2008 Woodie Awards
Colloquium to 'demystify' India
Lindsay Lorenz
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Campus
04/03/08 - For some Americans, it's elephants and snake charmers that come to mind when thinking about India. And although some Indians do ride camels or walk on hot coals, these stereotypes are fading fast as India continues its emergence as an economic superpower.
Last month the University of Rhode Island Honors program and Visiting Scholars Committee announced India will be the focus of the Fall 2009 Honors Colloquium.
The Asian country's thriving economy and its diverse culture has quietly materialized as a worldwide focus in recent years. Business professors Ruby and Nikhilesh Dholakia, and engineering professor Arun Shukla, who proposed the topic, want to spread the word.
"People's perception of India is either limited or out of date," explained Ruby Dholakia. "We are hoping by having the colloquium we would increase the knowledge of the campus."
India is now in the limelight for outsourcing and call centers, having the world's largest movie production industry and being ranked fourth in the world for the highest number of billionaires in the country.
The professors are planning an array of speakers and activities to introduce the university to all things India. Aside from weekly lectures, proposed ideas include fashion shows, film festivals, food tasting and performances, all open to the public.
The colloquium's other counterpart, a 200-level class intended for about 60 Honors students, is also in the making. Nikilesh Dholakia, who is piecing together the curriculum, wants his students to experience India hands on. Using non-traditional teaching methods such as having URI students connect with Indian students through the Internet and blogging about their experiences, he hopes students will broaden their cultural horizons and leave "an electronic trail" for future students.
Ruby Dholakia agrees. "The average college student in America knows less about the average college student in India than they know about them," she said.
Last month the University of Rhode Island Honors program and Visiting Scholars Committee announced India will be the focus of the Fall 2009 Honors Colloquium.
The Asian country's thriving economy and its diverse culture has quietly materialized as a worldwide focus in recent years. Business professors Ruby and Nikhilesh Dholakia, and engineering professor Arun Shukla, who proposed the topic, want to spread the word.
"People's perception of India is either limited or out of date," explained Ruby Dholakia. "We are hoping by having the colloquium we would increase the knowledge of the campus."
India is now in the limelight for outsourcing and call centers, having the world's largest movie production industry and being ranked fourth in the world for the highest number of billionaires in the country.
The professors are planning an array of speakers and activities to introduce the university to all things India. Aside from weekly lectures, proposed ideas include fashion shows, film festivals, food tasting and performances, all open to the public.
The colloquium's other counterpart, a 200-level class intended for about 60 Honors students, is also in the making. Nikilesh Dholakia, who is piecing together the curriculum, wants his students to experience India hands on. Using non-traditional teaching methods such as having URI students connect with Indian students through the Internet and blogging about their experiences, he hopes students will broaden their cultural horizons and leave "an electronic trail" for future students.
Ruby Dholakia agrees. "The average college student in America knows less about the average college student in India than they know about them," she said.