Modern Indian Political Thought Course | IIT Guwahati | Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Jha
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 489 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 26 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Introduction To Modern Indian Political Thought: A 12-Week Online Course
Explore the intellectual foundations of modern India in this comprehensive online course offered by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. Taught by renowned scholar Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Jha, this 12-week journey delves into the ideas that shaped a nation, moving beyond Eurocentric perspectives to understand India on its own terms.
Course Instructor: Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Jha
Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Jha teaches Political Science in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Guwahati. His expertise lies in political thought from a comparative perspective, focusing on Indian and Western traditions, political theory, and the politics of language in modern India. He is the author of significant works like Language Politics and Public Sphere in North India published by Oxford University Press.
About This Course
Modern Indian political thought is a dynamic field of scholarly debate, representing a crucial shift away from relying solely on Eurocentric frameworks to interpret Indian society and politics. This course aims to introduce students to the seminal thinkers and transformative ideas that forged the social and political landscape of contemporary India.
Intended Audience: This course is designed for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students across disciplines—including Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, and Engineering—who wish to gain a deep understanding of India's ideological evolution.
Course Layout: A 12-Week Intellectual Journey
The course is meticulously structured to guide you through the contributions of key figures in modern Indian history:
- Week 1: Introduction to the course: general outline & methods
- Week 2: Raja Rammohan Roy: religious reforms, modern education & freedom of press
- Week 3: Rabindranath Tagore: nationalism and cosmopolitanism, idea of man
- Week 4: Aurobindo Ghosh: self, community and religion
- Week 5: Vivekananda: revitalisation of Indian life
- Week 6: M. K. Gandhi: Hind Swaraj and the critique of modern civilisation, India of his dreams
- Week 7: Muhammad Iqbal: community, religion and nation
- Week 8: Savarkar: Hinduism and Hindutva
- Week 9: Jawahar Lal Nehru: Discovery of India, secularism and Internationalism
- Week 10: B. R. Ambedkar: caste, liberal democracy and constitutional morality
- Week 11: Pt. Ramabai: gender and caste
- Week 12: Lohiya: caste & class, and views on Indian languages
Key Course Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 Weeks |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Discipline | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Institute | Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) |
Recommended Reading & Books
To deepen your understanding, the course draws upon a rich bibliography. Key texts include:
- Guha, Ramchandra, Makers of Modern India, Penguin: Delhi, 2010.
- Pantham, Thomas and K. L. Deutsch eds., Political Thought in Modern India, Sage: Delhi, 1986.
- Singh, M. P. and Himanshu Roy eds., Indian Political Thought: Themes and Thinkers, Pearson: Delhi, 2011.
- Verma, V. P., Modern Indian Political Thought, Lakshmi Narayan Agarwal: Agra, 2005.
- Mehta, V. R., Foundations of Indian Political Thought, Manohar: Delhi, 2013.
- Datta, P. K. and Sanjay Palshikar eds., Indian Political Thought, ICSSR & Oxford University Press: New Delhi, 2013.
Why Enroll in This Course?
This course offers a unique opportunity to engage with the diverse and often conflicting ideas that constitute modern India's political conscience. From the reformist zeal of Rammohan Roy and the spiritual nationalism of Aurobindo to Gandhi's radical critique of modernity, Ambedkar's fierce advocacy for social justice, and Nehru's vision of a secular state, you will explore the dialogues and debates that continue to define the world's largest democracy. Enroll today to begin your exploration of the ideas that built a nation.
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