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Temple University In India |
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Temple University In India |
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TESTIMONIALS
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Temple University India Program Temple University’s study abroad program in India is designed for motivated students and professionals who are interested in pursuing independent research projects with the help of a mentor. The goal of the program is to introduce participants to Indian culture by immersing them in instructional coursework drawing upon interdisciplinary fields and students’ personal and academic interests. Projects in the past have included but are not limited to: yoga and Indian philosophical studies, environmental studies, private lessons on dilruba, tabla, and sitar, photography, painting and snake charmers. The use of visual ethnography has been a particular interest and research medium of student’s who attend this program. Students who have had success in the India study abroad program have often spent 1-6 months researching their topic prior to arrival in India and have submitted a rough proposal to the program director for tentative approval. Students who have no particular research topic in mind are encouraged to meet the program coordinator for possible research topics or to discuss why the India program is appropriate for his/her academic or personal needs. Projects can range from an ethnographic style diary to a visual ethnography. Student must be willing to revise certain research outlines given time constraints, social atmosphere, or general feasibility. Questions about the program, research possibilities, fellowships, grants, and instructional language tools can be directed to Sarah Van Doel at vandoels@temple.edu. Temple India Summer Program 2005. |
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On Yoga and India... When I was given the oppurtunity to study yoga in its native land of India I had a distinct idea of what to expect from my yogi. He would be an older man of slight stature with little knowledge or experience of the modern world. Being an American woman, I found this archetypical yogi somewhat daunting. Would he accept me and my yoga practice, which was thoroughly Americanized? Would he accept me as a woman? These and many questions like them haunted me, but the chance of studying yoga with a yogi was something I simply could not pass up. And thank goodness I didn't because I couldn't have been more wrong. My yogi was not a shivelled old man, like I had pictured, but instead a beautiful young woman by the name of Dr. Foram Doshi. A true renaissance woman, if there is such a thing in India. Foram is an Ayurvedic doctor, a yogi, a wife, and a mother of a lovely little boy. The schedule this woman maintains is unbelievable and yet was able to find two hours a day to teach myself and four other young ladies. All five of us, Foram's students, were from completely different backgrounds and skill levels in yoga. Two of the girls had never practiced before, and Foram was able to make all of us true lovers of yoga. I looked forward to her sessions everyday, and miss them very much now that I am back in America. She was an incredibly gracious teacher, and she could answer any questions we threw at her. She was and is an inspiration to me in every part of my life, not just yoga. The chance to study with this amazing woman is a chance worth taking. Caitin Connors, Temple University Summer Program 2005 |
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India, as well as its surrounding region, seems to fall under a
peculiar category, in terms of the perception of Americans;
generally speaking of course. This became quite clear to me upon my return to the US... The vast majority of times that I tell others of my visit to India, the first question I am asked is "oh, how were the people?," in an almost precautious manner. Thinking instantly of the two dozen friends I had made there, as well as how welcoming even the most distant of strangers were to a random foreign visitor,"Wonderful," seems to always swoop out as my response. Prior to my visit, I had naturally been curious as to how I would be recieved in India, yet never concerned. The fact that this concern comes up so often in others' reactions to my experience, to me is cause for a greater concern. Ultimately, what I can say for certain is this: In London, Rome, Leipzig, and Paris you will find High School History; and in Tokyo you will find a bizarro Los Angeles/Manhatten Partyland. Yet under the Temple Summer program in Dhrangadhra, India, whether through music, photo/videography, yoga, ethnography, dance, or simply the human experience, it is likely that you will return to this country at a higher level of personal enlightenment. Rhett Grumbkow, Temple India Summer Program 2005. |
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The TU India summer program is one that holds for people of all kinds
of interests the potential to learn and experience at a level that
simply cannot be matched by a classroom. The experiential learning
process presents students with an opportunity to engage in all types
of work, whether it be surveying the history of local sites, learning a musical instrument, painting alongside a master of indian arts, practicing the art of yoga, or simply expanding one's knowledge-base by mingling with the locals. Of course, everyone will have the chance to participate from a distance in all of these and more while concentrating in their main interest, whatever that may be. In short, the variety of experiences paired with the opportunity to specialize in their subject matter of interest is what makes the India program so attractive. In addition to this experiential learning focus, there is no shortage of occasions to participate in local life: i.e. having meals at local households, taking excursions to exotic locations, shopping at markets, etc. There is much to be offered in this program, but all this is fully up to the participant. It has been my personal experience that those who glean the most from TU India are ones who have a definitive focus of what they want to accomplish along with a curiosity that will allow them to engage in local life beyond the superficial. I highly recommend that any students interested in going to India with Dr. Jhala seriously consult with him to develop and discuss a topic for further exploration. Given that the student has a particular focus and the inquisitive mindset ready for anything and everything, the Temple University program in India will be an unforgettable summer experience. Ray Lee, University of Michigan, Temple India Summer Program 2005. |
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Wesley Pentz created a video of his experience in
India. Click on the image to the right in order to see a short clip
of it (requires Quicktime).
