Identities in a Plural Society

The idea of what constitutes an "Indian identity" is of crucial importance to working journalists. In a country of such bewildering diversity and pluralism, it is important to analyse the social construction of identities. The reporter should be sensitive to the specificity and particularity of individuals and groups while at the same time locating them in the mosaic of the Indian social polity. While reporting on caste and communal relations, the journalist must be alive to the sensitivities of her or his subject groups.

This course is designed to give the student an understanding of the dynamics of a pluralistic society through the study of contemporary popular culture, media articles, and contributions by distinguished social scientists. The subject assumes special relevance in the context of the constitutional interpretation of secularism, culture, social and economic equality, and the nation state. Students explore the question of identity against the backdrop of the experience of other multicultural societies.