SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK

---

Second European PhD Seminar on South Asian Studies in Ghent

Programme for the seminar

The Second European PhD Seminar on South Asian Studies was arranged by the Conflict Research Group (CRG) at Ghent University in Belgium on 19–20 September 2008. Thirteen work-in-progress/research-papers were presented by doctoral students from six European universities: Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Ghent, Heidelberg, Oslo, and Paris. The participants are seen on the photo.

The papers dealt with:

• Agrarian Change in Nepal,
• Beedi Commodity Chain in Tribal Telangana
• BJP and Indian Security
• Communal Violence in Gujarat
• Disease Goddesses in Maharashtra
• Eradication of Superstition in Maharastra
• Hindu Nationalist Conceptions of History
• Land Dispute in Assam
• Mishing Tribe in the Brahmaputra River Floodplain
• Nepalese Maoists
• Reproductive Health Behaviour of Muslim Women
• Sardar Sarovar Project Plan and
• World View of Pariayar Christians

The papers were commented upon by Andrea Nightingale from University of Edinburgh, Koen Vlassenroot from Ghent University/CRG, Mario Rutten from University of Amsterdam/ASSR), Stig Toft Madsen from the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) in Copenhagen, William Sax from University of Heidelberg, and indeed by all and sundry present. 

Nel Vandekerckhove arranged a walk through the historical city introducing newcomers to pertinent aspects of its past and present. As Mario Rutten remarked, the links that doctoral students forge during such outings and encounters are likely to last. Thus, the seminar will be repeated in another part of Europe next year with new participants.

Stig Toft Madsen