian Sea PatriciA Darryl Btu Table of Contents Page PREFACE AUDIENCE RATIONALE 2 STRATEGIES 3 MATERIALS/BACKGROUND NOTES 3 EVALUATION 3 OBJECTIVES FOR TEACHERS AT TEACHERS WORKSHOP 3 TECHNIQUES 4 OBJECTIVES/POINTS TO PONDER 4 FIELD TRIP 8 SACRED INDIA 8 HINDUISM 8 I 0 CASTES HINDU GODS 12 HINDU WEDDINGS 15 15 TI KA HOLY COWS 16 I7 WHAT ABOUT THE BULL? HOLY HINDU CITIES 17 HINDU FESTIVALS 17 SADHUS I8 MAYA 19 20 WATERS OF ILLUSION BUDDHISM 20 A TAPESTRY OF ONE BUDDHA'S LIFE 22 MANDALA 23 THANGKAS 23 THE NOBLE EIGHT -FOLD PATH 24 THE MIDDLE WAY 25 BUDDHIST FESTIVALS 25 MANTRA 25 ISLAM 26 ISLAMIC FESTIVALS 28 SUFISM 28 SIKHISM 28 SIKH FESTIVALS 30 JAINISM 30 JAIN FESTIVALS 32 ZOROASTRIANISM 32 CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM 33 THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS: 34 THE RAMAYANA 36 RAMA AND SITA 37 THE MAHABHARATA 38 THE BHAGAVAD GITA 39 MUSIC 40 INDIA: THREADS OF SYMBOLISM DANCE 41 KATHAKALI 41 THE MUGHALS 42 43 AKBAR'S TOLERANCE SATI 44 44 DAKSHA'S SACRIFICE THE GANGES 44 A REVERENCE FOR THE GANGES: The Story of the 46 Ganges NATARAJA 48 49 SYMBOLS OF THE NATARAJA MAHATMA GANDHI 50 THE BHAGAVAD GITA AND HENRY DAVID THOREAU 52 RABINDRANATH TAGORE 54 DHOBI WALLAHS 55 DHABA LUNCHES 55 INDIAN CUISINE 56 CHILD LABOR IN INDIA 58 CHILD LABOR AND THE SMILING CARPET LAW 59 PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN INDIA 60 A TAPESTRY OF ONE RICE 60 THE METRIC SYSTEM 63 CLIMATE 64 SEASONS 65 THE ECONOMICS OF MONSOONS 66 FLOOR DESIGNS OF INDIA 67 ARYAN CULTURE AND THE SWASTIKA 69 POPULATION 69 RECOMMENDED READING-BIBLIOGRAPHY 70 7 INDIA: THREADS OF SYMBOLISM List of Tables Page List of Figures Page List of Appendices 8 A TAPESTRY OF ONE PREFACE This curriculum guide has been developed in compliance with the proposal submitted to the United States Department Of Education for consideration as a recipient of the 1996 Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad Program. Fourteen middle-high school educators were selected to receive the fully funded fellowship for travel and study throughout India. I express gratitude for all USEFI and their kindness, patience and guidance were unsurpassed. My fervent hope is that teachers use this guide to assist students in understanding the complex, yet enduring India I have come to know. Sharing a vision of India-understanding India-the true India- requires looking at it honestly; therefore, gaining an appreciation for its diversity, yet oneness, and the amalgamations and syncreticity of the kaleidoscope of its culture. AUDIENCE This unit was designed to meet the needs of many audiences: The sixth grade classes in Sandwich, Massachusetts. 1. 2. To be presented to the Massachusetts Council Of Social Studies Teachers: Spring Conference 1997 3. League of Woman Voters Sandwich Library Association 4. Educational Department at MFA: As a teacher resource for school 5. visits to the "Indian Exhibits" at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. This overview lends itself to a multifaceted audience and is presently being used successfully with both middle and high school students on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A TAPESTRY OF ONE 2 A slide presentation in addition to a medley of activities will serve as an interdisciplinary unit for grade six students (see strategies). A slide presentation in addition to this curriculum guide will be presented to the MCSS. A bibliography is attached and will be reviewed to highlight appropriate grade level literature for teachers. RATIONALE A comprehensive slide show in addition to souvenirs, and tokens of India will be presented, depicting all topics presented in this interdisciplinary unit on India. At a time in education where teachers are working towards integration of disciplines, this unit will serve as a guide to assist both social studies and literature teachers (at the middle-high school levels) in an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary unit on India. A comprehensive bibliography is included that will provide opportunity for further reading and comprehension of the selections presented in this unit. A note on character education: Values in education; there is no argument that it is needed, the question is how can it be taught? Two disciplines stand out as tools: social studies and literature, both inviting opportunity for discussion of ethics; both bringing issues of history and present day to the discussion table. Issues of substance not didactic; not isolated topics. The grand qualities of truth, freedom, and equality cannot be "taught" but students can identify them in their teachers and their history. It is paramount that we offer students an opportunity to see more than one side of an issue; to reveal what they care deeply about and to wrestle with ideas. As facilitators, it offers us an opportunity to model discovery and encourage the refined qualities of pondering, reflection and a sifting of ideas; giving us an opportunity to rebel against the fast paced rate our students are traveling at. We can develop a school culture that is rich in issues where values are recognized as intriguing, essential and worthy of contemplation and INDIA: THREADS OF SYMBOLISM 10