American Institute of Indian Studies Podcast - 60th Anniversary Series – A. N. Singh and Rakesh Ranjan on the history of the AIIS Hindi program and Hindi pedagogy

60th Anniversary Series – A. N. Singh and Rakesh Ranjan on the history of the AIIS Hindi program and Hindi pedagogy

07/13/22 • 48 min

American Institute of Indian Studies Podcast

In this episode of our 60th anniversary series, Dr. A. N. Singh, AIIS Hindi program head, interviews Dr. Rakesh Ranjan, Senior Lecturer and Language Coordinator at Columbia University and former AIIS Hindi Language Program Director and current AIIS Language Committee member. In their interview, they discuss the early days of the Hindi language program at AIIS and its growth, the unique format and characteristics of the AIIS language programs, and current challenges and future directions of Hindi language learning.

A note to our listeners - the following interview is in Hindi. For those who would prefer an English transcript, you can download a pdf translation of this episode on our website, www.indiastudies.org.

Previous Episode

60th Anniversary Series – Sandria Freitag and Thomas Metcalf on fellowships, friendships, and AIIS

This year, the American Institute of Indian Studies turns 60! To celebrate the history of AIIS, we have launched a year-long series of audio interviews exploring the history of AIIS over the last 60 years including the founding of the institute, its impact on scholarship and students, and the future of AIIS.
In this episode of our 60th anniversary series, Sandria Freitag, Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of History at NC State University and leader of the CAORC-AIIS faculty development seminars, interviews Thomas Metcalf, Emeritus Professor of History and Sarah Kailath Professor of Indian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and former AIIS Senior fellow and Chair of the Board of Trustees. In their interview, they reminisce about the early days of AIIS research fellowships, the memorable relationships created through AIIS over the years, and the forms AIIS programs should take in the future.
Visit aiis60.org to explore interactive timelines, a founding history of AIIS, information on centers and programs, and to stay up to date on AIIS 60th anniversary events.

*Transcript coming soon*
Produced by AIIS
Music “Desh” by Stephen Slawek

Next Episode

60th Anniversary Series – Robert P. Goldman on AIIS, Sanskrit Pedagogy, and Emerging Trends in Sanskrit Research

In this episode of our 60th anniversary series, we have the unique honor of speaking to a scholar who has been part of the foundational landscape of Sanskrit scholarship and education in the United States, Robert Goldman, Professor of the Graduate School and Catherine and William L. Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Sanskrit Emeritus at the University of California Berkeley. Besides helping to shape Sanskrit pedagogy in the US and publishing influential translations of a wide variety of Sanskrit literary works, Dr. Goldman has also been very active with AIIS - first as a junior and senior fellow, then a trustee and vice president of the institute.

As we look back on sixty years of AIIS, not only has the institute supported research across disciplines and created an important support system for the study of India in the United States, but AIIS has also been a critical part of language pedagogy for undergraduate and graduate students. In this episode, we’ll hear about AIIS and its role in development of Sanskrit pedagogy and scholarship in the US, Dr. Goldman’s own work and intersections with the institute, and the future of AIIS, language study, and Sanskrit in the US.
Visit aiis60.org to explore interactive timelines, a founding history of AIIS, information on centers and programs, and to stay up to date on AIIS 60th anniversary events.
Produced by AIIS
Music “Desh” by Stephen Slawek

American Institute of Indian Studies Podcast - 60th Anniversary Series – A. N. Singh and Rakesh Ranjan on the history of the AIIS Hindi program and Hindi pedagogy

Transcript

AIIS Statement

The American Institute of Indian Studies was founded sixty years ago to further the knowledge of India in the United States by supporting American scholarship on India. The programs of AIIS foster the production of and engagement with scholarship on India, and promote and advance mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States and of India. AIIS seeks to provide access to scholarship about India to a wide and diverse audience.