Thomas Blom Hansen (born 22 January 1958 in Frederiksvaerk) is a Danish anthropologist and leading contemporary commentator on religious and political violence in India.
Hansen has a BA in Sociology and an MA in political theory from the University of Aalborg in Denmark. He then did development work in Orissa, India, in the mid-1980s. He became interested in anthropology during a PhD on Indian nationalism in Pune and Mumbai in western India, begun in the late 1980s when he was unexpectedly granted a research visa to study nationalism.[1] He graduated from Roskilde University and his D.Phil. was later made into a book (The Saffron Wave, 1999).
Hansen taught in the multidisciplinary International Development Studies program at Roskilde University until 1999, becoming associate professor. He spent one year as a visiting scholar at the University of Natal (Durban) in 1998–99, where he also began new research. He then became a reader in social anthropology at the University of Edinburgh in late 1999, resigning to become professor of anthropology at Yale University. In 2006, he accepted a chair of religion and society at the University of Amsterdam, where he also served as dean of the International School for Humanities and Social Sciences. Since 2010 he has been the Reliance-Dhirubhai Ambani Professor in South Asian Studies and professor in anthropology at Stanford University. He also serves as director of Stanford's Center for South Asia.[2]
He has two children with his first wife, and is married to an assistant professor at Stanford Sharika Thiranagama, daughter of the Tamil activist Rajini Thiranagama (1954 –1989).[3][4] They have a son and daughter.
Scholarly contributionsedit
Hansen's research in India focused initially on the rise of militant Hindu nationalism. He began a study of its local roots and organization in Pune, one of the historical strongholds of the larger Hindu nationalist movement. Later, he studied the Shiv Sena, a powerful militant movement in Mumbai that played a dominant role in the political and social life for several decades. This was in the early 1990s when violent clashes occurred between Hindu nationalists and Muslims.
In the late 1990s he worked on religious identities, local political organization and informal networks in Bombay/Mumbai (Wages of Violence, 2001).
In the late 1990s and again in 2007 he worked on religious revival and the everyday meanings of freedom and belonging in post-apartheidSouth Africa, based in a formerly Indian township in Durban (Melancholia of Freedom, 2012).
More generally he has contributed to understanding of the anthropology of politics, the postcolonial state and sovereignty, and identity politics in urban environments.
Hansen is part of an international research network entitled "The Religious Lives of Migrants," funded by the Ford Foundation and the Social Science Research Council in New York, which explores religious meanings and institutions among international migrants in Kuala Lumpur, London and Johannesburg.
Recognitionedit
Alexander von Humboldt international Professorship,[5] Germany, 2009. E5 million (declined to join Stanford University).[6]
Selected publicationsedit
Chatterji, A.P., T.B. Hansen, and C. Jaffrelot (eds). 2019.Majoritarian State: How Hindu Nationalism is Changing India. Hurst & Company.
Hansen, T.B. 2012. Melancholia of Freedom. Social Life in an Indian Township in South Africa. Princeton University Press.
Hansen, T.B. and F. Stepputat. 2005. Sovereign Bodies. Citizens, Migrants and states in the postcolonial world. Princeton University Press.
Hansen, T.B. and F. Stepputat. 2001. States of Imagination. Ethnographic Explorations of the Postcolonial State Duke University Press.
Hansen, T.B. 2001. Wages of Violence. Naming and Identity in Postcolonial Bombay. Princeton University Press.
Hansen, T.B. 1999. The Saffron Wave. Democracy and Hindu Nationalism in Modern India. Princeton University Press.
^(PDF). www.stanford.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2013.
^. www.stanford.edu. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013.
^Acknowledgements in Melancholia of Freedom, 2012.
^. www.humboldt-foundation.de. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011.
^(PDF). www.stanford.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2013.
