The course will survey the philosophical and cultural foundations of Gandhi's work and his political and social action. It will situate Gandhi in the explosive context of the national upheaval and social (including religious-sectarian) unrest that characterized the middle years of the twentieth century, and continues today. We will look at the way Hinduism and Buddhism have treated conflict and the possibility of peacefully confronting differences in the world they knew in ancient and modern India. Particular focus will be given to issues involving class, gender, and sectarian differences. Students will read some of the sacred texts that influenced the thought of Gandhi and explore Hindu ethics in some detail. Through texts, films, lectures and discussion, members of the class will develop an appreciation for Gandhi’s unique intellectual synthesis and creativity, and will learn to look at contemporary South Asian issues through the lens of Gandhian ethics.