South Asian Studies

A Historical Appraisal of Jewish Presence in Sri Lanka

by Fiona Kumari Campbell

Draft 2007 Unpublished

In terms of religious proclivities hegemonic discourses present Sri Lanka as an Island populated by the four main... more In terms of religious proclivities hegemonic discourses present Sri Lanka as an Island populated by the four main world religions:  Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Judaism and the Jew is absent from official discourses to the extent that it is a commonly held belief that “there have never been any Jews in Sri Lanka”. Although somewhat erroneous and imprecise, the view articulated is that unlike India, there have not been any Jewish communities in Sri Lanka. This paper challenges that view by providing a preliminary historical foray into Jewish life in Sri Lanka. First is a discussion about the methods of research and climatic difficulties. The discussion moves onto consider the relationship between Jewish pogroms in the 1500s – 1700s and the conquest of the Ceylon by the Portuguese (1505 – 1656), Dutch (1656 – 1796) and finally the British (1796 – 1948). There is a brief consideration of the Jewish presence in Sri Lanka before the Portuguese conquest, shifting to a more nuanced articulation of Jewish relations under Portuguese and Dutch occupation.  The later part of the paper is concerned with identifying Jewish communal life under the British until Ceylonese independence in 1948.

Hybridizing Hip-hop in Diaspora: Young British South Asian Men Negotiating Black-inflected Identities

by David Drissel

Museum building in colonies

by Suresh Pillai

it is the second part of my essay on Museumisatiom

Review - David N. Gellner (ed.), Varieties of Activist Experience: Civil Society in South Asia (New Delhi, 2010) and Ethnic Activism and Civil Society in South Asia (New Delhi, 2009)

by Uday Chandra

Forthcoming in Social Movement Studies 12 (1), 2013

MUSEUMISATION OF THE PRESENT

by Suresh Pillai

The truth of the body: the liberating role of physical (and mental) boundaries in asubhabhāvanā

by Giuliano Giustarini

A Note on Saḷāyatanas in Pāli Nikāyas

by Giuliano Giustarini

India's Second Green Revolution? The Sociopoltiical Implications of Corporate-driven Agricultural Growth

by Jeffrey Witsoe

Territorial Democracy: Caste, Dominance and Electoral Practice in Postcolonial India

by Jeffrey Witsoe

Linguistic Duopoly: A Case of Mewati

by Prerna Bakshi

Considerable attention has been drawn recently towards the plight of immigrant languages or minority languages. Much... more Considerable attention has been drawn recently towards the plight of immigrant languages or minority languages. Much is being done to maintain these languages and to bring the issues surrounding them to the public eye. However, not much has been done on linguistic varieties labelled as 'dialects'. This study seeks to fill this gap by exploring the issues surrounding a language variety called Mewati.

This paper examines the status of Mewati in relation to the other dominant languages of Hindi and Urdu and attempts to explain how social institutions like local state run schools and madrasas contribute towards language shift. Additionally, the study explores the relationship between language, religion and identity and the politics thereof. It is recommended that school curriculums must make a room for Mewati if its maintenance is to be ensured. 

"Where are the Missing Masses? The Quasi-publics and Non-publics of Technoscience"

by shiju sam varughese

Minerva: A Review of Science, Learning and Policy, Vol. 50, No. 2, 2012 (Special Issue: Young Scholars Take a Forward Look), DOI 10.1007/s11024-012-9197-3

The paper offers a political-philosophical analysis of the state and publics in the age of technoscience to propose... more The paper offers a political-philosophical analysis of the state and publics in the age of technoscience to propose three distinct categories of publics: scientific-citizen publics constituted by civil society, quasi-publics that initiate another kind of engagement through the activation of ‘political society,’ and non-publics cast outside these spheres of engagement, based on the empirical contexts of public engagement with technoscience in non-western contexts like India.

Abductions: Maoists on top in every scenario

by Bibhu Prasad Routray

Published in New Indian Express, 6 May 2012 & Sunday Standard, 6 May 2012

On the surface, it appears that the Odisha government came out relatively unscathed from the month-long abduction... more On the surface, it appears that the Odisha government came out relatively unscathed from the month-long abduction episodes involving two Italians and an MLA. Only a handful of the prisoners were released in exchange. In Chhattisgarh too, with pressure on the Maoists increasing even from their known apologists, it is quite possible that the abducted collector too would be released without the state having to concede too much. Just like the tunes of Ram Dhun marked the release of the MLA in Odisha attempting to depict a peaceful resolution of the episode, Chhattisgarh too would find reason to boast about its methods of negotiating differently. So does it mean that it’s back to normal till one more high-profile abduction takes place? Or do the states have to introspect what these episodes have cost them?

