Religion and Class in South Asia
In this course we will examine the shifting religious landscapes of South Asia in relationship to “new middle classes” in Nepal, India, and Pakistan. We will begin by defining class in contemporary South Asia and then consider ethnographic examples of how class is reshaping religious communities, identities, values, and practices among Hindus and Muslims. Special attention will be given to shifts in practices related to gender and caste, media (television, film, and comic books), fashion, food, and leisure in order to expand our definitions of what “counts” as religion in the modern world. 3 hrs. lect.