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Hello, my name is David Bohl and I’m currently a photography
student at Drexel. During my trip to India, the main areas I saw were Bombay,
Gujurat, Deli, and Ladahk. I spent most of my time in Gujurat and
saw a variety of cities, towns, villages and the beach. I took lots of crazy
pictures of things you could never see in the U.S. In Dhrangadra,
some of the best times were photographing the palaces, jamming with local
musicians, getting invited to peoples houses for some good home cooked
Gujurati thali and in general enjoying celebrity like status. I would
recommend this trip to other people because it’s a good chance to experience a vastly different, but very friendly and rich culture.
Staying with professor Jhala in Dhrangadra made the trip so much more
worthwhile than any India vacation because it was like having an all
access pass to a town that was completely uncorrupted by tourism.
You could see the real India and meet lots of people that are as eager
to learn about you as you are about them and aren’t motivated at all
by money.
David Bohl ,
November 14th 2001
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During my three weeks in Dhrangadra with Dr. Jhala, I worked with two jewelers, Piyush bhai soni and Manu bhai soni. Piyush bhai began teaching me the basics of jewelry such as piercing and drawing. Manubhai taught me the techniques of granuation using 23k gold and bezel stone setting. I had certain designs in mind that I wanted to make and Manubhai and his son Bharatbhai worked with me and showed me how. It was a wonderful experience to work with them as they were very open about teaching me what they knew. They delighted in showing me techniques that I had not seen before. It was refreshing and gratifying to be and work among such skilled workers who are generous and excited about working with a young student. I think that jewelry students have a lot to gain in technical experience by working with these men not to mention that it is a great chance to live in a different country and see how they treat and regard jewelry. It is quite different from how Americans and Europeans regard jewelry. I would especially recommend the program to students who are very directed and have in mind exactly what they want to learn, for example, granulation or engraving. If they have prior jewelry experience, it is all the better for it will help them to get more out of the chance of working in India for such a limited time. Sincerely, Kee Yoon Kang |
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I am writing to you as a Temple student who participated in Dr. Jhala's experiential learning course in India this past summer. My experiences
were various and many and I learned a great deal from them all. Understanding my role was the biggest and most interesting obstacle for me. Two other students and I set out to conduct a research project on the effects of the January '01 earthquake that devastated Gujarat. Despite frustrations and set backs, we tenaciously tried to carry out our original intention of gathering a feasible amount of data with which we could complete a project following our return to the US. Rather than achieve our ambitious goal, I believe we have come away with invaluable lessons in culture, communication, and logistics. Also, I learned a great deal from the amount of organizing taken on by we students who participated; we basically planned and worked out the details ourselves with the supervision and input of Dr. Jhala. The dynamics of who I was when I was there taught me about the assumptions that I make as a student of anthropology, as an American, and as a woman. I am very glad that I went and would recommend the experience to any student with an open mind and a sense of adventure. Sincerely, Amber Leigh Breiner, Anthropology, '02 |
 A welcome guest in a home in Jesada.
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I traveled to India this summer for an anthropology course guided by Dr.
