Art and Archeology of the Indian Sub Continent

An urban culture flourished in the Indus Valley, Rajasthan and Gujarat, between c.3000 BC and 1500 BC. In the post-Vedic period arose the Maurya Empire and a phase of rock-cut architecture, Buddhist, Hindu and Jaina. The Gupta Empire in the 6th century AD witnessed the rise of temple building in North and South India that lasts for the rest of our period. From the 6th century onward, Indian styles affected temple building and sculpture in mainland South East Asia and the islands. The medieval period saw the development of distinctive styles of Islamic building in the sub-continent, and Christian architecture also. Latterly, the architecture of India and Europe – specifically Britain- influenced each other, as will be shown.

There will be a Certificate Course of twenty lectures held weekly on Tuesdays starting on November 24, 2009 and finishing in early May 2010 on the above subject at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan UK’s premises; 4a Castletown Road, London W14 9HE (nearest stations: West Kensington, District Line; Baron’s Court, Piccadilly Line). Classes will commence at 6.45pm and will last for approximately 1 ½ hours including time for questions and discussion. Extensively illustrated by slides, the course will include optional essay work, and an optional written examination at the end for those desiring to obtain the Certificate. The fee for the whole course will be £295.00.

The course will be open to anyone interested, from the age of 14 and over. It will be conducted by Dr John Marr, Bhavan’s Honorary General Secretary, formerly Lecturer in South Indian Studies at the School of Oriental Studies, University of London, where he taught South Asian Art and Archaeology for eighteen years between 1974 and 1992 and currently at SOAS’s Post Graduate Asian Art Diploma programme, and by Mrs Wendy Marr, freelance lecturer on Indian Art History.