Fifth European PhD Workshop in South Asian Studies held in Paris

The Fifth European PhD workshop in South Asia Studies was held in Paris at the Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud (CEIAS) from 22 to 24 September 2011.
Previous PhD workshops have been jointly organised by Heidelberg University, Germany; Ghent University, Belgium; University of Edinburgh; UK: and Le Centre d'Études de l'Inde et de l'Asie du Sud (CEIAS), Paris, France. From 2011, SASNET/Lund University is also being a co-organiser.

Two PhD candidates from Lund University, Andreas Johansson (History of Religion) and Emmanuel Raju (Lund University Centre for Risk Assessment and Management – LUCRAM) presented papers. Professor Olle Qvarnström (History of Religion) also represented SASNET and commented on two papers presented. The participants came from different disciplines but were all engaged in research related to South Asia at European universities.

Papers were also presented by the following PhD candidates:

Professors and senior scholars attending the workshop included Jivanta Schottli (Heidelberg University), Bert Suykens (Ghent University), Crispin Bates (University of Edinburgh), and Stéphanie Tawa Lama-Rewal and Ines G. Zupanov (CEIAS, Paris).

The workshop’s unusual format gave each PhD candidate the responsibility of introducing the paper of another participant and raising some initial questions. A senior scholar then acted as discussant and provided feedback on the paper, prompting further debate. This format broadened perspectives on research methods, concepts, and theory by helping students consider questions from a variety of disciplines. A congenial exchange of ideas took place in an atmosphere where all of the participants were bound together by their mutual interest in South Asia research. 

The 6th European PhD Workshop in South Asian Studies will be hosted by SASNET/Lund University in 2012.