UC Spark

Associate Professor Aditya Malik

School of Social and Political Sciences; Anthropology

Fields of Research

  • Hinduism and Hindu Studies
  • Indian Religions
  • Ancient, Medieval and Modern Indian Culture
  • Narrative and Textual Studies
  • Performance and Ritual Studies
  • South Asian Anthropology
  • Indian History
  • Hindi/Sanskrit
  • Religion and Modernity in India

Researcher Summary

Research interests cover pilgrimage, oral traditions, narrative and ritual, social justice, and religion and modernity in South Asia.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Affiliations

Research Service

  • Chair, Teaching and Learning Committee, School of Social and Political Sciences, UC (2011-present)
  • Member of UC College of Arts International Implementation Committee (2011-present)
  • Establishing research linkages between NZSAC and Clusters of Excellence in Germany (2009-present)
  • Establishment of South Asian Studies minor (2009-present)
  • Co-President, Association of University Staff, University of Canterbury. (2008)
  • Establishment of New Zealand South Asia Centre (2008-present)

Publications


Authored Book
  • Malik, A. (2005) Nectar Gaze and Poison Breath: An Analysis and Translation of the Rajasthani Oral Narrative of Devnārāyan. (South Asia Research Series ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. 548 pp.
  • Malik, A. (2003) Śrī Devnārāyan Kathā: An Oral Narrative of Marwar. (South Asia Studies No. XLII ed.). New Delhi: D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd. 406 p.
  • Malik, A. (1993) Das Puskara-Mahatyma. Ein religionswissenschaftlicher Beitrag zum Wallfahrtsbegriff in Indien.. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner.
Edited Book
  • Malik, A., Oddie, G., Bailey, G. and Sweetman, W. (Ed.) (2013) Sage Handbook of Hinduism in Asia. New Delhi: Sage Publications. in press.
  • Brueckner, H., Lutze, L. and Malik, A. (Ed.) (2007) Flags of Fame: Studies in South Asian Folk Culture. (Reprint ed.). Heidelberg/Delhi: South Asia Insititute/Manohar. xii+503pp.
  • Malik, A., Feldhaus, A. and Brückner, H. (Ed.) (2005) In the Company of Gods: Essays in Memory of Günther-Dietz Sontheimer. New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts / Manohar. 409 pp.
  • Brückner, H., Feldhaus, A. and Malik, A. (Ed.) (2004) Günther-Dietz Sontheimer: Essays on Religion, Literature and Law. New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts/Manohar. 467 pp.
  • Malik, A. (Ed.) (2003) Śrī Devnārāyan Kathā: An Oral Narrative of Marwar. New Delhi: D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd.. 408 p.
  • Feldhaus, A., Malik,A. and Brueckner, H. (Ed.) (1997) King of hunters, warriors and shepherds. Essays on Khandoba. (Collected papers of Guenther-Dietz Sontheimer).. Delhi: IGNCA/Manohar Publishers. 353.
  • Brueckner, H., Lutze, L. and Malik, A. (Ed.) (1993) Flags of Fame. Studies in South Asian Folk Culture.. Heidelberg/New Delhi: South Asia Institute/Manohar Publishers.
Chapter in Book
  • Malik, A. (2013) Folk Hinduism: The Middle Ground? In A. Malik, G. Oddie, G. Bailey and W. Sweetman (Ed.), Sage Handbook of Hinduism in Asia: in press (5,500 words). New Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Malik, A. (2013) Identity and violence. In Taylor, A., Connolly, M. (Ed.), Responses to Violence in Society: in press (5,600 words). Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.
  • Malik, A. (2013) Oral traditions. In A. Malik, G. Oddie, G. Bailey and W. Sweetman (Ed.), Sage Handbook of Hinduism in Asia: in press (9,500 words). New Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Malik, A. (2013) The Darbar of Goludev: Possession, Petitions, and Modernity. In W. Sax and H. Basu (Ed.), Law of Possession: in press (11,500 words). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Malik, A. (2011) Bards and Reciters. In K.A. Jacobsen, H. Basu and A. Maliner (Ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Volume 3: Society, Religious Specialists, Religious Traditions, Philosophy: 222-226 (3,200 words). Leiden: Brill.
  • Malik, A. (2011) Is possession really possible? Toward a hermeneutics of transformative embodiment in South Asia. In F. Ferrari (Ed.), Health and Religious Rituals in South Asia: Disease, Possession and Healing: 17-32. London: Routledge.
