Mission Statement

The Center for South Asia at the University of Wisconsin – Madison is made up of a community of faculty and staff who reflect the diversity and global relevance of South Asian Studies. Through our diverse academic disciplines, summer language institute, annual conference, student organizations and outreach programs, the Center seeks to define and promote greater understanding of South Asian history, language, religion and culture. We also support linkages to other relevant area studies and global studies programs that emphasize transnational flows of culture, people, money in ways that are important to a better understanding of South Asia both in the past and the present.

Lecture Series

Our lecture series has concluded for the semester. We would like to thank all of the lecturers and all the individuals who attended.

Annual Newsletter

2012 Newsletter

Publication of the Month

AN INDIAN PILGRIMAGE: KASHI

Price: $195.00 + shipping and handling

...follows two Telugu-speaking Brahmans and their wives who come from South India to the sacred city of Kashi (Banaras, Varanasi) on the Ganges River to perform classical rites of feeding balls of rice to their ancestors. They are instructed in the correct performance of these rites by a Brahman Telugu-speaking priest who depends for his livelihood on providing services to pilgrims such as these. The pilgrims supplement their orthodox ritual activities with shopping in the bazaars, bathing at five special points along the Ganges, and visiting Kashi's tourist attractions. They explain in their own words their reasons for making the pilgrimage and their pleasure at having finally seen Kashi.

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