India Summer Term: Through Others' Eyes
Journey through incredible India, discovering a myriad of peoples, cultures, religions, and cuisine from high-tech cities to the rural communities.Cruise the open markets and large, modern shopping malls. Wander the cities of Chennai, Varanasi, Kolkata, Pondicherry, and the village of Hanumanthauram. Grapple with countless modern paradoxes in one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. Be prepared for an unforgettable, life-transforming time! Applications are due Nov. 15, 2025.
You’ll engage your mind, heart, and spirit through lectures, movies, music, and spiritual formation exercises.
We’ll travel together from LAX to India, arriving to our first destination, Kolkata (Calcutta). In Kolkata we’ll combine classroom learning with service in several of Mother Teresa’s Homes in the old city. Visiting William Carey’s Serampore College reminds us of the sacrifice that early missionaries made to translate the Bible into local languages while advocating for the social, cultural, and environmental rights of local people. Take an overnight train ride.
>Nothing compares to seeing first-hand the sacred Ganges River in the most sacred city for Hindus, Varanasi. Take a boat ride on the Ganges in the evening and witness the funeral pyres as well as the unforgettable ritual of Brahmin priests doing a ritual that puts the Ganges to sleep every night. Later this week, we’ll visit Hyderabad in the Deccan Plateau, a 10-million-person city dominated my Muslims. See Mughal architecture and enjoy Mughal food. And more!
Travel to Chennai on the southwest coat of India, where we’ll enjoy delicious food, see British colonial, Mughal, and modern architecture, and learn about Hinduism and Christianity. We’ll discuss how some have engaged the social, economic, and cultural challenges and opportunities in the city and rural regions. We’ll go to a Bollywood movie and enjoy cultural events. See where St. Thomas was martyred and visit the St. Thomas Basilica.
Living at Little Flock Children’s Homes in the rural village of Hanumanthapuram will be an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by several Indian villages, this Christian home is a life-giving place for children needing a home. The children will teach you how to play cricket – and watch you lose! You’ll visit villagers and learn a few sentences in the local language. See the jewelry-making class for local village women. Enjoy tasty chai tea in the afternoons.
Start on campus for a week of teaching and cultural training, where you will see films, learn about Hinduism and how to navigate the cultures of India. Journey into bustling Kolkata, famous for its Kali Temple, where you will serve at Mother Teresa’s Homes. Ride a boat in the Ganges River, the most sacred place for Hindus, and see the funeral pyres up close. Live in rural India, where you will serve children and begin learning a village language, surrounded by challenging economic conditions, yet immense hope.
Taste spicy curries, cooling yoghurts, sweet chutneys, and refreshing chai. Enjoy Bollywood film, with or without subtitles! Watch Hindus worship, participate in Christian worship, and engage in conversation with Christian and Hindu leaders.
Journey inwardly as you reflect more deeply than ever about the nature of the self, suffering, wealth, and Christian service. Journey externally as you encounter sites, smells, tastes, and tactile experiences you have never confronted before. Journey together as skilled leaders help you debrief on your experiences toward self-discovery, academic learning, and seeking God’s direction for your future. Learn how Christians of the past and present have sought to introduce gospel-oriented change to India, and be encouraged to make a difference yourself!
- Class standing
- GPA (minimum 2.3 GPA) and no student life sanctions
- Application essays
- Team and individual interviews
- Faculty and personal recommendations
Criteria
- Participate in regular communal meals based on a local diet and with limited control over food choices. In some locations, be prepared to participate in preparing and cleaning up after these meals.
- Tolerate local diet with limited control over food choices in most (some) locations.
- Anticipate possible exposure to peanut or other food allergens.
- Navigate multiple irregular surfaces and walk up to 5 miles a day, hike up to 5 miles with the group.
- Navigate carrying personal items including suitcase and/or backpack without assistance.
- Anticipate having sufficient emotional wellness to fully participate in the program safely and successfully despite the limited availability of frequent access to psychological services.
- Anticipate at least double occupancy accommodations on some if not all locations.
RS-136TG: Encountering Hinduism - Satisfies GE Thinking Globally. 4 units.
Examines Hindu mythology, philosophy and society from its beginning to the present and grapples with the similarities and differences between Christianity and Hinduism.
RS0150C: Mission & amp; Social Action - Satisfies GE Serving Society. 4 units.
The course will provide a survey of the impact of Christian Missions on Indian society and culture with special emphasis on social justice: e.g., Indian beliefs and customs, family traditions, gender, female child infanticide, HIV, religious tolerances.
A program fee which includes tuition, room, board, entrance fees, tours, in-country travel, and round trip airfare from LAX.
Meet the Team
Dr. Charles Farhadian, Professor of World Religions and Christian Mission (Westmont), has co-led the India Mayterm several times. Author of several books, Charlie enjoys learning about the relationship between religions and cultures and helping students discover their passions and talents while traveling and learning. Cultures thrill him.
Dr. Viji Cammauf, (PhD, The Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley California; Founder and President of Little Flock Children’s Homes), teaches doctoral students in mission and social justice at Sam Higginbotham University in Allahabad, India. Viji is on the boards of several institutions, secular and Christian. She grew up in a Hindu home and became a follower of Jesus in her college years.
How to apply:
For more info about how to apply, please contact ocp@westmont.edu. For more info about the program, contact Professor Farhadian at farhadian@westmont.edu.