  • Fuchs, M., Linkenbach, A. and Malik, A. (2010) Bricoleurs of Culture or What does it Mean to be Indian in New Zealand? A View from Christchurch. In S. Bandyopadhyay (Ed.), India in New Zealand: Local Identities, Global Relations: 114-146. Dunedin: Otago University Press.
  • Malik, A. (2010) In the divine court of appeals: Vows before the god of justice. In T. Lubin, D.R. Davis Jr. and J. Krishnan (Ed.), Hinduism and Law: An Introduction: 207-214. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Malik, A. (2010) On the Representation of Presence: The Narrative of Devnārāyan as a Multimedia Performance. In U. Hüsken and C. Brosius (Ed.), Ritual Matters: Dynamic Dimensions in Practice: 369-385. New Delhi: Routledge.
  • Malik, A. (2010) Oral Traditions and Folklore. In K.A. Jacobsen (Ed.), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Vol. 2: 249-266. Leiden: Brill.
  • Malik, A. (2006) Creating Presence: Performing the Oral Narrative of Devnarayan. In H. Brückner, E. Schömbucher and P. Zarrilli (Ed.), The Power of Performance: Actors, Audiences and Observers of Cultural Performance in India: 261-287. Delhi: Manohar Publishers.
  • Malik, A. (2005) Introduction. In A. Malik, A. Feldhaus and H. Brückner (Ed.), In the Company of Gods: Essays in Memory of Günther-Dietz Sontheimer: 9-27. New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts/Manohar.
  • Malik, A. (2005) The Ascending Avatara: Intertextuality in the Narrative of Devnarayan. In A. Malik, A. Feldhaus and H. Brückner (Ed.), In the Company of Gods: Essays in Memory of Günther-Dietz Sontheimer: 127-140. New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts/Manohar.
  • Malik, A. (2004) Religious narratives and the construction of order. In M. Khanna (Ed.), Rta: The cosmic order: 109-124. New Delhi: IGNCA/D.K. Printworld.
  • Malik, A. (2003) Bhopa, Devnarayan, Mela, Sacred Places. In M. Mills, P. Claus and S. Diamond (Ed.), South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia: ?? New York: Routledge.
  • Malik,A. (2002) Devnarayan, Sacred Places, Mela, Bhopo. In Peter J. Claus, Margaret A. Mills, Sarah Daimond (Ed.), South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia New York: Routledge.
  • Malik, A. (2001) Speaking of Indology: Cultural Studies as Communication. In S. Prabhananda (Ed.), Max Müller and His Contemporaries: 179-190. Kolkatta: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.
  • Malik, A. (2001) The ambivalence of power: Representations of women in the oral epic of Devnarayan. In Molly Kaushal (Ed.), Chanted Narratives: The living 'Katha-Vachana' Tradition: 151-62. New Delhi: IGNCA/D.K. Printworld.
  • Malik,A. (1999) Megaliths and memorial stones in South Asia: Ethnoarchaeological perspectives. In K.W.Beinhauer, G.Cooney et al (Ed.), The megalithic phenomenon: Current research and ethnoarchaeological perspectives: 251--262. Weissbach: Beier und Beran.
  • Malik,A. (1999) Powers of the timid: Humour in the Rajasthani oral epic of Devnarayan. In Christina Oesterheld, Claus Peter Zoller (Ed.), Of clowns and gods, Brahmans and Babus: Humour in South Asian Literature: 157--168. Delhi: Manohar Publishers.
  • Malik,A. (1999) Stringing a necklace of heads: Sacrifice and death in the cult of Devnarayan. In Elisabeth Schoembucher, Claus Peter Zoller (Ed.), Ways of dying: Death and its meanings in South Asia: 233--248. Delhi: Manohar Publishers.
  • Malik,A. (1997) Hinduism or: Three-thousand-three-hundred-and-six ways to invoke a construct.. In G.D. Sontheimer and Hermann Kulke (Ed.), Hinduism Reconsidered (2nd revised edition ed.): 10--31. Delhi: Manohar Publishers.
Journal Article
  • Malik, A. (2000) Review of Hindu Festivals in a North Indian Village by Stanley Freed, Ruth Freed. Anthropos Sept. 2000
  • Malik, A. (2000) Wozu indologische Forschung in der Gegenwart? Kulturwissenschaft als Kommunikation. Indien in der Gegenwart V(1-2): 63-79.
  • Malik,A. (1999) Review of: Alltagskulturen in Indien, Emmer, G., Muekler, H. (eds.).. Anthropos March 1999
Conference Contribution - Full conference paper
  • Malik, A. (2010) Embodying justice: Healing, ritual and narrative in the 'court' of Goludev. Toronto, Canada: XXth World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions, Aug 2010.
  • Malik, A. (2010) Hammira or the (re-)writing of history and religion in western India.. Toronto, Canada: XXth World Congress of International Association for the History of Religions, 15-21 Aug 2010.
