I took HIST175C: Hindu-Muslim Interactions in Pre-modern and Modern India with Professor Lal in Winter 2023, and I had an incredible experience. Professor Lal is the most engaging lecturer I've had during my time at UCLA; he doesn't use slides, but his energy, speaking style, and diversity of content made class very engrossing. I never felt bored or distracted during lecture. His passion and depth of knowledge for the subject matter was clear in every class, and I always feel I learn better when an instructor's care is so evident.

The course covers several centuries of Hindu-Muslim relations, from the pre-modern period, through the colonial era, through present-day. Though I'm not a History major, I felt grounded in the material, and I particularly appreciated how the professor connected historical events to India's current political climate. This course feels very relevant and important to understanding the rise of Hindu nationalism in India today.

The workload is manageable: weekly readings, 3-4 short written responses over the course of the quarter, a group project, and an 8-10 page final paper. No exams, which I appreciated. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in Indian history!