معرفی
Prof. Dr. Karin Polit is a full professor and head of the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Asia-Orient-Institut, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen. She has been in this position since April 2018 and is actively involved in research, teaching, and academic supervision. Her work is deeply rooted in ethnographic fieldwork in South Asia, particularly India.
Education:
- B.A. in Anthropology, James Cook University, Australia (1998)
- Magister Artium in Anthropology (2001)
- Promotion (Ph.D.), University of Heidelberg (2006), topic: 'Ethnographic Reflections on Practices of Gender and Agency among Dalit Women in the Central Himalayas'
- Habilitation and Venia Legendi in Anthropology, University of Heidelberg (2015)
Her research focuses on ritual, performance, gender, caste, medical anthropology, youth culture, and cultural heritage. She explores how global and local inequalities shape education, art, and resistance, with special attention to mental health, reproductive loss, and media in New Delhi and the Himalayas. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates ethnography, film, and sensory studies.
The recent publications reflect a strong trend in ritual dynamics, embodiment, heritage politics, and youth agency in South Asia. Her work often examines how tradition and modernity intersect in religious festivals, political contexts, and personal identity. She frequently collaborates with scholars such as Prof. Gabriele Alex and Christiane Brosius.
Scientific Awards and Recognitions:
- Venia Legendi Award, University of Heidelberg (2015)
- Margarete von Wrangell Fellow, South Asia Institute (2014–2018)
- Fellow, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study, JNU, New Delhi (2012–2013)
- Baden-Württemberg Certificate for University Didactics (since 2012)
Prof. Polit has supervised numerous Master’s and PhD students, including Pallabi Roy and Gaurav Lamichhane, and has led research projects funded by the DFG and international networks like AROGYAM. She has also contributed to academic service through editorial roles and guest professorships at institutions in Germany, India, and the Netherlands. Her audiovisual work, including ethnographic films, enhances public engagement with anthropological knowledge.
She leads the department's research on South Asian societies and continues to expand collaborative networks across Europe and South Asia.
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