Home

  Rutgers University established a South Asian Studies Program (SASP) in 2003.  Faculty associated with SASP have chosen to define the term 'South Asia' broadly, to include the nations of Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet, as well as the bordering nations of Afghanistan and Myanmar. SASP seeks to promote the study of this region and its diasporic communities through the development of an interdisciplinary set of courses, speakers' series, and public events.

  Welcome to the Rutgers South Asian Studies Homepage! South Asia is a major world region that includes the the nations of Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet, as well as the bordering nations of Afghanistan and Myanmar.  It is home to one-quarter of the world's people and many Rutgers University students trace their roots back to this region. Rutgers created the Program in 2004 with the object of enhancing the University community's knowledge and understanding of this major world region. Forty faculty members are affiliated to the Program. Click here for a list of faculty names. Undergraduate students who successfully complete six courses in South Asian Studies can minor in that field. Please click on the links in order to learn more about our Program! We also have a listserv devoted to South Asia. If you would like to receive information about academic and cultural happenings relating to this region, please click on https://email.rutgers.edu/mailman/listinfo/south_asia and follow the instructions to add your email address to the list. You may discontinue your membership whenever you wish.

Rutgers University established  a South Asian Studies Program(SASP) in 2003. Faculty members associated with SASP have chosen to define the term 'South Asia' broadly, to include the nations of Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet, as well as the bordering nations of Afghanistan and Myanmar. SASP seeks to promote the study of this region and its diasporic communities through the development of an interdisciplinary set of courses, speakers' series, and public events.

The faculty members associated with the new South Asian Studies Program (SASP) hope to create exciting educational, social, and cultural opportunities for Rutgers undergraduates. We have already put into place a new undergraduate minor in South Asian Studies, and we continue to encourage students to avail themselves of the Study Abroad Program in India. Undergraduates should also be aware that each spring SASP runs a Research/Travel Awards competition. This is an excellent opportunity to apply for funding for independent research, especially research that will lead to an honors thesis. There are also many active student organizations on campus related to South Asia or to Asia in general. Please consult our list of student organizations if you would like to get involved -- and also please let us know if you participate in an organization that is not listed on our website but should be. Keep us informed of any ideas you have for strengthening SASP.  We look forward to working together with all of you!

The South Asian Studies Program (SASP) draws on the interests of graduate students from across the humanities and social sciences at Rutgers, including from the School of Social Work, the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, and the Business School. To support faculty and graduate student research, we have received substantial funding from the Rutgers administration and from the Chakra Endowed Fund to support library acquisitions in the form of books and journals on South Asia. We are also considering the possibility of creating a graduate certificate in South Asian Studies, contingent upon additional faculty hires. Graduate students are also invited to participate in 'Brown bag' lunch talks to share insights and experiences from their field research, visits to the archive, or more general research findings. Graduate students also play an active role in inviting and hosting speakers in our annual speaker series. Graduate students interested in South Asia should also be aware that each spring SASP runs a Research/Travel Awards competition. This is an excellent opportunity to apply for funding for pre-dissertation and dissertation research. If you would like to be part of SASP's strategic planning process, or if you have suggestions for activities, courses, hiring priorities, or website content, please let us know! Please check out our library guide with a number of specific resources for researching South Asia "remotely"

The following is a partial list of organizations focusing on cultural, political, religious, or social issues related to South Asia. If you would like to suggest that an organization be added to this list, or if you have additional or updated information about one of the organizations listed below, please contact us. Ahlul Bayt Student Association Asian American Cultural Center Asian Student Council Association of Indians at Rutgers (AIR) BAPS Campus Fellowship Bengali Students Association Bhangra Dhol Effect Desi Intercultural Youth Association (DIYA) Hindu Students Council Jain Association Jhoom Dynamics MuslimGirl.net Muslim Student Association Muslims without Borders Project Nur RU 20/20 RU Sangam - A South Indian Foundation RU SWARA RU Natya Rutgers Indian Christian Fellowship Rutgers Asian Acappella Group (RAAG) Sikhs Student Association (RU) South Asian Performing Arts South Asian Students in Sciences Students Helping India Students Organizing Change in Society Thaakat Foundation United Nations Club (RU) Vivekananda Youth Group   For a full list of Rutgers student organizations, see the Rutgers Student Life website.

Three students received awards for research-related activities this semester

We are delighted to announce that two distinguished scholars of South Asia are joining the Departments of Geography and Anthropology at Rutgers from 2007.

Martine AdamsLucy Stone HallRoom A251Livingston CampusTel 848.932.6734madams@sas.rutgers.edu

South Asian Studies program and Mason Gross School of the Arts present Independent Curator & Art Critic - Gayatri Sinha.

Read More...

A minor in South Asian Studies provides interdisciplinary training suitable for understanding the emerging region of South Asia in the 21st Century. Through a combination of survey courses and disciplinary specialization, students acquire expert knowledge on the history, culture, economy, literature, religion and politics of South Asia. The minor features outstanding disciplinary variety, allows students to tailor their studies according to interest. In the increasingly globalized world in which we live, a minor in South Asian Studies promises to enhance global understanding and increase job competitiveness by demonstrating area knowledge of this important world region. Learning Goals Minors will be able to demonstrate a strong grounding in the interdisciplinary study of South Asia and/or diasporic South Asian communities. Through coursework in at least three different disciplines, they will become familiar with the languages, cultures, religions, and histories of South Asia and the South Asian diaspora.  Requirements for the minor The interdisciplinary minor consists of a minimum of six courses (totaling at least 18 credits) from the following list of approved courses. One of these courses must be a South Asian survey course or equivalent. Not more than three of the six courses can come from any one discipline. Cross-listed courses can be counted only once, but may be considered as being in either of the departments in which they are listed. Courses taken as part of university-approved study abroad programs in South Asia may be included in the six, subject to the approval of a faculty adviser. For further inquiries regarding these requirements, contact Prof. Johan Mathew, Director of the South Asian Studies Program. Listing of South Asian Studies Faculty

