About
Brian A. Hatcher is the Packard Professor of Theology and a Professor in the Department of Religion at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on modern and contemporary Hinduism, particularly in colonial and postcolonial South Asia, with a specialization in Bengal and Sanskrit learning.
Education:
- PhD, Harvard University (1992)
- MA, Harvard University (1986)
- MDiv, Yale University (1984)
- BA, Carleton College (1980)
Research Interests: Dr. Hatcher explores Hinduism's transformation during colonial periods, focusing on figures like Ishvarchandra Vidyasagar and movements such as the Swaminarayan Sampraday and Brahmo Samaj. His work challenges traditional reform narratives by analyzing religious polities and vernacular modernity. Recent projects include mapping the Dasnami Sampraday's historical influence in Bengal and completing an annotated translation of Vidyasagar's Bahu-bibaho ("Against High-Caste Polygamy").
Awards & Grants:
- Packard Professor of Theology
- American Academy of Religion Individual Research Grant (2020)
- Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship (2006)
- American Philosophical Society Fellowship
Teaching: Courses include 'Modern Hinduism,' 'Religion and Colonialism in South Asia,' and 'Hindu-Christian Studies.'
Key Publications:
- Hinduism Before Reform (Harvard UP, 2020)
- Idioms of Improvement (Primus Books, 2020)
- "Daśanāmī samādhis in West Bengal" (Journal of Hindu Studies, 2021)
