The Hindu Studies Lecture Series is an annual lecture series at Princeton University that takes place every spring semester. It is organized by Dean Vineet Chander at the Office of religious life and co-sponsored by various academic departments each year, such as the M.S. Chadha Center for Global India and the Program in South Asian Studies, and the Religion Department.

Currently, since there isn't a faculty member or a department that specializes in Hindu studies at Princeton University, Dean Vineet Chander started this lecture series in hopes of providing an opportunity for Princeton students and community members to learn about Hinduism or deepen their understanding of the history and practice of the religion through an academic lens. Some goals of the lectures are to foster community among those interested in Hindu Studies on some level, to provide opportunities for intellectual discourse, and to demonstrate that scholars and practitioners can benefit from interacting with one another. While the Hindu Life Program hosts many wisdom talks and presentations throughout the year, this lecture series provides an unique opportunity for scholars to present their academic work–speaking as scholars rather than practitioners of the faith.

The theme of this year’s lecture series was Global Hinduism. Speakers have covered topics such as the origin of Hinduism in Thailand, and the current state of Vivekananda’s Vedanta Society in the United States. The year’s lectures include: 

More Chinese Than Anything: Legitimating a Hindu Tradition in Post-Mao China

Ravana’s Kingdom: The Ramayana from Sri Lankan Perspectives

GODS GO GLOBAL: A Hindu Ganesha in Buddhist Thailand

Arise! Awake! The Past, Present and Possible Future of the Vedanta Societies in America. 

Both emerging scholars and well-established scholars in Hindu Studies are invited to speak at the Hindu Studies Lecture Series at Princeton. Some of the recent speakers include Aditya N. Bhattacharjee, Jeffery Long, and Justin Henry. The lecture series is both a space for the Hindu community on campus and also an opportunity for anyone who is interested in Hinduism around the world to learn about the religion and its history as well as influence in an academic context.

Samosas and chai are provided at each lecture for guests to enjoy while listening to the lecture and to chat over during breaks. At the beginning of each session, Dean Vineet Chander introduces the speaker, their field of interest and academic background. After around 45 minutes of lecture, guests are invited to talk to the speaker and ask any questions they have about the topic. 

To learn more about future lectures, look out for the Hindu Studies Lecture Series schedule and posters on the ORL website or social media and contact Dean Vineet Chander for further inquiry at [email protected].