Survey Courses:   (1 course required) 01:195:243  Introduction to the Literatures of South Asia (3) 01:195:249  Modern Literatures of South Asia (3) 01:013:365  Bollywood (3) 01:082:206   Art of India (3) 01:450:341  South Asia (3) 01:508:230  The Making of Modern India and Pakistan (3)   Elective Courses: (5 courses required) 01:013:160  Elementary Hindi I (4) 01:013:161  Elementary Hindi II (4) 01:013:162  Elementary Urdu I (4) 01:013:163  Elementary Urdu II (4) 01:013:176  Elementary Persian I (4) 01:013:177  Elementary Persian II (4) 01:013:201  Classical Literatures of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia (3) 01:013:231  Introduction to the Literatures of South Asia (3) 01:013:232  Women Writers of South Asia (3) 01:013:260  Intermediate Hindi (3) 01:013:261  Intermediate Hindi (3) 01:013:276   Intermediate Persian I (4) 01:013:307  Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures and Theories (3) 01:013:331  Modern Literatures of South Asia (3) 01:013:337   Film and Literature in South Asia (3) 01:013:360  Advanced Hindi I  (4) 01:013:361  Advanced Hindi II (4) 01:013:365  Bollywood (3) 01:013:376  Advanced Persian (3) 01:013:439  Gender, Nation, and Literature in South Asia (3) 01:013:433   Modern Urdu Literature and Popular Culture (3) 01:070:244  Ethnography of South Asia (3) 01:070:389  Ethnography of Gender in South Asia (3) 01:082: 205  Introduction to Asian Art (3) 01:082:206   Art of India (3) 01:195:232   Women Writers of South Asia (3) 01:195:243  Introduction to the Literatures of South Asia (3) 01:195:249  Modern Literatures of South Asia (3) 01:220:357  Economics of India (3) 01:450:341  South Asia (3) 01:508:110  Political Islam (3) 01:508:230   The Making of Modern India and Pakistan (3) 01:508:240  Classical Asia (3) 01:508:338  Asian Migrations (3) 01:508:336  South Asia, 1947-Present (3) 01:508:337  Pirates, Pilgrims and Poets: Globalization in Indian Ocean History (3) 01:730:368  Hindu Philosophy (3) 01:730:369  Buddhist Philosophy (3) 01:730:374  Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism (3) 01:840:203  Islamic Scriptures (3) 01:840:204  Hindu Scriptures (3) 01:840:205  Buddhist Scriptures (3) 01:840:211  Religion in Asia (3) 01:840:224  Hinduism (3) 01:840:226  Islam (3) 01:840:321  Yoga: Its History and Philosophy (3) 01:840:323  Buddhism (3) 01:840:345  Hindu Gurus in the West (3) 01:840:357  Krishna (3) 01:840:358  Bhagvad Gita (3) 01:840:364  Sikhism and North Indian History (3) 01:840:366   The Yoga of Devotion: Bhakti (3) 01:840:368  Hindu Philosophy (3) 01:840:369  Buddhist Philosophy (3) 01:840:372  Islamic Mystical Literature (3)  01:840:374  Islamic Philosophy (3) 01:840:403  Seminar on the Vedanta Sutras (3) 01:840:405  Western Encounter with Hinduism (3) 01:988:310  South Asian Feminisms (3) 01:988:389  Ethnography of Gender in South Asia (3)   NOTES: Only three courses from the same department can count toward the minor. The following courses vary in their South Asian component. Students should discuss course content with the instructor and obtain prior permission from the director of the South Asian Studies Program in order for these courses to count toward the minor. 01:013:301      Cinemas of Africa and Asia (3) 01:070:308      Anthropology of Religion (3) 01:070:293–5  Issues in Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology (3,3,3) 01:070:320      Diaspora, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States (3) 01:790:315      Politics and Culture (3) 01:790:424      Gender and Political Economy (3) 01:840:294      Topics: Study of Religion (3) 01:840:356      Sufism: Mystical Islam (3) 01:840:423      Seminar in Buddism (3)

Established in 2004, the Chakra Endowed Fund encourages the study of South Asia at Rutgers University by enhancing the Rutgers Library holdings in this area. The fund supports the acquisition of books, periodicals, films, microfilms, DVDs, and other media. Additionally, the Chakra Fund supports the Chakra Student Paper Prize, an annual student paper competition that includes a cash award to encourage further study of South Asia. Undergraduate papers are expected to be approximately ten to twenty-five double-spaced pages in length, and graduate papers should be approximately twenty to forty pages in length. Submissions may include, but are not limited to, course term papers, chapters from honors theses, or papers produced during independent study or study abroad. The paper can be on any topic in any discipline (or combination of disciplines) related to one or more countries in South Asia or the South Asian diaspora. Students interested in submitting a paper should download this application form and email the completed application with your paper to Prof. Preetha Mani (preetha.mani@rutgers.edu) by April 3, 2026 at 4:00pm. We are deeply grateful to the generous anonymous donors who have established the Chakra Endowed Fund to support the Rutgers South Asian Studies Program and to fund this student paper prize. Individuals who would like to contribute to The Chakra Endowed Fund or to support SASP in some other way are encouraged to contact Prof. Preetha Mani, Director, South Asian Studies Program.   The 2026 Chakra Prize was awarded to: Sameer Jain - Aches and Pains in Chokher BaliSahithya Venkatesan - From Coolie to Comrade: Dalit Labour, Plantation Mobility and Radical Politics across the Bay of Bengal   Past Award Winners