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Faculty Profile

MEERA BAINDUR

Associate Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences
International Relations Co-ordinator, TAPMI, B’Lru
Additional responsibilities: Co-Coordinator MAHE Research Centre, DWEEPA 

Area:

Humanities and Social Sciences: Philosophy, Environmental Humanities, Anthropology, and  Cultural Geography

Edu: 

B.Sc. (Environmental Science, Chemistry, Zoology) St Joseph’s College (Bangalore University,)With additional College Honors credit programs in 1. Communication and Interpersonal Relationship2. Applied Botany-Bio control of Parthenium Weed

PG

Masters (Psychology), Faculty of Education, Annamalai University, DDE, Annamalainagar, India.

PhD

PhD (Philosophy) from Manipal Academy of Higher Education through the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore

Date of Joining:

 

Extn number |

Biography

    Career Journey (Industry and Teaching experience)

  • December 6, 2023 Onwards, Associate Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, T A Pai Management Institute, Bengaluru, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
  • 2022 April- Dec 1, 2023: Associate Professor and Program Head, India Studies School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, RV University, Bangalore.

    • Additional responsibilities:

  • Director, Centre for Languages and Translation
  • Member International Collaboration committee
  • Curriculum review committee
  • 2021 – onwards: Pool of Experts member and Faculty instructor for Online course (Part A, B, C: Religious Studies) Interreligious Cooperation for Peace” for Globethics.net, Geneva, Switzerland. 2023; recognised by the British Accreditation Council.
  • 2020 September – 2022 April: Associate Professor, Philosophy, Department of Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur
  • January 9- March 30, 2020, Consultant, content creator and subject expert, Online course module design and implementation for the course “Interreligious Cooperation for Peace” for GlobalEthics.net, Geneva, Switzerland as subject expert and consultant. (6 modules)
  • May 2018 – August/ September 2020 (Part time position during academic sabbatical) Guest faculty and Coordinator (Honorary), Dept of Philosophy, Bengaluru Central University ( Bengaluru City University)
  • 2018 September – May 2018 Associate Professor, Faculty and Coordinator of Philosophy, Bengaluru Central University.
  • 2016, August – 2018 August: Associate Professor, Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities, MAHE, (Manipal University) Manipal, Karnataka.
  • 2011 August – 2016 August: Assistant Professor, Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities, MAHE, (Manipal University) Manipal, Karnataka.
  • 2010 -2011: Fellow, Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities MAHE, (Manipal University) Manipal, Karnataka.
  • Part time Counselling Consultant and Human Resources Trainer and coach for college students, Ethnus group, 2008-2010
  • 2005-2010 PhD program (full time candidate) National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
  • 1999-2005: Faculty (yoga and cultural studies) and educational consultant, South Asian Centre, Friends World Program of Long Island University, New York (India Centre, Global College).

Teaching

  • Indian Philosophy and Indian Knowledge Systems

  • Environmental Humanities

  • General Philosophy, Ethics and Philosophy of Science

  • Social Sciences and culture

Research

  • Themes in Environmental Humanities:  such as conceptualization of nature in Indian thought, ecological and environmental ethics, religion and environment, sustainability, Cultural geography and place studies, environmental ethics, and sustainability issues and eco-phenomenology,

    Philosophy: research on Indian Knowledge SystemsIndian Philosophy, and decoloniality, textual and oral traditions, art and aesthetics, lived concepts of Indian philosophy, ecofeminism and gender issues.  Applied areas of philosophy such as philosophy of education, philosophy of art and film, and philosophy of language

Publications

    Orcid Id: 0000 0002 1956 5242

    (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1956-5242)

    Scopus Author ID: 52363216300

    Books:

  • Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions, Springer, 2015 (Nonfiction, International)

  •  Sharvay: A Novel, Historical fiction written under pen name “Mansi”, July 2023.  Speaking Tiger Publications.

    • Journal papers and Book Chapters: Significant contributions

  • “Teaching dissent: Epistemic resources from Indian philosophical systems,” Educational Philosophy and Theory, Nov: 2021 {Article in Press} DOI: 10.1080/00131857.2021.1997740
  • “Dialogue as Debate: Interfaith Conversations Based on the Concept of Vāda” The Ecumenical Review, 71: 2019, 706-718.    DOI:10.1111/erev.12474 

  • “Bangalore Lake Story: reflections on the spirit of a place,” Journal of Cultural Geography vol.31 #1, (June 2014), DOI:10.1080/08873631.2013.873296
  • “Humanizing the Feminine Earth: An Ecofeminist Perspective on the Corporeal Nature”. In: Purushottama Bilimoria, Amy Rayner (eds) The Routledge Companion to Indian Ethics: Women, Justice, Bioethics and Ecology, (Published January 22, 2024, by Routledge India)
  • “Let all beings be happy: dignity and prana, the vital force in Indian thought” In: Animal Dignity: Philosophical Reflections on Non-Human Existence, Melanie Challenger (ed.), London, New York, Dublin, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023.
  • “Yoga and Phenomenology”. In: de Warren, N., Toadvine, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Phenomenology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47253-5_424-1

