Ahmedabad University introduces online ‘Literature for Life’ course

NEW DELHI: Ahmedabad University’s School of Arts and Sciences has launched an online programme called ‘Literature for Life’ with the objective of promoting reading literature, both as a source of enjoyment as well as an intellectual guide to fulfillment amongst students.

The online course includes lectures, class discussions, audiovisuals, role enactment, group work, etc. Professor Kunal Basu, Distinguished Professor of Humanities, School of Arts and Sciences at Ahmedabad University will teach Literature for Life course to students.

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This programme will introduce students to diverse perspectives and tools that are helpful in reading literary texts with a view towards learning significant life lessons to fulfill a wide range of individual, professional, and societal goals, said an official statement from the university.

As a part of this course, students will go through a close and critical reading of a set of texts including novels, short stories and plays chosen from Indian and international authors. Covering a range of genres – fable, romance, historical fiction, family saga, war and social conflict – the course will challenge students to read and analyse narrative fiction to enhance their understanding of self and significant relationships, role within organisations, and value system that guides ethical choices.

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The programme uses the perspective of “Transformative Reading” to encourage students to study character, plot and context to draw parallels with their lived realities, perceptions, and social attitudes, assisted by a range of social and organisational theories. Key themes extracted from the texts, such as ‘conflict’, ‘empathy’, ‘leadership’, ‘decision-making’, ‘responsibility’, ‘courage’, and ‘attitude towards the “other”’ will be addressed via rigorous analysis and debate.

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On completing the course, the students would be able to

• Interpret literary texts in terms of both personal relevance and conceptual perspectives.
• Identify key learning with regard to personal and professional decision-making, organisational expectations, and terms of engagement with society.
• Derive reflections for personal transformation based on the course readings.
• Articulate in written format insights drawn on each of the above aspects.