Jhala. I was in India for about a month and while there, I shot video for various documentary projects that I am working on now. I learned a lot about myself from the experiences I had in India. Seeing the poverty I saw and talking to people led me to appreciate how privileged I am as a middleclass American student to be able to travel halfway around the world and be able to live comfortably. I had always known this but I had never really come face to face with it until I saw the poverty and talked to people in India? I learned a lot about myself as a visual anthropology student as well. Doing the amount of shooting and interviewing I did led me to think about my methods and improve along the way.  The most positive experience for me was meeting people and sharing good times together. I remember playing with children in a small village in
the desert in northwestern India? We didn't know each other's languages but
we were still able to communicate. One boy taught me how to make a toy he
made out of a piece of wire and a stick. I showed the children my video
camera and how it worked and they loved it. We played around, made funny faces and
laughed until it was time for dinner. I remember the
comfort I felt when people in Agra came up to me and told me that they
appreciated what I was doing and that I was trying to help them. It was great to
know that I was welcome and that I gave them some hope in their unfortunate
situation. |
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Going to India, guided by Dr. Jhala was a really valuable opportunity for me, as an anthropology major senior student because for undergraduate students, there ;vas few chances to go to actual fields to do work. I worked in a nearby village from Dr. Jhala's home town for three weeks to talk to mainly women and asked about their life as women in the village.I was with two other students; one was an anthropology major and the other was a film major. We worked as a team in the village and filmed for a documentary and took photographs, as interviewing villagers. From this trip I learned a lot not only as an anthropology student but also as a person. As I was talking to local people, I gradually realized more similarity between me and them as same human beings than difference.Also I had time to think about myself more than ever through the experiences I had in India. The most positive experience for me was that putting what I learned about anthropology through my three years at college into practice. I read lots of books about anthropology and learned anthropological fieldwork though, I never had actual experience infield before. In the actual field, I realized the importance of direct experience in the field, while facing to the difficulty of fieldwork. I would strongly recommend this class with Dr. Jhala for undergraduate students because this gives them great opportunity to learn a different culture directly and expands their horizons in various ways. Mioko Kurosawa |
 Mioko and Ted eat Gujarati thali. |
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While on the expedition to India my main role, as a film major, was to use my technical and artistic abilities to document the work of the |
 This is a picture of Harrupah Jhala, my hero. His father worked at Raj Mahal and he was responsible for making sure we didn't embarass ourselves in town.
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| William L. Wacker traveled in North India studying the Architecture of Le Corbusier and the city of Chandigarh. He also trekked in the Himalayas, touring rural villages and Buddhist monasteries. Click on the link to view photographs of his travels. | |
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This summer I participated in an anthropology program where we traveled
to India in order to document earthquake relief efforts. Upon arrival I was overwhelmed by the amount of culture that surrounded me. The sights,
the smells, the sounds, and the tastes we so amazing and new to me I could hardly believe I was actually there. After arriving in Bombay we traveled by train to Gujarat, where the earthquake hit as well as where
Prof. Jhala is from. He graciously allowed the ten of us to stay at his house for the following month or so. Before leaving the U.S. we had all decided what we wanted to accomplish over the summer and our goals turned out to be somewhat arrogant and unrealistic. We had planned to help rebuild hundreds of houses and document everything. We soon realized that we had not taken anything but our own ideals into consideration and after seeing that everything we had planned had been somewhat of a waste of time we all felt defeated. It was definitely time for some re-grouping and re-planning. We all decided that we should all work on separate projects ranging from an Indian woman’s place in society, snake charmers, tourism in Agra, Indian embroidery and my own project, a mockumentary. The mockumentary that I filmed was based on an Indian rock band called Electric Hanuman, which is named after the Indian monkey god. Although this project could be perceived as one lacking in academic value, I believe I gained an invaluable amount of knowledge while doing this project. Every evening at sundown Indian musicians would come to the palace to play music with some of the other students. We would just sit around every night talking and playing music and it was incredible. I also did other things while in Gujarat. Some other students and I went up to a village called Jura, which was only a few miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. We stayed in the village and participate din some rebuilding work. The conditions were very different than that which we were used to and found that staying there was quite challenging. The construction work was also very difficult and I fell very ill during this time. My illness could only be chalked up to yet another learning experience. A letter summing up my adventures and knowledge gained from this summer could take years to write! Over all I found the trip to be the most amazing experience I’ve ever had the opportunity to take part in. The amount that I gained from this experience is immeasurable and I would highly recommend the program to others. If you have any other questions I would gladly answer them and you can contact me at: mandabear_19146@yahoo.com Sincerely, Amanda Jacques |
