Courses in this section: Modern Political Concepts, International Relations, Heritage of India, Gandhian Thoughts

Modern Political Concepts

The course discusses the history and evolution of political science from its Renaissance-era roots to the more contemporary developments of thinking. While it begins with establishing basic concepts like a state, nation, and an individual’s duties to society, it quickly takes a more interesting turn. Politics is discussed not quite in the usual sense, but rather as the interaction between two people, or between a person and society. The beliefs and theories of renowned philosophers like Plato, Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Hobbes are studied.

Apart from the mid-semester and comprehensive exams, one self-study assignment (SSA) is given to students. Teams of up to four students can be formed for this purpose. Apart from the submission of the assignment, a presentation of the same will also have to be made. Grading is generally lenient, concentrated in the Bs and above, and proportionate to the content presented in each evaluation. It’s one of the more objective HuEls in terms of grading, where a good show in the papers will assure good marks.

International Relations

The course offers students a critical understanding of current global issues and events that have shaped the world order. The focus is on methods of approaching state relations and politics. Prof. Veena R incorporates contemporary events to relate the concepts learned. The curriculum explores geopolitical relations, realist, liberal and constructivist schools of thought, and influential thinkers such as Machiavelli and Rousseau.

Emphasizing general knowledge and clear, specific points in exam answers leads to good scores. Grading is fair, with a B grade awarded as the average score. Although attendance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended as in-class interactions prove to be valuable.

Heritage of India

This course deals with the history of ancient India, studying various aspects like philosophy, art, language, and literature. Focus is placed on indigenous lifestyles and civilisations, and pre-colonial-era practices and products are dealt with.

The course is taken by Dr Harikrishan Nair and can be expected to have four evaluative components, which are typical of all his courses. These include the mid-semester and comprehensive examinations, along with a self-study assignment (SSA) and its preliminary draft. Attendance is recommended as the lectures are engaging, and give critical insight into the course material. Dr Nair tends to award a B- or C on average, depending on the class strength. Due to the rigorous and demanding nature of his courses, they are available across all the Priority (PR) Numbers.

Gandhian Thoughts

This course examines Mahatma Gandhi’s profound philosophical and political ideas. It analyses how Gandhi’s experiences as an ordinary person shaped his actions during the freedom struggle. Instead of studying his ideas based on preconceived notions, the course attempts to understand his evolution as an individual.

The course — taught by Dr Harikrishnan Gopinadhan Nair — is rigorous and includes significant reading material. Due to its challenging nature, registration remains open at all PR numbers as most students enrol based on interest. While a B- grade is usually awarded at average, securing an A grade would prove competitive. Class attendance would be helpful due to the instructor’s interactive pedagogy. In addition to regular lectures, the course may include non-evaluative activities such as visiting Gandhi-related sites and attempting to spin the charkha.

The evaluation — identical across all of Dr Nair’s courses — consists of three parts, namely a mid-semester exam, a comprehensive exam, and a Self-Study Assignment (SSA), usually submitted as a term paper or video essay. The SSA typically accounts for 30% of the total course grade.