Although the United States has a strong tradition of teaching South Asian languages, anthropology, government and politics, "History is perhaps the most neglected area in South Asia studies," says Rana P. Behal, visiting assistant professor in South Asian History at Cornell.
Behal is teaching a new course titled "Fields, Forests and Factories: Colonization of Economy and Environmental Changes in South Asia During British Rule" during the spring semester. He comes to Cornell from Deshbandhu College, Delhi University. There he has been teaching the history of colonial India to undergraduates and master's degree students.
Known for his engaging teaching style, this is Behal's third time teaching in the United States. Previously, he taught at Syracuse University and Oberlin College.
Behal says he has been impressed with American scholarship in the area of South Asian studies. However, he feels that many educational systems do not place a priority on teaching South Asian history, except in a broad overview course.
"It is difficult to take four to five thousand years of civilization, which is so complex and diverse, and package it for students," notes Behal. "It's not really fair to them."
Shelley Feldman, director of the South Asia Program, notes that Behal's Cornell position is temporary. "We are working with the history department, and with alumni, to try to establish a more permanent position in South Asian history. This is a high priority with our program," Feldman said.
Behal's recent research includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, the largest repository of private documents on the Indian National Movement, where he completed a project titled "The Culture of Displacement: A Study of Refugees from West Pakistan in Delhi, Post 1947." His primary research area is the history of the tea industry and plantation labor force in Assam during the 19th and 20th centuries. His experience also includes the production of a series of radio features about India that were broadcast over National Public Radio from Boston.
"I was able to travel the whole length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent, from Amritsar to Trivandrum," recalls Behal. He collected information for stories on village life, academic life and community, and NGOs and the process of development work, and he interviewed both Rajiv Gandhi and Satyajit Ray. In 1988, he assisted in a timely story on the Sikh militants of the Golden Temple.
"It was a wonderful experience -- one I'll never forget," reminisces Behal. Information on the audiotapes, which are excellent for school outreach programs, can be obtained from the South Asia Program.
Behal received his M. Phil., and his Ph.D. in history from Jawaharlal Nehru University. He received his B.A. and M.A. in history from Delhi University.