 Mandy, pictured here with Shiva impersonator and followers, is interviewed on the streets of Rishikesh. |
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Its incredible what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. Last semester I received an email calling for students to participate in
an Indian Earthquake Disaster Relief effort in Gujurat, India. For some
inexplicable reason I felt that I needed to go. It wasn't a difficult decision; I just went. Once in India the true weight of my decision became apparent. I
was halfway around the world with people I didn't know in a country that was
entirely unlike my own. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I quickly grew frustrated with what I perceived as the shortcomings of
those I was traveling with. Ignorance and cultural insensitivity seemed to be
everywhere and, simply put, I couldn't abide it. I chose to strike out on my own. The disaster relief idea which we
have original planned fell on its face due to circumstances we couldn't have
forseen and each of us was left to develop their own project. It amazing what you can do when you find that you have only
yourself to rely upon. I found myself living in a tiny village near the epicenter
of the earthquake eating with villagers who spoke only the regional dialect
without any sort of interpreter. More importantly, I found myself enjoying it.
I developed a new project. Rather than participate in direct, hands-on relief efforts my project would take a different approach. Instead of
helping to rebuild homes or herd animals I spent my days with the village's
women learning to embroider. It was an incredible experience. I met dozens
of women who were more than happy to demonstrate the stitches and patterns
and techniques. They showed me again and again and they untied my knotted threads and they laughed at me when I made a particularly large
mess of things and I loved it. Rather than limiting my experience to one particular thing--namely, disaster relief--I left my options open
and a new relief idea occurred to me. Before I left India I purchased several hundred American dollars worth of the village's embroidery to sell in the states at a profit so I could continue to help these people even after I had left. My two months in India was a positive experience. There was nothing easy about it. Learning to acclimate yourself to an entirely different culture is neither fun nor easy. Everything is different and the opportunity for faux pas is incredible. However, the things you learn about yourself more than make up for the inconveniences of having to adapt to life in a third world country. Yes, I would recommend this trip to other students. Thank you. Sarah |
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During our stay in Dhrangadhara, we were able to experience India in a very unique way, much different from our time
spent in Delhi and Agra. We were able to observe the Indian people
on a more intimate basis, which was very enriching for us all.
Because Dhrangadhara was a smaller, more rural community, we had more freedom to
explore on our own, and were therefore able to interact with the people
much easier than in the larger, more populated areas. I suppose the aspect of our time in Dhrangadhara that has left the most profound impact in my memory is the overwhelming hospitality of all the people there, but especially our hosts. I, along with several other members of our group, had the immense pleasure of staying at the guesthouse of the palace. This was a wonderful blessing for us, not only because of the beauty of the house and its gardens, but even more so because of the care given to us by our hosts. We were provided for and assisted by two of the kindest people I ever had the pleasure to meet, Arunji, who was our age, and his younger brother Harrupah. Each morning they would bring us a bountiful breakfast, and would check in on us periodically whenever we were in, and not exploring the exotic countryside. They would jump at our slightest whim, whether it was for a bottle of water or a cup of tea. One day, having developed an unsightly rash, I decided to stay in for the afternoon while the rest of the group went on with the day's scheduled events. During the course of the afternoon and evening, as I relaxed in the comfort of the house, Arunji and Harrupah stepped in several times to check on me, and see if I needed anything. As if this wasn't enough, one of them slept on the front porch of the house each night, just in case we awoke and needed something. This kind of attention and hospitality was incredible, and I was very grateful for it. I cannot recall a time or occasion that I have been made feel as welcome as I was in Dhrangadhara. ERIC KENNEDY, University of Louisville |
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Dhrangadhara was great! We had such a fun time with Deepak and Anu.
