2305, 2016

‘The Relevance of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar – Today and Tomorrow’ by Professor David Mosse

By Shreya Sinha|May 23, 2016|Caste, General, India|0 comments

David Mosse is Professor of Social Anthropology and Head of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at SOAS. His research combines interests in the anthropology of development and activism, environmental history and natural resources management, in the anthropology of Christianity, South Asian society and popular religion. Professor David Mosse was invited to give a number of speeches for the celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar in Nagpur on

3003, 2016

SSAI News: Opening of the Everlasting Flame Exhibition at the National Museum, Delhi

By Jennifer Ung Loh|March 30, 2016|Culture, General, India, Religion, SSAI|0 comments

A SOAS Exhibition organized in collaboration with the British Library, National Museum of Iran and UNESCO Parzor Foundation, Delhi The Everlasting Flame Exhibition, which is currently ongoing at the National Museum in New Delhi, was inaugurated on 19 March 2016. The exhibition was originally produced by SOAS, University of London, in 2013. In 2016, to mark SOAS’ centenary year celebrations, the exhibition has been taken to Delhi. Dr. Najma Heptulla, Hon’ble Minister for Minority

0203, 2016

Gurvinder Singh Film Screenings at SSAI by Navtej Purewal

By Jennifer Ung Loh|March 2, 2016|General, India, Media, SSAI|0 comments

On February 4 and 5, 2016, SOAS South Asia Institute was thrilled to host director Gurvinder Singh and screen two of his films: Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan (Alms for the Blind Horse) and Chauthi Koot (The Fourth Direction). In this blog post, Navtej Purewal transcribes some of the post-film discussion between Gurvinder and Derek Malcolm, former Chief Film Critic of the Guardian and director of the London Film Festival, after

2801, 2016

‘Future of the Rural World?’ by Edward Simpson

By Nicole Roughton|January 28, 2016|Development, General, History, India|0 comments

The conference “The Future of the Rural World? Africa and Asia” was hosted by SOAS, University of London during October 2015. The event marked the end of a major project funded by the United Kingdom’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) on “restudying” village India. It also coincided with the launch of an exhibition and film installations at the Brunei Gallery at SOAS, which emerged from the same project. At

2501, 2016

‘Bengal in London’s East End’ by Sanjukta Ghosh

By Jennifer Ung Loh|January 25, 2016|Bangladesh, Culture, General, History, India|0 comments

The celebration of Bengali history in East End conjures up a picture different to how we imagine the community gleaned from the pages of a widely read fiction Monica Ali’s Brick Lane, where the nostalgic memory of Bangladesh’s paddy fields fuses with life’s chores in the East End. Amidst the iconic curry houses marking out the generation of food entrepreneurship and labour of Britain’s Bangladeshi community, the streets near the

2001, 2016

‘London and Us’ by Subir Sinha

By Jennifer Ung Loh|January 20, 2016|General, India, Media, Politics|0 comments

Shashi Tharoor’s recent op-ed for The Guardian, where he charged PM Modi with damaging India’s reputation worldwide by waging a ‘war on Muslims’ and on tolerance, was slammed by Modi’s fans, accusing him of tarnishing India’s image, and of a PM who works tirelessly to lift India to a position of prosperity and world leadership. To them it amounted to washing the national dirty laundry in the land of the

2001, 2016

‘Why Development Defines India’s Elections Today’ by Subir Sinha

By Jennifer Ung Loh|January 20, 2016|Development, Elections, General, India|0 comments

This article first appeared on the Development Studies at SOAS blog, on 6 December 2015. Please click here to view the original article. Social science wisdom has long held that Indian elections are determined by ‘primoridial’ collective identities of caste, religion and region. Certainly, all political parties combine these elements in their election calculus, from the choice of candidate to election promises, campaign speeches and historical references which signal to the electorate who

0712, 2015

Panel Discussion with SOAS academics: ‘Assessing Modi’s Track Record Eighteen Months On’

By Jennifer Ung Loh|December 7, 2015|Development, Gender, General, India, Politics, SSAI|0 comments

On 19 November 2015, following Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK, the SOAS South Asia Institute hosted a panel discussion featuring SOAS academics whose own social science research engages with the changes of the new Modi era. The panel was an opportunity to assess Modi’s policies to date and the impacts they have had upon a range of different sectors and aspects of society in contemporary India. Please click on the titles

1911, 2015

“Creating a sustainable relationship in the field of education” by Michael Hutt

By Jennifer Ung Loh|November 19, 2015|Education, General, India, SSAI|0 comments

At the British Council’s India Forum on 27 October the Director of the SOAS South Asia Institute, Professor Michael Hutt, was asked to give his thoughts on how the UK can achieve a ‘sustainable relationship’ with India for 2050 in the field of education. Here is the text of his presentation. ————————————————————————————— 2050 is a generation away. I will use my three minutes to paint a best case scenario for

3009, 2015

“Attending the Kumbh Mela at Nasik: some reflections from a SOAS mahant” by James Mallinson

By Nicole Roughton|September 30, 2015|Culture, General, India, Religion|0 comments

I’ve just returned from the Kumbh Melā at Nasik, the first since that at Allahabad in February 2013 at which I was made a mahant (a cross between an abbot and a brigadier) of the Ramanandi religious order. The ceremony was recorded in the documentary film ‘West Meets East’, which finally got a UK airing on BBC4 on 9th September this year (available on the BBC iPlayer).