Raphaël Rousseleau

Raphaël Rousseleau is a Full Professor in Anthropology of the Indian and Indigenous Worlds at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Lausanne. He is affiliated with the Institute of History and Anthropology of Religions (IHAR) and serves as co-director at the Centre d’Étude de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud (EHESS-CNRS).

• PhD in Social Anthropology from École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris)
• Former ATER (temporary teaching/research position) at EHESS

His research focuses on Adivasi/tribal groups in India, examining political-ritual institutions, tribal arts, and indigenous epistemologies. Current projects include studies on Jagannath deity representations and globalized imaginaries of 'nature religions'. Methodologically, he combines theoretical historiography with fieldwork approaches.

Publications analyze: 1) socio-political implications in Odisha's Jagannath temple origins, 2) Buddhist retreat tourism as self-transformation, 3) adivasi art historiography through Verrier Elwin's work, and 4) didactic potentials of conspiracy theory reception in adolescence. He has co-authored chapters on Central Indian tribal groups and reviewed major works on adivasi identity.

Scientific Awards

• Received a scholarship from Musée du quai Branly for research on Indian tribal art
• Contributed to European Research Council (ERC SOGIP) project on Indigenous Peoples' Rights

As an educator, he teaches 'modern politico-religious processes' and globalized 'nature religion' imaginaries. His supervision includes doctoral researchers on topics ranging from conspiracy theory reception to Buddhist retreat tourism. He collaborates with the FPMT network through fieldwork in Dharamsala's Tushita Meditation Center.