Driving everywhere was one of my most favorite parts of the time we
spent there. We got to see the countryside, (which was beautiful) and we got to experience Indian music. Deepak and the four girls with me all jammed to "Hello Brother." We had a great time! The people were really nice too. And accommodating. They almost bought us a sheep to play with just because we thought it was cute! And we're not too sure that they didn't pay the man to bring one to us to see. The people were great. Seeing the sati grounds, the desert and especially Halvad was great! The sati grounds was neat. It was a pretty somber time but it was neat actually seeing the pictures in class in person. The desert was beautiful. It was rather odd seeing boats though. Right in the middle of the desert! Apparently it floods there during monsoon season. And finally Halvad. It was gorgeous! The intricacies of the woodwork was astonishing. It was rather sad to see it damaged from the earthquake. Our book had shown it prior to the earthquake so seeing the damage made it that much more disheartening. It was very neat despite that. Staying at the palace was also tons of fun! Bapa, the crowned prince, his daughter, Rue, and her Scottish husband, Lem, were so nice. We taught Bapa how to play Phase 10 and had such a fun time conversing with him and exchanging knowledge. Rue was a gem! She was so nice and funny! And Lem taught us how to play snooker. He was definitely better than we were. Staying in Dhrangadhara was great. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I'll never forget it or the people I met. LAURA PAGE, University of Louisville |
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The Palace staff was amazing. Whether it be the drivers, accompanying staff, kitchen staff, or leaders, they were always very helpful,
accommodating to our whims and, above all, friendly. Dilip was very organized and informative. When traveling, we always knew that we were in good hands and felt very safe. The itinerary was very good and I would change very little. The trip to Rajkot would be a great thing to add back to the schedule but it was wise not to go there on our trip under the circumstances (election). The day of the desert visit would be extremely long based on the original schedule. We did cut it short (students were tired) but there was interest in visiting the marshes. An earlier start would allow for the longer travel time. I would also suggest that the evening of the desert trip (if there is a visit to the marshes) be 'free time'. The camel cart ride was a lot of fun but could be moved to a different night. The accommodations and food were very good. The addition of the tables and chairs in the main hall made it easier for everyone to sit and eat as a group. The picnics were great and extremely well organized. The reaction to the emergency (Mary's broken foot) was professional and caring. The care she received from the staff and hospital was very excellent. Some minor comments: The leaders of the group were given itineraries at the beginning of the visit, but schedules are always fluid and change is expected. Perhaps communication would be better if an updated schedule was posted at the palace and garden house each evening so the students could check times/plans on their own and not have to track down a leader. The towels provided in the rooms for showers did not always dry. Perhaps a line or towel racks could be installed or the towels can be laundered after a few days. Although I was somewhat surprised, the students seem to need more time on the schedule for shopping. Perhaps an entire afternoon can be allocated for that purpose. We enjoyed our visit and would not hesitate to return. Thank you for all of your help in making this possible. The Richardsons, University of Louisville |
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Our stay was perhaps the most remarkable time of my life. Although
Delhi had given me a taste of Indian cosmopolitanism, it gave me no
opportunity to ask questions about and observe the lifestyle of small
town Indians. The most enlightening part of the trip was the questions
and answers during tea with the Maharani. It was immeasurably valuable
to listen to the perspective of someone who had lived there for a such a
while and who had formulated longer term theories on problems and
positive points of the community. For some reason which I cannot
pinpoint yet, I am still fascinated by our trip to the crematory. Of all of the things that we did most regret the Camel cart ride. Although it was beautiful to gaze at the night sky and relax, I am still bothered by the reaction we garnered. I felt colonial, I think. The night sky should have been just as well observed on foot in small groups, but to have created such pomp. . . I felt it was frivolous and costly. Of course, I could not have anticipated this reaction, but I am still grateful for the experience. I also wish there had been more time for wandering in small groups, but I understand the time constraints and propriety did not allow for this. Also, I would like to add that I adored the play about the history of the Jhala's and Shakti-ma. It was beautiful and so entertaining. I wish that more such plays could be seen here. That was a particularly talented group which presented it. The hospitality provided was impeccable. I am more thankful than I can express for the generosity of the Jhala family. Sincerely - Jennifer Cecil, University of Louisville |
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