Sai Bhatawadekar

Dr. Sai Bhatawadekar is a Professor in the Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures at the University of Hawaii, and a Graduate Faculty member in Theatre and Dance, Asian Studies, and Philosophy. She holds a Ph.D. in German-Indian Comparative Philosophy and an M.A. in German Film Studies.

• Doctor of Philosophy in German-Indian Comparative Philosophy
• Master in German Film Studies

Her research integrates language pedagogy, creative project-based learning (e.g., digital storytelling, poetry, and short films), and interdisciplinary arts. She specializes in Hindi-Urdu and German language education, Weimar/New German Cinema analysis, and transnational Bollywood studies. Her philosophical work focuses on German-Indian comparative studies, decolonial methodologies, and the interpretation of Hinduism by Hegel and Schopenhauer. She has directed award-winning theatrical productions like A Midsummer Night’s Bollywood Dream and choreographed RRegh, which gained national recognition.

Key grants include a $127,000 Department of Education Grant (2023–25) for digital storytelling and a $97,520 Templeton Foundation Grant (2014) for cross-cultural philosophy research. Her creative and scholarly work has earned prestigious awards, including the Board of Regents Medal and Kennedy Center’s Meritorious Achievement Award.

She advises interdisciplinary projects across departments and collaborates on public humanities initiatives, blending scholarly research with creative performance. Her work emphasizes global cultural dynamics and the intersection of art, language, and philosophy.