  • “Work, Women, and Landscape in the Himalayas” In Rakhee Bhattacharya, G. Amarjit Sharma (eds) Capital and Ecology: Developmentalism, Subjectivity and the Alternative Life-Worlds, (Published August 28, 2023 by Routledge India)
  • “Relating to Nature: Rendering Nature Visible Through Rituals in South Asia.” In: Sherma, R.D., Bilimoria, P. (eds) Religion and Sustainability: Interreligious Resources, Interdisciplinary Responses. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. 2022.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79301-2_17,
  • “Negotiating Engendered Embodiment in Social and Spiritual Liberation” In Peniel Jesudason Rufus Rajkumar (ed.)  Faith(s) Seeking Justice: Dialogue and Liberation, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2021.
  • Philosophical Education in Traditional and Buddhist Schools of Thought in South Asia. In: Sarangapani P.M., Pappu R. (eds) Handbook of Education Systems in South Asia. Global Education Systems. Springer, Singapore. 2020.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3309-5_8-1

  • “Accommodation, Location, and Context: Conceptualization of Place in Indian Traditions of Thought.” In Philosophies of Place: An Intercultural Conversation, edited by Hershock Peter D. and Ames Roger T., 127-44. HONOLULU: University of Hawai’i Press, 2019.
  • “Devtha-s, dharthi, and the devbhūmi: Practices of Landscape Pilgrimage in the Himalayas,” in Ecocultural Ethics: Critical Essays, Lexington Press 2017.
  • “In-Between Places: The Natural Zoo as a Cultural Place” in Exploring Alterity in a Globalized World edited by Christoph Wulf, New Delhi: Routledge, 2016 (Scopus).

  • “Nature, Body and Woman: An Indian Perspective on Value Dualisms” Science and Narratives of Nature, Sundar Sarukkai, Gordon McOuat, Jobin Kanjirakkat (eds.), New Delhi: Routledge India, 2015, (Scopus)

  •  “A Place in Space: The Practical Implications of Marking Emptiness,” Chapter 20 in Commercial Space Exploration: Ethics, Policy and Governance, Ashgate, 2015 (Scopus).

  •  “Displacing the domestic: The elsewhere of transcendence” in Constructions of Self and Other in Yoga, Travel and Tourism: A Journey to Elsewhere, edited by Lori G. Beaman and Sonia Sikka. Palgrave Macmillan, 2015

Conferences and Workshops

  • “Beings of the Earth: Nature as Experience in Indian Philosophy” Keynote address at the international conference titled “Morethan Human: Non-Western Philosophies and the Environment on 14thand 15th May, 2024 in Antwerp, Belgium, organized by COMPOST collective (Currently NEE), Faculty of Philosophy, Antwerp University

  • “Alternative view of labour as sacred from the teachings of Sharana-s in Indian Philosophy: Dignity and social finance” presented at the New International Financial EconomicArchitecture (NIFEA) consultation on labour, 21-23 August 2023, Kuala Lumpur

  • “Directors as Stars and Star-makers: A Case Study of K. Balachander from Tamil Cinema” paper presented at the conference ” Filmi Chakkar: Stardom” by IIMC, Dhenakanal, 14-16 January 2023

  • “Pedagogic anxieties around The New Education Policy” Conference presentation during two-day national webinar on National Education Policy (NEP), jointly organised by Shillong Commerce College and RV University on 8-9thNovember 2022

  • “Nature as matter of beings and the politics of matter in Indian traditions and thought” Keynote lecture (Online) at SIP-Conference: The Political Dimension of Nature: An Intercultural Critique, June 4-6, 2021 organised by Society for Intercultural Philosophy at Tuebingen University, Germany [online]

  • Speaker and panel member at Faith and Food dialogues, track 5 in conjunction with the UN Food Summit entitled Farm and Food Workers. May 27th, 2021. [online]

  • “Ecological Consciousness and Ethical Action: Perspectives from Indian Philosophy” Keynote address during Mélange 2020: National Seminar on Environment, Literature, Ecology, and Culture, Exploring Ecological and Cultural Consciousness: A Vision of Equitability, 27 February 2020 [ National]

  • “Relating to the Environment: Conceptual interventions in Anthropocene from Indian traditions of thought,” paper presentation at a meeting on Dialogue and Liberation, Nairobi, Kenya 22, 23, 24, November 2019. (International, in Kenya)

  • “Gender, Body and liberation in Hindu traditions,” Paper presented during (International Consultation on Interreligious Dialogue and Liberation Theology, Siam Reap, Cambodia August 21-31, 2018. (International, in Cambodia)