The Decline of Pan-Indian Identity and the Development of Tamil Cultural Separatism in Singapore, 1856-1965

by John Solomon

Published in South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 35:2, 257-281

This paper explores the rise and fall of pan-Indianism as the dominant identity narrative amongst the Indian diaspora... more This paper explores the rise and fall of pan-Indianism as the dominant identity narrative amongst the Indian diaspora in Singapore in the mid twentieth century, and its replacement with a normative Indian identity based primarily on Tamil culture. It will analyse some of the reasons why a Tamil cultural separatism came to dominate negotiations of ethnic identity in early post-war Singapore. This will include an examination of colonial ethnographic representations, the effects of demographic trends in Indian migration to Malaya during the colonial period, transnational political linkages between Singapore and India, and the effects of the Japanese occupation on Indian identity during World War II. The paper will also focus on the growth of the Tamil reform movement and the ways in which it came to shape the framing of Tamil ethnic identity in Singapore.

A simulation of the Neolithic transition in the Indus valley

by Aurangzeb Khan

"1110.1091v3.pdf" is the final accepted version.

A Diplomatic Surge in Afghanistan, 2011-2014

by Daryl Morini

Published in 'Strategic Studies Quarterly', Winter 2010: 68-100.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states and their coalition partners—encompassing some 40... more The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states and their coalition partners—encompassing some 40 democracies—are not the only players with high stakes in the current war for Afghanistan. Influential players such as Russia, Pakistan, Iran, India, and China all have legitimate interests.1 Without a commensurate multilateral diplomatic surge, efforts toward lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan will most likely fail. But the potential of international cooperation in facilitating a long-term political settlement in that country remains woefully underexploited. Diplomatic cooperation among the main external players, along with coalition forces, will be essential to success in the Afghan campaign. Only by tapping into the global convergence of interests in Afghanistan can the United States and its NATO–ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) partners hope for a political victory or, at the very least, an international environment conducive to the conflict’s peaceful resolution.

Daniel Libeskind in Singapore: Reflections on Reflections at Keppel Bay (in Italian)

by Denis Bocquet

Published in: Il Giornale dell'Architettura, 2012, n.105, p.12

On the occasion of the opening of the Reflections at Keppel Bay (architect Daniel Libeskind) gated community in... more On the occasion of the opening of the Reflections at Keppel Bay (architect Daniel Libeskind) gated community in Singapore, a reflection on the urban transformations at work in the city-State


Key words: Singapore, Architecture, Urban Planning, Daniel Libeskind, Keppel Bay, Keppel Group, Vivocity, harbour, cruise, casino, resort, tourism, gated communities, urbanity, Bishan Park, Dreisetl, PUB, Public Utilities Board, ABC Waters, Active, Beautyful, Clean, Ballang River, CH2M Hill Engineering, Emscher Park, Ruhr, nature, city, reverse engineering

Introduction to the Coffee Break Conference

by elisa freschi

General Introduction to the Proceedings of the First Coffee Break Conference, to be published in Rivista di Studi Orientali 84 (2011)

Why do we need a further conference? Is there anything useful in conferences beyond the cerimonial usage of language? Why do we need a further conference? Is there anything useful in conferences beyond the cerimonial usage of language?

India’s toughest contest

by Kate Helen Sullivan

Hope and perseverance drive the enormous number of young Indians with ambitions to work in government. Hope and perseverance drive the enormous number of young Indians with ambitions to work in government.

Looking for Youngistaan

by Kate Helen Sullivan

The eighty-one year old candidate with his own Facebook group symbolises how India’s parties are trying to come to... more The eighty-one year old candidate with his own Facebook group symbolises how India’s parties are trying to come to grips with millions of young voters.

Influence of the history of archaeological thought in South Asia on the understanding of ancient states and empires, including the prevalence of Colonial and Orientalist modes of interpretation.

by Seetal Gahir