Talks/Lectures
2020. Talk on "The Multiple Cultural Worlds of Raja Ravi Varma," South Asian Arts Council, San Diego Musuem of Arts.
2019. Panelist at Hansen Summer Institute on Religion in America. University of San Diego.
2018. Panelist at Hansen Summer Institute on Religion in America. University of San Diego.
Spring 2018. Guest Lecture on Peace and Non-violence in Hinduism at Dept. of Peace Studies University of San Diego, San Diego. Instructor: Prof. William Headley.
Fall 2017. Guest Lecture for course on English Literature. “On Romanticism.” Dept. of English, Jain University, India.
2017. Panelist at Hansen Summer Institute on Religion in America. University of San Diego.
15. 7. 2016. Panelist at Hansen Summer Institute on Religion in America. University of San Diego.
29. 3. 2016. Lecture on Peace and Non-violence in Hinduism at Joan Kroc Center of Peace Studies, University of San Diego.
30. 6. 2015. Lecture on Hinduism and Atheism at Atheist Coalition of San Diego, San Diego.
11. 3. 2014. Lecture for course, Ethics and Leadership: A Multicultural Approach. Instructor: Prof. Mark Wheeler, San Diego State University, San Diego.
Title: “Non-normative ethics, women and leadership in India.”
26. 3. 2014. Lecture for course on Hinduism, Instructor: Dr. Veena Howard, University of San Diego, San Diego.
Title: “Bhakti, between 8th to 12th century and in the Epics and Puranas.”
27.9. 2013. Lecture for World Religions course, University of San Diego, San Diego. Course Instructor: Prof. Karma Lekshe Tsomo.
Title: "On Molloy's India: Some Preliminary Thoughts."
26.3.2013. Lecture for course, Religious Violence and non-Violence, San Diego State University, San Diego. Course Instructor: Prof. Khaleel Mohammed.
Title: "Violence and Non-violence in Hinduism."
16.10.2012. Lecture for course, Religious Violence and non-Violence, San Diego State University, San Diego. Course Instructor: Prof. Khaleel Mohammed.
Title: "Violence and Non-violence in Hinduism."
2.5.2012. Lecture at National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), IISc, Bangalore.
Title: “Is Akka Mahadevi a feminist?: Re-conceptualizing the act of a feminist reading in the context of the Indian traditions.”
Abstract: It will be argued that theorizations of the 'subject' within the Indian traditions are to a great extent inadequate and need substantial reworkings. Feminist works, especially, seem to produce reductive readings of the Indian traditions time and again, guided as it were by political interests of the present. This can be demonstrated through feminist readings of Akka Mahadevi's vachanas, or even texts like the Manusmriti.
But feminism per se does not suffer from either intellectual incapacity or methodological simplicity at all. In fact, feminism's sharp and incisive critiques have enlightened many a subject matter and can open up many topics in the Indian traditions too, anew.
Then how and why have reductive readings of Indian traditions emerged and why do they persist? And how do we re-conceptualize the role of feminism in India today? Can we envisage a dialogue between feminism and the Indian traditions without imposing the categories of one upon the other? These are some of the questions that the talk will address.
30. 11. 2010. Lecture at Hengasara Hakkina Sangha (http://www.hhsonline.org/).
Title: The Indian intellectual traditions and Feminist epistemology.
2007. Concluding Remarks presented at Streevaadi Samshodhana Vidhanagalu Kammata (Workshop on Feminist Methodologies), Department of Women’s Studies, Kannada University, Hampi.
24.7.2006. Speaker at the Book Release function of the translation of Avadheshwari by P P Giridhar, organized by Centre for Human Development Studies, Mysore at Dhwanyaloka, Mysore.
Title: "Violence and Non-violence in Hinduism."
16.10.2012. Lecture for course, Religious Violence and non-Violence, San Diego State University, San Diego. Course Instructor: Prof. Khaleel Mohammed.
Title: "Violence and Non-violence in Hinduism."
2.5.2012. Lecture at National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), IISc, Bangalore.
Title: “Is Akka Mahadevi a feminist?: Re-conceptualizing the act of a feminist reading in the context of the Indian traditions.”
Abstract: It will be argued that theorizations of the 'subject' within the Indian traditions are to a great extent inadequate and need substantial reworkings. Feminist works, especially, seem to produce reductive readings of the Indian traditions time and again, guided as it were by political interests of the present. This can be demonstrated through feminist readings of Akka Mahadevi's vachanas, or even texts like the Manusmriti.
But feminism per se does not suffer from either intellectual incapacity or methodological simplicity at all. In fact, feminism's sharp and incisive critiques have enlightened many a subject matter and can open up many topics in the Indian traditions too, anew.
Then how and why have reductive readings of Indian traditions emerged and why do they persist? And how do we re-conceptualize the role of feminism in India today? Can we envisage a dialogue between feminism and the Indian traditions without imposing the categories of one upon the other? These are some of the questions that the talk will address.
30. 11. 2010. Lecture at Hengasara Hakkina Sangha (http://www.hhsonline.org/).
Title: The Indian intellectual traditions and Feminist epistemology.
2007. Concluding Remarks presented at Streevaadi Samshodhana Vidhanagalu Kammata (Workshop on Feminist Methodologies), Department of Women’s Studies, Kannada University, Hampi.
24.7.2006. Speaker at the Book Release function of the translation of Avadheshwari by P P Giridhar, organized by Centre for Human Development Studies, Mysore at Dhwanyaloka, Mysore.
