Jawaharlal Nehru's contribution in pioneering the concept of scientific temper in India is widely acknowledged, and his legacy has had an influence on Academia, Education policy and popular science movements in the country. But in the last decade, the new age social media revolution has seen a renaissance of right wing nationalism, backed by an…

How does one teach dissent in a classroom which is a disciplinary space? As a pedagogue whose work is to instil philosophical and critical thinking in students, in this article I reflect on the modalities of teaching dissent versus teaching about dissent. While it is very possible that teaching about dissent may create a model for students to…

This article focuses on the importance of understanding different cultures through their everyday myths and stories. As an example, we examine the mythological fables of the Indian Panchatantra. Although the Panchatantra was written around 300 BCE, it still continues to be read and used as a guide. Since the stories of the Panchatantra are retold…

Tanjore (or Thanjavur or Thanlavoor) paintings are one of the most popular traditional art forms in Southern India. These ornate religious paintings involve Hindu mythology. The paintings are noted for their adornment of gold and semiprecious stones such as rubies, emeralds, and pearls. Currently, the semiprecious stones are often substituted…

This study explores the infusion of environmental education through the multidisciplinary approach using mythological stories aimed at the secondary level. Secondary teacher trainees (N=98) planned the lessons based on school subjects. Mythological stories from various religions were used by the trainees as the basis for the lessons and the…

The design of this curriculum project allows teachers to introduce the rich Indian culture in a non-threatening way to learners who struggle with writing material. It was initially developed for special education students who read and write significantly below grade level. Some of the project's lessons include showing the students artwork and…

This six-week elective course in English for grades 10-12 is designed to acquaint students with the culture of India through the study of animals in Indian myth, folklore, and religion. Research skills, creative writing, group cooperation, and oral presentations are all integral parts of this course. Students must keep a course journal, research a…

Intended for high school students, two humanities lessons on India approach India from a "world cultures" perspective. In the first lesson, "Story Scrolls," pairs of students create and present stories from Hindu mythology using traditional methods. The lesson gives content objectives, skills objectives, and…

This interdisciplinary unit focuses on the Indian epic, "The Ramayana," and explores Indian mythology, art forms, and storytelling methods. The unit is designed for middle school students but could be adapted to other levels. This unit could be incorporated with a study of India's land, history and geography. An overview of Indian…

This packet is designed to reinforce the approach to literary art themes introduced at the "Arts of Asia" workshop, sponsored by the Asian Art Museum. The packet contains: (1) selected reading passages from the Chinese composition, "The Peach Blossom Spring," the Japanese novel, "The Tale of Genji," and the Indian…

This unit on Hindu mythology is designed to help secondary students see beyond the exotic elements of another culture to the things its people have in common with people in the West: a continuous effort to find a purpose in existence, to explain the unknown, and to define good and bad, right and wrong. Students are asked to analyze Hindu religious…