While there have been numerous articles written about liberal studies being an endangered species in American higher education, Carleton is building a relationship with a new institution in India dedicated to fostering liberal arts education in India.
Ashoka University in Delhi opened recently, with the first group of students proudly wearing T-shirts identifying themselves as the inaugural class. Arjendu Pattanayak has been in close communication with the founders of the school, and Carleton has been among the schools offering advice on what makes up a liberal arts curriculum. The founders of the school were trained in the traditional professional programs of Indian Universities, but did not use those skills in their careers. They feel that they would have been better prepared by having a liberal arts education, and this is the basic idea behind their efforts. They have been part of two conferences on the future of the liberal arts in India. Carleton has been represented at both conferences, and Arjendu helped organize the recent one in March. I attended, speaking on the LTC and its importance to Carleton. The Carleton group at the conference also included President Poskanzer, Arjendu Pattanayak, Constance Walker and Neil Lutsky. Neil has taught this semester at Ashoka. He sent weekly letters that have been thoughtful and fun to read. They focus on the emotional shock that one has in seeing the poverty or dirty conditions that make up an initial impression on traveling to India, and the great respect and warmth Neil has felt for the Ashoka students and his colleagues there. It has been clear from his letters that this has been a life-changing experience for hi
There is a great deal of potential in Carleton’s association with Ashoka. It is still early in the process. Few on our campus know about the prospects of this relationship with a new institution far away. I hope that in the coming months more of us will be involved in what could become an important opportunity for our school. We hope to have an LTC session on Ashoka during fall term.