Biography:Meera Nanda
Meera Nanda | |
|---|---|
| Born | India |
| Occupation | Writer, academic |
Meera Nanda (born 1954) is an Indian writer and historian of science,[1] who has authored several works critiquing the influence of Hindutva, postcolonialism and postmodernism on science, and the flourishing of pseudoscience and vedic science. In 2019–2020, she was a Guest Faculty in Humanities and Social Sciences at IISER Pune.[2][3] In 2023 she became a fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.[4]
Life and career
Nanda was educated in science and philosophy with a PhD in biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and a PhD in science studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[5][6]
She was a John Templeton Foundation Fellow in Religion and Science (2005–2007).[1][7] In January 2009, she was a Fellow at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute for Advanced Study, in the Jawaharlal Nehru University for research in Science, Post-Modernism and Culture.[8] She was also a visiting faculty of history and philosophy of science at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali from 2010 to 15 May 2017. She was a visiting faculty member of the department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IISER Pune[9] in 2019 and 2020.
Religion and Hindu nationalism
Nanda has authored several works on religion, most notably Prophets Facing Backward: Postmodern Critiques of Science and Hindu Nationalism in India (2004),[10] and her 2009 book The God Market which examined how India is experiencing a rising tide of popular Hinduism, including government financing of Hinduism despite the nation's secular characteristic. The book was reviewed by William Dalrymple in Outlook Magazine.[11][12]
Works
- Postmodernism and Religious Fundamentalism: A Scientific Rebuttal To Hindu Science. New Delhi: Navayana. 2000. ISBN:81-89059-02-5
- Breaking the Spell of Dharma and Other Essays. New Delhi: Three Essays Collective, 2002. ISBN:81-88394-09-2.
- Prophets Facing Backward: Postmodern Critiques of Science and the Hindu Nationalism in India. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2004. ISBN:81-7824-090-4. Excerpts
- Wrongs of the Religious Right: Reflections on secularism, science and Hindutva. New Delhi: Three Essays Collective, 2005. ISBN:81-88789-30-5
- The God Market. Random House, 2010. ISBN:81-8400-095-2.
- Ayurveda Today : A Critical Look, with C. Viswanathan. Penguin, 2010. ISBN:9780143065128.
- Science in Saffron: Skeptical Essays on History of Science. New Delhi: Three Essays Collective, 2016. ISBN:978-93-83968-08-4.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Meera Nanda Profile Three Essays.
- ↑ "Intolerance unplugged" (in en). 2016-09-28. https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/intolerance-unplugged/article23594971.ece.
- ↑ "Meera Nanda – The Wire Science" (in en-GB). https://science.thewire.in/author/meera-nanda/.
- ↑ "Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Elects Twelve New CSI Fellows". Center for Inquiry. https://centerforinquiry.org/news/committee-for-skeptical-inquiry-elects-twelve-new-csi-fellows/.
- ↑ Reception of Darwinism in India (A talk by Professor Meera Nanda) , Indian Institute of Science
- ↑ "Mukto-Mona Writers' Corner - Meera Nanda". http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?author=38.
- ↑ Ranjit Hoskote (21 November 2006). "In defence of secularism". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/br/2006/11/21/stories/2006112100521400.htm.
- ↑ List of scholars invited to JNIAS JNIAS Jawaharlal Nehru University website.
- ↑ "IISER Pune". http://www.iiserpune.ac.in/people/faculty-details/194.
- ↑ Ranjit Hoskote (3 May 2005). "Book Review: Paradigm shift". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/br/2005/05/03/stories/2005050300281600.htm.
- ↑ William Dalrymple (18 January 2010). "Review: The Glitter in The Godliness". Outlook. http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?263657. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ↑ "Books: A market for holy men: How globalization has had an impact on Hinduism and our public sphere". Mint. 21 August 2009. http://www.livemint.com/2009/08/21210545/A-market-for-holy-men.html?h=B.
- ↑ Nanda, Meera (16 September 2016), "Hindutva's science envy", Frontline, http://www.frontline.in/science-and-technology/hindutvas-science-envy/article9049883.ece, retrieved 14 October 2016
Further reading
- Society/Essays: Sangh Parivar, The Pizza-Maker, (2003) Outlook
- ESSAY: Postmodernism, Hindu nationalism and `Vedic science' (2003) Part 1 and Part 2, Frontline
- PERSPECTIVE: Is India a science superpower? (2005)[Usurped!] Frontline
- DEBATE: Vedic creationism in America. (2006) Frontline
- Book Review: "The God Market: How Globalization is making India more Hindu" (2010)
- Hindutva's science envy, Frontline September 16, 2016
External links
- Science in Saffron, publisher's page.
- Science in Saffron at researchgate.net.
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