dr pankaj jain

Author, Dharma and Ecology of Hindu Communities

Assistant Professor Dept of Anthropology, Dept of Philosophy and Religion

University of North Texas Tel: (940) 369-6980

pankaj.jain@unt.edu

Dr. Pankaj Jain

Introduction… •  Assistant Professor in the department of Anthropology

and the department of Philosophy & Religion since Aug 2010

•  Also taught at: •  Rutgers, Kean, and New Jersey City University (2007-08)

•  North Carolina State University (2008-10)

•  Degrees •  PhD in Religions and Ecologies of India (Univ of Iowa, 2008)

•  MA in Religions and Cultures of Asia (Columbia, 2003)

•  BS in Computer Science (India, 1992)

•  Born and grew up in India; arrived in New Jersey, USA (1996)

Applied Research & Collaborations •  Fulbright Fellowship to research

Himalayan Cultures and Ecologies in India (2012)

•  Courses on the religions, philosophies, cultures, ecologies, and films of India/Asia

•  Ancient traditions for contemporary issues

•  National Collaborators in Applied Research

•  Scholar in Residence, GreenFaith

•  Affiliate, Pluralism Project, Harvard University

•  Project Director, Hindu American Seva Communities

•  Trustee for the American Institute of India Studies

•  Board Member, DANAM

•  Board member, Society for Hindu Christian Studies

•  India rep for ISEE

Community Engagements •  Presented Nationally:

•  Rutgers University, NJ •  Georgetown University, DC •  Columbia University and New School University, NY •  University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, MS •  University of South Florida, FL •  Florida International University, FL •  University of Toledo, OH •  UT Austin and Texas Christian University, TX •  Duke University and High Point University, NC •  University of Southern California, CA

•  Presented Internationally:

•  Lancaster University (UK) •  Nepal •  IIT, BORI, Andhra University, Univ. of Rajasthan, and IIC (India)

•  Presented Locally:

•  High schools, Radio and TV Stations, Temples, Churches, Yoga Centers, and other Community Centers

Courses (in-reach & out-reach) •  Fall 2013

•  PHIL 6960-001 or ANTH 5700.005: UNT’s first grad course on Asian cultures, more info at: http://www.academia.edu/4247065/1st_Grad_course_on_Asian_Religions_and_Philosophies_at_UNT

•  Past •  Environmental Anthro

• Anthro of Religion

• Visual Anthro of Bollywood

• Hinduism, Sanskrit

•  Jainism, Buddhism

•  Raising The Meta-questions about the “blind-spots” in academia •  Emic = Insider's Perspective; Etic = Outsider's Perspective. Only "emic"

or only "etic" remains incomplete perspective of a culture/philosophy/religion. In India's case, for last more than 2000 years, it has been subjected to both emic and etic perspectives. The Greeks, Jews, Christians, Chinese, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Europeans, and Americans have continued to interact, study, and critique Indian culture in their "etic" ways. Indian leaders, reformers, and philosophers accepted or revised this interaction in their own "emic" ways and thus Indian culture continued to evolve from the Vedas and Upanishads to the Bhagvad Gita to Gandhi to latest surge in Yoga and Meditation based global gurus. No other culture has benefited from such rich emic + etic interactions.

•  Can we raise similar meta-questions for Philosophy/Anthropology in

particular and Euro-American academia in general?

Being Liminal, Beyond Emic/Etic

The book as Inthropology; Emic •  Meta-questions all the way…

•  Dharma and Ecology of Hindu Communities – Ashgate Press, 2011

•  Winner of the 2012 DANAM & 2011 Uberoi Awards

•  Available at: http://iii.library.unt.edu/record=b4022378~S12

•  Current Book Projects: •  Dharma and Science (Routledge)

•  Non-Western Theories for the Study of Philosophy and Anthropology (Bloomsbury)

•  Religion and Community Development (Rowman and Littlefield)

•  Hinduism goes to the Movies: Introduction to Hindu Thought and Practice (Routledge)

Other Publications •  Academic Publications:

•  Religious Studies Review

•  Worldviews: Religion, Culture, Environment

•  Religion Compass

•  Journal of Vaishnava Studies

•  Union Seminary Quarterly Review

•  Journal of Visual Anthropology.

•  “Public/Social/Field/Applied Publications” •  Huffington Post

•  Washington Post’s forum On Faith

•  Times of India’s Speaking Tree

•  Patheos

 All Available at http://unt.academia.edu/PankajJain

Inverse/Inward-Anthropology/

Philosophy

Non-Western Hermeneutics

and Epistemology

Environmental Inthropology/

Philosophy

Projects as Exthropology (Etic)

What other students say…

•  “Pankaj’s knowledge, connections, and enthusiasm have been a great help with my transition into master’s studies and thesis development. The opportunities that have come about through my time at UNT, e.g., my first ever trip to India in the summer 2013, would not have been possible without him. Whenever I have any questions he

tries to answer them and if he doesn’t know right away, he is always prompt in finding an answer. His placement in both the anthropology and philosophy

departments grants him a more holist outlook on anthropology.”

•  More Funding Available for Study Abroad Trip to India in the Summers…more info at www.ISJS.in

Always Online…

pankaj.jain@unt.edu

Skype: PJAIN5NCSU

https://www.facebook.com/DharmaAndEcology

https://twitter.com/pankajaindia

http://unt.academia.edu/PankajJain/