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Bjarne Wernicke-OlesenView profile

Lecturer

• Study of Religion
• Hindu Studies
• South Asian Religious History
• +11 more

Bjarne Wernicke-Olesen is a Lecturer in the History of Religions and Indic Languages and a Research Lecturer in the History of Religion at the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) and a Member of the Theology and Religion Faculty. His teaching encompasses Sanskrit, Pali, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the theories/methods of Religious Studies. He directs the Śākta Traditions research programme and founded the OCHS Kathmandu Office. Research Focus His interdisciplinary research integrates philology, history, and digital humanities to explore Indian/Himalayan religions. Key themes include: Conceptual models of religious traditions and worldmaking processes Śāktism (goddess worship) and tantra in medieval India/Nepal Asceticism, yoga, and meditation practices Religious historiography and phenomenology of religion Publications Overview His scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on Śāktism, tantric traditions, and Sanskrit literature. Major contributions include critical translations (e.g., Netratantra , Haṭhapradīpikā ), thematic anthologies ( Goddess Traditions in Tantric Hinduism ), pedagogical materials (Sanskrit grammar), and forthcoming comprehensive works ( Oxford History of Hinduism: Śāktism ). His publications frequently intersect with philology, manuscript studies, and medieval religious practices. Projects and Leadership Śākta Traditions Programme : Directs international research on goddess-centered traditions Digital Humanities Initiative : Principal Investigator for DiSc-funded AI models deciphering South Asian manuscripts OCHS Kathmandu Office : Established to facilitate field research in Nepal

Martin Christof-FüchsleView profile

Research Fellow

• Translation Studies
• Cultural Diplomacy
• Modern Indian Literature
• +5 more

Dr. Martin Christof-Füchsle is a Research Fellow and Project Coordinator in the MIDA project at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) in Berlin (2023–2026). Previously, he held a similar role at the Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS), University of Göttingen (2014–2023), and has been affiliated with institutions such as the University of Tübingen and Göttingen’s State and University Library. Research Focus: His work centers on the intersection of ideology, censorship, and cultural diplomacy in the GDR’s publication of translations from modern Indian languages (1963–1990). This includes analyzing political-ideological evaluations of texts, literary aesthetics, and the role of actors like publishers, translators, and cultural functionaries in shaping transnational cultural narratives. Key Publications: His output spans monographs (1997), co-edited volumes (2001, 2020, 2024), and book chapters exploring topics such as GDR-South Asia literary entanglements (2024), German accounts of the Anglo-Mysore Wars (2020), and Dalit literature (1998). His 2024 edited volume Nodes of Translation rethinks modern intellectual histories between India and Germany. Teaching & Collaboration: He has co-convened seminars at the University of Göttingen (2011–2022) and elsewhere, addressing themes like Indo-German cultural entanglements , Dalit literature , and archival research . His work is supported by the German Research Council (DFG) through MIDA, a long-term project involving scholars from Göttingen, Berlin, and ZMO.

Helen CreeseView profile

Associate Professor

• Balinese Literature
• Gender Studies
• Historiography
• +3 more

Honorary Associate Professor Helen Creese, affiliated with the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland, is a leading scholar in Balinese textual traditions, gender studies, and Southeast Asian history. Her work bridges historical and contemporary periods, utilizing primary sources in Indonesian, Balinese, Old Javanese, Dutch, and French. Academic Rank: Associate Professor Contact: h.creese@uq.edu.au Research Interests : Helen Creese specializes in Balinese literary traditions, focusing on texts like kakawin (court poetry) and kidung (epic songs). Her work examines gender roles in precolonial and colonial Bali, particularly through marriage and legal codes. She also investigates the materiality of Balinese script and the evolution of Hindu textual singing competitions. Publication Trends : Her publications span translations of classical Balinese texts, critical editions of colonial-era manuscripts, and gender-focused analyses of literary and legal traditions. Recent work includes studies of scriptural practices in media and their cultural efficacy. Scientific Recognition : Elected Fellow, Australian Academy of Humanities (2007) Editorial roles: Asian Studies Review, Intersections, Indonesia and the Malay World