  • “Gendered Ethics of the Body: Voices and Silences in the Therigatha” presentation at international meeting of the APA Pacific Division in special session arranged by the APA Committee on the Status of Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies, Seattle, USA, April 12-16, 2017. (International, in USA)

  • “Understanding Body and sexuality in pre-modern Traditions: the Woman, Man, and Progeny” presentation during the national conference on ‘Women in Indian Knowledge Tradition: Philosophy, Spirituality, Nature and Culture at Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi, February 8-10, 2017. (National)

  • Presentation during international conference: The Culture of Food: Literature & Society, held at MES College, Goa, February 25–27, 2016. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “Accommodation, Location, and Context: Conceptualization of Place in Indian Traditions of Thought,” presentation during the Eleventh East-West Philosopher’s Conference (International) held at East West Philosophy Centre, Hawaii, USA from May 24–31, 2016. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “Soil, Concrete, and Grass: Surface Ecologies of Urban Landscapes,” presentation during a national workshop on Bangalore’s ‘Great Transformation’ held at National Institute of Advanced Studies, from June 24–25, 2016.

  • “From Stamp Paper to Brass Bells: Procedures of Petition and Justice in Goludev’s Territory,” presentation during international conference on Non-State Legal Practices in India, Manipal University December 5-7, 2015. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • Locally Living in a Global World, Virtually,” presentation during the International Summer School on Scientific Objects and Digital Cosmopolitanism held at MCPH from July 20 to 24, 2015. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “Women’s Status through the Ages- Tradition and Modern Ethos” Plenary Lecture delivered during Women as Change makers for a Vibrant Society, national conference organised by department of Social Work, Mangalore University, April 28–29, 2015.

  • “Gendered Ethics: Voices and Silences in Buddhist Texts,” presentation during International Seminar on Contemporary Buddhism: Debates and Applications, organised by Buddhist Studies New Initiatives, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai, March 19– 21, 2015. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “Displacement of Domesticity: Elsewheres of Seeking Transcendence,” Presentation during the international workshop “A Journey to Elsewhere,”organised by Dr. Lori G. Beaman and Dr. Sonia Sikka under the Religion and Diversity Project, University of Ottawa, March 4- 5, 2015. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • Public Lecture on “Nature in Indian Thought: Sacred Narratives and Place” as a part of the International Lectures Series titled: Critical Thinkers in Religion, Law and Social Theory at the University of Ottawa, Canada, March 3, 2015. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “Geography and Place in Jaina Dharma: A Discussion on Jambūdvīpasaṃgrahaṇi,” presentation during the National Workshop on Jaina Dharma in, Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities, Manipal University, February 2–3, 2015.

  • “Devtha-s, dharthi, and the devbhumi: Practices of Ecological Selves in the Himalayas” presentation during international conference, Towards Ecocultural Ethics: Recent Trends and Future Directions organised by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Goa, October 9–11, 2014. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “The Juridical gods of the Himalayan region: A Case Study of Goludevatha” and “Sacred Nature and Divinities: Nature and Religion in contemporary times” lecture presentations during International Summer School on “Transformations of Religion and Culture in India: Views from the Periphery” held in Groningen Netherlands, August 17-24, 2014. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “The Curious Case of Conservation: Biology, Management or a Practical Science?” during the national workshop on Science and Religion, , Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities, Manipal University Karnataka, November 9 –10, 2013.

  • “Mathematics in Ancient India” Presentation for National Workshop on Mathematics and Culture, Ninasam, Heggodu, March, 2013.

  • Discussant in International meeting on Collaborative Anthropology, supported by Princeton University, USA, co-organized by Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities (MCPH) at Manipal, October 28-31, 2012. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “Nature, Body and Woman: An Indian Perspective on Value Dualisms,” during the International Workshop on Sciences and Narratives of Nature: East and West,(co-organized by Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities and Situating Science Strategic Knowledge Cluster of Canada) December 12-14, 2011. [INTERNATIONAL]

  • “Earthed-experiences of Nature: Place and Nature in Indian Vedic and Purānic thought,” paper presentation for Thinking through Nature: Philosophy for an Endangered World, internationalconference organised by the International Association of Environmental Philosophers (IAEP) Eugene, Oregon, June 19-22, 2008. [INTERNATIONAL]

    • Honorary Positions and memberships

  • Net pool of Expert:https://www.globethics.net/

  • Member, Consortium of Environmental Philosophers: www.thinkingintheworld.com

  • Highland Fellow: The Highland Institute, Kohima, Nagalandhttps://highlandinstitute.org/researchfellows/

  • India Delegate, International Philosophy Olympiad: https://www.philosophy-olympiad.org/

Awards

  • Not Applicable

Media Coverage

  • Not Applicable

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