The purpose of this module is to explore what is often referred to in the media as ‘New India’. The focus of the module is how changing human processes are influencing the transformation of India as a place and how India is representing itself and being represented in the wider world.
Changes to India’s society and economy are often influenced by values and attitudes different to the students’ own. The module encourages students to explore India’s diverse and multicultural population and how this diversity is linked to inequality in wealth and quality of life.
This module starts by looking at what the students already know or how they perceive India. They may have heard that the country is changing, its economy, population and levels of consumption are growing rapidly but in what ways do they personally feel connected to India? They explore how their ‘personal geographies’ might be linked to India.
In terms of geographical space students learn where India’s main cities, physical features and landscapes are located. An overview of the physical geography of India and how this has influenced human geography is included in this module. The importance of climate with particular reference to the Monsoon is included.
Bangalore is a useful case study for examining how globalisation is changing cities in India and both positive and negative experiences of globalisation will be explored by students.
The study of globalisation leads on to looking at new interdependence that India experiences through global companies and the wider global economy.
Finally, students examine how globalisation is shaping India’s own sense of place in the world in contrast to that of the UK and consider alternative futures for India.
