معرفی
David Gellner is Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford, jointly affiliated with the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology and All Souls College. His distinguished career centers on South Asia—particularly Nepal—where he examines the interplay of religion, caste, and political transformation through ethnographic and historical lenses.
His research spans anthropology of South Asia, Buddhist and Hindu traditions, ritual symbolism, and ethnic activism, with current projects focusing on Dalit emancipation, migration-state relations, and post-monarchy political restructuring. Gellner’s work uniquely bridges traditional urbanism studies with contemporary social movements, revealing how religious healers navigate modernity and how caste hierarchies persist amid democratic transitions.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications shows escalating emphasis on Dalit experiences in education, religious hybridity in diaspora communities, and Nepal’s constitutional evolution after monarchy. His scholarship consistently challenges simplistic secularization narratives while documenting grassroots activism reshaping South Asian societies.
Scientific recognition includes:
- Fellow of the British Academy (FBA)
Gellner leads major research initiatives on Nepali social change, securing substantial grants for comparative studies of caste dynamics and religious politics. His mentorship has cultivated a generation of anthropologists specializing in Himalayan societies, though specific student names aren’t publicly cataloged. Collaborative projects with Nepali scholars demonstrate his commitment to decolonizing knowledge production through equitable North-South partnerships.
