The Department of South Asia Studies
The Department of South Asia Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin looks back on a long history. Berlin’s tradition in Indology has produced big names like Franz Bopp, Albrecht Weber and Heinrich Lüders – pioneers in the study of the languages and cultures of Ancient India. After the Second World War, Humboldt-Universität became the first German university to conduct research and teaching on all South Asian countries.
Today we concern ourselves with a broad range of questions in areas such as urbanization and industrialization, migration and circulation, historiography, and environmental and gender history. A distinctive feature of the curriculum is our expanded focus on Bengal and Pakistan. Our South Asian language offerings include Telugu as well as Hindi and Urdu. Students interested in highly topical media-related issues in South Asia can pursue these in the Cross-Section of Mediality and Intermediality in Asian and African Societies.
More on the history of the department ...