• Sikhism
• Indian Religions
• Religious Rituals
• +5 more

Kristina Myrvold is an Associate Professor in Religious Studies at Linnaeus University, specializing in Indian religions and cultures with a focus on Sikhism. She works in the Department of Cultural Sciences under the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Her research spans religious beliefs, ritual practices, historiography, and Sikh migration/integration dynamics in the Nordic diaspora. Education: Ph.D. in History of Religions, Lund University (2007) Research Trends examine material culture of religious texts, colonial/postcolonial intersections, and wartime religious practices. She has extensively studied miniature scriptures for Indian soldiers in World War I and ritualized interactions with Guru Granth Sahib. Her work integrates fieldwork in India and Sweden with archival analysis. Project Leadership includes: Religion in the Trenches (Swedish Research Council, 2015–2018) on wartime religious artifacts, and current Iconic Scriptures (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond) and Religion in Times of Crises (Swedish Research Council) projects. Editorial Roles include co-editing Brill's Encyclopedia of Sikhism (2017–2025) and Miniature Books: The Format and Function of Tiny Religious Texts (2019). She has published 4 volumes of Sikh News in India, 1864–1924 (Brill, 2024) analyzing colonial-era Punjabi newspapers.

Ravi GuptaView profile

Professor

• Hinduism
• Sanskrit Literature
• Religious Studies
• +3 more

Ravi M. Gupta holds the Charles Redd Chair of Religious Studies and serves as Professor and Department Head of History at Utah State University. His scholarship focuses on Hindu scriptures, particularly the Bhagavata Purana and its Sanskrit commentaries, with additional expertise in comparative religion and Indian philosophy. His research examines the intersection of text, commentary, and religious practice in Hindu traditions, with special attention to medieval commentary traditions and their contemporary relevance. He has authored or edited four books, including an abridged translation of the Bhagavata Purana published by Columbia University Press. Professor Gupta has received a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship and two research fellowships at Oxford University. He is a Permanent Research Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and past president of the Society for Hindu Christian Studies.

• Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Intercultural Training
• Indian Psychology
• +6 more

Professor Dharm P.S. Bhawuk holds the rank of Professor of Management and Culture and Community Psychology at the Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His academic career spans over three decades with a focus on intercultural relations, indigenous psychology, and organizational behavior. He earned a PhD in Psychology from the University of Illinois (1995), an MBA from the University of Hawaiʻi (1985), and a BA from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (1979). His research integrates Indian philosophical traditions with modern management theory, exploring constructs like *adhyātma* (spirituality), *lajjā* (shame), and *lokasaṃgraha* (social responsibility). He has authored/edited 20+ books including the award-winning *Cambridge Handbook of Intercultural Training* (2020) and *Indigenous Indian Management* (2022). His work appears in journals like *Psychology and Developing Societies*, *International Journal of Intercultural Relations*, and *Theory and Psychology*. Bhawuk's honors include the William Gudykunst Outstanding Book Award (2021), Rupe Chilsom Award (2009), and multiple fellowships. He serves on advisory boards for institutions like CBCS (Xavier Institute of Social Service) and holds honorary professorships at Shanghai International Studies University (China) and Sri Sri University (India). His current research emphasizes applying Vedic principles to modern leadership challenges and fostering intercultural dialogue across global contexts. Professional affiliations include leadership roles in the International Academy of Intercultural Research and editorial contributions to major encyclopedias like the *International Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication*. His teaching focuses on cross-cultural management, intercultural training design, and ethical leadership frameworks.

• History of Religions
• Hinduism
• Tantric Traditions
• +2 more

Dr. Beyza Aybike Deveci is a Research Assistant at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Sciences, Faculty of Theology, Kastamonu University (Turkey). Holding a PhD in History of Religions from Ankara University (2018), she also earned dual master's degrees in Indology (2016) and History of Religions (2017), along with a BA in Theology (2011) and Eastern Languages (2015). Research Focus: Tantric traditions in Hinduism, goddess worship, religious symbolism, cross-cultural comparisons between Western and Eastern religious practices Key Contributions: Expertise in analyzing Tantric rituals, historical reception of Tantra in Turkey, and mythological interpretations in Hindu texts Her publications span journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings examining Tantric elements in Hindu festivals, goddess cults, and scriptural interpretations. Recent work explores the eroticization of Tantra in international scholarship and its cultural reception in Turkey. She contributes as an editor to international academic volumes and serves on the editorial board of national journals like Dini Araştırmalar and Doğu Dilleri Dergisi .

Gábor KósaView profile

Professor

• Manichaeism in China
• Buddhist Studies
• Taoist Philosophy
• +4 more

Gábor Kósa is a Professor at the Institute of East Asian Studies under Eötvös Loránd University , with a focus on Chinese Studies. His academic work bridges religious studies, philosophy, and historical analysis of ancient and medieval China. Research Interests : Manichaeism in China, Buddhist texts, Taoist philosophy, shamanism, and comparative religion. Publications : His recent research explores Manichaean cosmology, Buddhist influences on Manichaean hymnscrolls, and interdisciplinary connections between medical challenges and historical texts.