M.A. SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES

CENTRE FOR SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES

UGC approved to establish the South Asian studies programme in May 2005 in order to promote and encourage area studies in Pondicherry University. The Centre attempts to coordinate academic studies, outreach programs and research relating to countries in South Asia as well as to serve as a forum for disseminating policy choices. The Centre is aware of its responsibilities in promoting cultural understanding of the people of South Asia and with its scholarship programmes to students of South Asian countries it is able to leap forward distinctively from other centres.

Thrust Area of the Centre for South Asian Studies

  1. Poverty eradication and regional cooperation.
  2. Illiteracy, Malnutrition in South Asian Countries
  3. Impact of globalization in South Asia
  4. Nuclear Proliferation in South Asia
  5. Terrorism and Counter Terrorism
  6. Ethnic Issue
  7. SAARC
  8. Prospects of Economic integration of South Asia
  9. Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for the promotion of multi-party democracy in South Asia.
  10. Study on refugees.

Academic Programs

The Centre for South Asian Studies offers Master’s Degree in South Asian Studies.

The course of study shall be for the duration of two academic years with four semesters. The total number of days will be 200 inclusive of study tour and material / date collection in connection with the dissertation work and independent of admission and examination work.

The Centre will admit two students from each SAARC countries every academic year for the M.A. in South Asian Studies program under group scholarship funded by South Asia Foundation.

The titles of the papers for M.A South Asian Studies :

M.A South Asian Studies

I-SEMESTER

1. International Relations I (HC 4)
2. Colonialism and Nationalism (HC 4)
3. Regional Cooperation (HC 4)
4. Contemporary Area Studies (HC 4)
5. Human Rights and South Asia (SC 3)

II-SEMESTER

1. International Relations II (HC 4)
2. Foreign Policies of South Asian Countries (HC 4)
3. Economic Development of South Asia (HC 4)
4. Society and Culture (HC 4)
5. Government and Politics of South Asia (SC 3)

III-SEMESTER

1. Research Methodology (HC 4)
2. Regional Cooperation in South Asia (SC 3)
3. SAARC Studies (HC 4)
4. Contemporary Issues in South Asia (HC 4)
5. International Organizations (SC 3) 

IV-SEMESTER

1. Dissertation (HC 4)
2. Viva (HC 2 )

Hard Core (HC) = 48
Soft Core (SC) = 12
Soft Core =12 (from other Departments)

 

South Asia Foundation (SAF) Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship

SAF – Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarship is a unique feature of South Asian Studies Programme at Pondicherry University. Sixteen scholarships are awarded to Master’s students from South Asian countries (Eight Girls and Eight Boys). The scholarship covers the entire tution fees, travel (round trip economy airfare only for international students) boarding and lodging at Pondicherry University for two years. The South Asian Foundation Chapter from each SAARC country (i.e.) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will select two candidate and inform its selection to the university. Candidates interested in this scholarship will have to directly apply to the SAF Chapter in their respective countries. Visit www.southasiafoundation.org for more details. For further information mail Mr. P.K.Prabhakaran, Director of Operations, South Asia Foundation. prabhakaran@safmail.org.


SAF AFGHANISTAN CHAPTER
Chairperson: Hon. Prof. Omara Khan Masoodi
Contact email: masoodi@safmail.org, obaidullah@safmail.org		   SAF BANGLADESH CHAPTER
Chairperson: Hon.Kamal Hossian
Contact email: bangladesh@safmail.org,
     
SAF INDIA CHAPTER
Chairperson: Hon. Mani Shankar Aiyar
Contact email: india@safmail.org		   SAF MALDIVES CHAPTER
Chairperson: Hon. Ahmed Shaheed
Contact email: maldives@safmail.org
     
SAF NEPAL CHAPTER
Chairperson: Dr.Rita Thapa
Contact email: nepal@safmail.org		   SAF PAKISTAN CHAPTER
Chairperson: Prof. Salima Hashmi
Contact email: pakistan@safmail.org
     
SAF SRI LANKA CHAPTER
Chairperson: Hon. H.E.Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
Contact email: srilanka@safmail.org 		  SAF BHUTAN CHAPTER
Chairperson: Hon. Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup
Contact email: bhutan@safmail.org
     

Facilities Available at the Centre

The Centre is newly established and has good infrastructural facilities. Air Conditioned Computer lab, seminar hall, LCD and slide projector are available for the students. In addition to that, the Centre with a spirit of promoting international education to students will impart new and innovative educational methods and techniques. Frequent guest lectures by eminent faculty members from other Universities both from India and abroad will be periodically arranged to; enable students to have a wider perspective on their area of study. Conferences and seminars wall be arranged at frequent intervals to enable students to grasp the contemporary research areas in the discipline. The Centre for South Asian Studies has sufficient funds to procure books and journals according to its needs and preferences and students can have the flexibility to discuss with the Coordinator about the utility of any book and procure them immediately.

International Journal of South Asian Studies

In order to promote research in South Asian Studies and to create a forum for academia of all international Institutions who are involved in South Asian Studies, the Centre for South Asian Studies has taken an innovative initiative of introducing an International Journal for South Asian Studies from 2008. It aims to provide a forum for academic research in areas relating to political, social, economic and cultural cooperation; among South Asian countries for a sustainable development of the South Asian region. The first issue of the IJSAS has been released by then Hon‘ble Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Shri Mani Shankar Aiyer.

Hostel Accommodation

The University has 9 hostels for boys and 4 hostels for girl students and research scholars. The hostels can accommodate 1500 students. Five more hostels shall be added during the eleventh plan. The University has a foreign students hostel for students coming from other countries with exclusive facilities of boarding and faculty advisor.

University Transportation

The Centre for South Asian Studies is located at the Science and Humanities Block ll. Free circular transport service is made available to all members to move around the campus during office hours.

HOW TO APPLY?

To be considered, applicant must: (1) have secured at least 50%in their graduate degree program (any degree). (2) Successfully clear the entrance examination conducted by Pondicherry University (except for students from South Asian countries) for the batch (2009-2011) the last date for applying for the course has been extended till June 30 th, 2009.

The application form can be submitted through ONLINE . Send the hard copy (in A4 size) along with original bank challan for the prescribed fee and the copies of required certificates to The Deputy Registrar (Academic II) Pondicherry University, R.V. Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry 605014. The Application Form and Information Brochure can also be obtained through post by writing to “The Deputy Registrar (Academic II) Pondicherry University, R.V. Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry – 605014” along with prescribed application fee by means of challan (Refer Mode of Payment paragraph) and self addressed envelope of size 32cm x 25 cm, stamped for Rs.90/-. Request for application must be superscribed on the envelope " Request for application form for Admission".

Application Fee : For all courses Rs.100/-, Rs.50/- for SC/ST, Free of Cost for physically and visually challenged candidates subject to submission of relevant certificates.Use separate application form for each programme. The application form can also be obtained from the Pondicherry University Staff Co-operative Credit Society at the University Campus on payment of the the cost of application form plus Rs.10/- as service charge. Refer Information Brouchure for more details.

Mode of Payment :  

Application fee may be credited at Pondicherry University Account in any of the following banks all over India under Core Banking System: (Click Here for details)