External linksedit
Stanford University Faculty Page
Interview, LSE
March 17, 2024
thomas, blom, hansen, born, january, 1958, frederiksvaerk, danish, anthropologist, leading, contemporary, commentator, religious, political, violence, india, contents, background, scholarly, contributions, recognition, selected, publications, notes, external, . Thomas Blom Hansen born 22 January 1958 in Frederiksvaerk is a Danish anthropologist and leading contemporary commentator on religious and political violence in India Contents 1 Background 2 Scholarly contributions 3 Recognition 4 Selected publications 5 Notes 6 External linksBackground editHansen has a BA in Sociology and an MA in political theory from the University of Aalborg in Denmark He then did development work in Orissa India in the mid 1980s He became interested in anthropology during a PhD on Indian nationalism in Pune and Mumbai in western India begun in the late 1980s when he was unexpectedly granted a research visa to study nationalism 1 He graduated from Roskilde University and his D Phil was later made into a book The Saffron Wave 1999 Hansen taught in the multidisciplinary International Development Studies program at Roskilde University until 1999 becoming associate professor He spent one year as a visiting scholar at the University of Natal Durban in 1998 99 where he also began new research He then became a reader in social anthropology at the University of Edinburgh in late 1999 resigning to become professor of anthropology at Yale University In 2006 he accepted a chair of religion and society at the University of Amsterdam where he also served as dean of the International School for Humanities and Social Sciences Since 2010 he has been the Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani Professor in South Asian Studies and professor in anthropology at Stanford University He also serves as director of Stanford s Center for South Asia 2 He has two children with his first wife and is married to an assistant professor at Stanford Sharika Thiranagama daughter of the Tamil activist Rajini Thiranagama 1954 1989 3 4 They have a son and daughter Scholarly contributions editHansen s research in India focused initially on the rise of militant Hindu nationalism He began a study of its local roots and organization in Pune one of the historical strongholds of the larger Hindu nationalist movement Later he studied the Shiv Sena a powerful militant movement in Mumbai that played a dominant role in the political and social life for several decades This was in the early 1990s when violent clashes occurred between Hindu nationalists and Muslims In the late 1990s he worked on religious identities local political organization and informal networks in Bombay Mumbai Wages of Violence 2001 In the late 1990s and again in 2007 he worked on religious revival and the everyday meanings of freedom and belonging in post apartheid South Africa based in a formerly Indian township in Durban Melancholia of Freedom 2012 More generally he has contributed to understanding of the anthropology of politics the postcolonial state and sovereignty and identity politics in urban environments Hansen is part of an international research network entitled The Religious Lives of Migrants funded by the Ford Foundation and the Social Science Research Council in New York which explores religious meanings and institutions among international migrants in Kuala Lumpur London and Johannesburg Recognition editAlexander von Humboldt international Professorship 5 Germany 2009 E5 million declined to join Stanford University 6 Selected publications editChatterji A P T B Hansen and C Jaffrelot eds 2019 Majoritarian State How Hindu Nationalism is Changing India Hurst amp Company Hansen T B 2012 Melancholia of Freedom Social Life in an Indian Township in South Africa Princeton University Press Hansen T B and F Stepputat 2005 Sovereign Bodies Citizens Migrants and states in the postcolonial world Princeton University Press Hansen T B and F Stepputat 2001 States of Imagination Ethnographic Explorations of the Postcolonial State Duke University Press Hansen T B 2001 Wages of Violence Naming and Identity in Postcolonial Bombay Princeton University Press Hansen T B 1999 The Saffron Wave Democracy and Hindu Nationalism in Modern India Princeton University Press Notes edit Interview LSE Department of Anthropology PDF www stanford edu Archived from the original PDF on 21 June 2013 Thiranagama Sharika Department of Anthropology www stanford edu Archived from the original on 9 May 2013 Acknowledgements in Melancholia of Freedom 2012 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Two Further Humboldt Professors Selected www humboldt foundation de Archived from the original on 30 May 2011 Department of Anthropology PDF www stanford edu Archived from the original PDF on 21 June 2013 External links editStanford University Faculty Page Interview LSE Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Blom Hansen amp oldid 1138905328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