  • Malik, A. (2009) Embodiment, Memory and Justice: Reflections on Ritual and Narrative in the Darbar of Goludev. University of Muenster, Germany: International Workshop: Law of Possession, 1-3 May 2009.
  • Malik, A. (2009) Identity beyond Citizenship? Historical and philosophical reflections on trans-national and trans-cultural identity from South Asia. Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand: 18th New Zealand Asian Studies Society International Conference 2009, 6-8 Jul 2009.
  • Malik, A. (2008) Transforming cultural performances through new media: The Devnarayan ritual performance as a DVD. University of Heidelberg, Germany: Staging Religion: Traditional Performances in New Public Spheres and Media, 3 Oct 2008.
  • Malik, A. (2006) Believing in Spirits: Notes toward a hermeneutics of possession in South Asia. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: 31st Annual ASAANZ Conference: Bracketing (Belief), 9-11 Nov 2006.
  • Malik, A. (2006) On the representation of presence: Multimedia performances and interactive CD-ROMs. New Delhi, India: Symposium on Change and Stability in Rituals, 11-14 Oct 2006.
  • Malik, A. (2005) On Hammira-Mahakavya of Nayachand Suri. Institute for Advanced Studies, Hebrew University: Summer Academy in Regional Sanskrit Literatures, 3-29 Jul 2005.
  • Malik, A. (2004) Reading Hammira. Hebrew University, Jerusalem: Regional Sanskrit Literatures, Jul 2004.
Oral Presentation
  • Malik, A. (2012) Many Stories - Many Worlds: Oral Narratives and Cultural Communication in India. University of Delhi, India: Public Lecture, 7 Nov 2012.
  • Malik, A. (2011) On the Possibility of Alterity: Ritual and Possession in the Central Himalayas. Brown University, RI, USA: Lecture Series on Religions of South Asia, 7 Feb 2011.
  • Malik, A. (2009) Religion, Violence and the (Im)possibility of Peace. India International Centre, New Delhi, India: 19 Dec 2009.
  • Malik, A. (2008) Dancing the body of God: Tales of justice and rituals of embodiment from the Central Himalayas. Institute for South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies, University of Vienna, Austria: 20 May 2008.
  • Malik, A. (2000) Wozu indologische Forschung in der Gegenwart? Kulturwissenchaft als Kommunikation [Inaugural lecture]. University of Heidleberg, Germany: Faculty of Oriental and Classical Studies.
  • Malik,A. (1999) (1999). "Creating presence: Dialogue in the verbal and visual performance of Devnarayan". University of Delhi, India: School of Sociology..
Exhibition
  • Malik, A. (2010) Myth, Meaning, Interpretation, for The Chained Lady, the Microscope and the Southern Fish, curated by Tessa Giblin. SOFA Gallery, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 21 May-4 Jul 2010. [Essay in catalogue].
  • Malik, A. and Buckingham, J.M. (2004) Gandhi: A photographic exhibition. Otago, Pataka, Whangarei, 6 Dec 2003-8 Feb 2004; 14 Feb-2 May 2004; 30 Aug-24 Oct 2004. [Black and White Photographs].
Other
  • Malik, A. (2013) Varkaris. In Oxford Bibliographies Online: Hinduism(in press) . New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Malik, A. (2013) Vernacular oral epics. In Oxford Bibliographies Online: Hinduism(in press) New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Malik, A. (2006) Adityas; Bairagi; Bhairava; Bhima; Dashanami; Gayatri; Indra; Kalpa; Kapalika; Kshatriya; Mahatmya; Narasimha; Narayana; Pandavas; Pitha; Prajapati; Ramananda; Tapas. In Wörterbuch der Religionen Stuttgart: Alfred Kröner Verlag. Encyclopedia Entries.
  • Malik, A. (2000) Hindu Festivals in a North Indian Village (Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History) by S.A. Freed and R.S. Freed. Anthropos 95(2): 592-593. Book Review.
Additional Publications
  • Malik, A. (2011) The Boundaries of Justice: Researching Ritual and Narrative in the Central Himalayas. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: 2nd Annual New Zealand South Asia Centre Research Symposium, 31 Oct 2011.
  • Malik, A. (2002) “Mahabharata”. In: “Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Handwoerterbuch fuer Theologie und Religionswissenschaft”.. Tuebingen: Mohr Siebeck. 682.
  • Malik,A. (1999) Open sytems and cultural complexity. New Delhi, India: International Symposium on Pilgrimage and Complexity, IGNCA, 1999.
  • Malik,A. (1998) (Academic Advisor). (1998). 45 Minute documentary television film on the pilgrimage center of Pushkar. Produced by German national channels ARD and SWF3..