Who We Are & What We Do
The Center for South Asia supports extensive research, academic study and outreach relating to the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tibet.
There are over twenty faculty who devote their work full-time to research and teaching on South Asia. Over 50 courses each semester are offered by these faculty with at least 50% concentration on South Asian studies. In addition, through the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, the Center for South Asia lends both research and fiscal support for the teaching of such South Asian languages as Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan (both modern/spoken, and literary), Telugu, Tamil and Nepali.
Outreach Director
K-16 Outreach
At the Center for South Asia we provide access to resources for teaching about South Asia at the K-12, secondary, and post-secondary level and to the community at large. As a part of our federal mandate, all outreach services are free of charge.
We can assist teachers and community leaders in designing programs on a number of aspects of the arts, civilizations, cultures, geographies, history, and languages of South Asia.
If you would like to schedule a visitor to come to your classroom to talk about South Asia, show slides, or give a lecture on various topics, please contact sbeckham@wisc.edu at least one month in advance.
K-16 Educators
The outreach coordinator along with CSA faculty offer teachers’ workshops, seminars, scholarship access grants, and other opportunities for learning about South Asia. If you would like to be informed of such opportunities please email sbeckham@wisc.edu to be put on our “outreach” mailing list.
Documentary Films
The Center for South Asia has been a leader in documentary filmmaking on South Asia, distributing the most extensive and diverse collection of documentary films on South Asia in North America. These films are available for purchase in VHS format. Many have in-depth companion film guides for use by educators. There are more than thirty documentary titles appropriate for secondary, post-secondary, and community use, a religions of South Asia lecture series, and two documentaries appropriate to the middle grades. Complete information on each film can be found on our web site at southasia.wisc.edu.
We are offering a special to educators from the State of Wisconsin. With proof of endorsement from your school, we will sell our documentaries for the nominal cost of $20.00 for the video and film guide (regular institutional cost is $145.00).
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Center for South Asia to encourage scholarly discourse, appreciation, and understanding of South Asian cultures and issues. We are committed to providing hands-on assistance and useful materials at the local, regional and national levels.