Course outline
The Course aims to enhance the language proficiency of students at three levels; reading, understanding and writing in Assamese. It also aims at enhancing their ability to analyze literary texts of known creative writers in the language and apply them in different fields of applications. The course will have six units taking texts from different genres of literature. The course has special focus on the contemporary issues, dealt by the creative writers in different forms of literature, keeping in mind the grand challenges of the nation as identified below.
Grand challenges
The challenges of the nation in the present era:
- Economic Development, Rural and Urban linkages
- Energy & Water
- Urbanization, Infrastructure, Transport, Sanitation
- Environment & Public Health
- Food security, Agriculture
- Education, Literacy
- Ethics, Society & Social Justice
Besides the above challenges, focus will be on the challenges in the survival of the regional languages, literature and the cultural diversity of India with reference to Assamese.
Every semester, teaching will be spread over 16 weeks including two weeks for review.
Medium of teaching and examination : Assamese
Objectives
It is expected that after the completion of the course the students will be able to:
– use their language in different situations and develop proficiency in reading and writing.
– critically examine the issues highlighted in the texts and express their ideas and observations.
– initiate discussions on the issues highlighted in the texts and similar social issues identified by them.
– enhance their reading skills and the style of writing.
– evaluate and appreciate unknown texts.
– build their creative expression and presentation.
– collect information on their language, literature and culture and present them before others.
Organization of Teaching
There are six units in the course spread over 14 weeks. There would be 56 teaching periods and 14 periods for students presentation in a semester and the total number of period will be 70 (56+14). The details of the Units / themes and their distribution of periods are given below. In addition two weeks for field work/ project work / trip related activity as required by the course curriculum will be given.
Themes/sub themes of study
The course includes the following themes/subthemes:
Unit 1 : Education and literacy (10 periods)
Unit 2 : Environmental changes (10 periods)
Unit 3 : Pollution and its impact (10 periods)
Unit 4 : Water problem (10 periods)
Unit 5 : Rural life and Sanitation (08 periods)
Unit 6 : Urban life and old age problems (08 periods)
Teaching/Learning material
Texts:
puthi adhyayan : Satyanath Bora
mukti : Laxminath Bezbarua iyat nadi aasil : Navakanta Barua ekhon nadir mrityu : Mahim Bora
Parashu Pataror naad : Mamoni Raisam Goswami
Anthropology-r xopunar pasot : Nirupama Borgohain
Astaraag : Homen Borgohain
These texts and other reading materials will be compiled and made available to the students
Supplementary material
Monographs of important authors in Assamese
Documentary films on important authors and places of importance in Assam
Web materials; Assamese news papers, magazines and blogs
Assessment
The assessment of the students performance will be through:
(i) A. Project work and presentation B. Classroom participation.(35 marks)
(ii) Written examination (40 marks)
Project Work:
The students are expected to submit one project assignment, which will provide scope to the students to express their liking towards their language, literature and culture. A list of topics will be made available to them in the beginning of the course, which may be extended to rewriting, adaptation, retelling and change of narrative format. Evaluation of their performance in project work will be based on their knowledge of the language, collection of the information, presentation and style of narration.
Topics identified for Project work:
1. Development of Assamese language/script/literature.
2. Practical use of language; day to day conversation, in the office, public speech etc.
3. Variations of Bihu, the national festival of the Assam, among different indigenous communities of the state.
4. Use of traditional medicines by the Assamese community
5. Attitude of Assamese speakers towards their language.
6. Mapping of Assamese culture (on a particular event from the culture)
7. Assamese language in media, films and cyber world.
8. The life and works of any creative writer in Assamese
9. Any performing tradition of Assam (dance, drama, music, traditional game etc.).
10. Contemporary social issues/challenges.
11. Assamese language in the 21st century.
12. Retelling/rewriting of a narrative.
13. Critical evaluation of a text, in any form, of Assamese literature.
14. Eco-tourism in Assam
15. Tribes of Assam and Tribal life in Assamese literature
