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ILCAA Joint Research Project

Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia (jrp000245)

Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia

Keywords

  • South Asia
  • Ethnography
  • Muslim
  • Hinduism
  • Colonialism

Areas

  • South Asia

Website

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About the Project

Project term: April, 2018–March, 2021

This joint research project aims to reconsider developments in the theory and methodology of ethnographic studies of South Asian anthropology since the British colonial period, and tries to advance our views and understanding of the cultures and societies of South Asia by reflecting on the various ethnographic works on village societies since the 1950s, and acknowledge its importance and relevance to various fields of South Asian studies for a better understanding of current issues.
The first phase, entitled Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia, will reconsider ethnographic works about Muslim societies, in particular by revisiting an ethnography written by the late Japanese anthropologist Tadahiko Hara (1934-1990), a former professor at the Institute of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, who conducted fieldwork in a Muslim village in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh), and submitted his PhD thesis to Australian National University in 1967. Revisiting his ethnography after 50 years will enable us to examine the various continuities and changes of rural society in Bengal as well as to review the developments of anthropological perspectives of ethnographic studies.

Masahiko TOGAWA, Project Coordinator (Professor, ILCAA)

Members

Coordinator

  • Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)

ILCAA Staff

  • Ryoko NISHII
  • Satoshi OGURA

Joint Researchers

  • Chihiro KOISO
  • Sachiyo KOMAKI
  • Kazuyo MINAMIDE
  • Sumie NAKATANI
  • Tetsuya NAKATANI
  • Toshiki SHIBUYA
  • Ai SUGIE
  • Kenichi TACHIBANA
  • Mineo TAKADA
  • Akio TANABE
  • Masakazu TANAKA
  • Yumiko TOKITA-TANABE
  • Yuko YAGI
  • Abhijit DASGUPTA
  • Ranjan SAHA PARTHA

Outputs

Meetings

Exploring the Potentials of Ontological Ethnographies of Himalayan South Asia/ The 9th meeting

  • Date/Time: Sat 27 Feb 2021 9:30–13:00
  • Venue: Online meeting
  • Language: Japanese
  • Jointly sponsored by Core-Project “The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2”, ILCAA Joint Research Project “Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)(18K01200), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Multipolarization of Muslim Societies in South Asia” (Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 19H00554)
  • *Pre-registration is needed.
  • This meeting will be held online through Zoom. Register from here. Registration deadline is 25th Feb.
  • 9:30-9:45 Mitsuru NIWA (The University of Tokyo)
    “The Ontological Turn in Anthropology and the Himalayan Ethnographies”
    9:45-10:30 Kenichi TACHIBANA (Ritsumeikan University)
    “The Potentials of Chepangs' Ontology: An essay for expanding the horizons of Hindu and Modern Ontologies”
    10:40-11:25 Fukachi FURUKAWA (Kyushu University)
    “Making Road, Becoming the “Sherpa”: An ethnography of mountain guides and “beings” in southern foothills of Mt. Everest, Nepal”
    11:35-11:50 Commentator 1: Katsuro NAWA (The University of Tokyo)
    11:50-12:05 Commentator 2: Tatsuya YAMAMOTO (Shizuoka University)
    12:15-13:00 All participants
    Discussion

Panel Presentation: Revisiting Ethnography: Social Dynamics of Gohira Village in Bangladesh, 6th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF BENGAL STUDIES/ The 8th meeting

  • Date/Time: Thu 25 Feb 2021 16:30–20:00
  • Venue: International online meeting
  • Language: English, Bengali
  • Jointly Sponsored by Core-Project “The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2”, ILCAA Joint Research Project “Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Principal Investigator: Kenichi TACHIBANA (Ritsumeikan University) Project number: 18K01200), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Multipolarization of Muslim Societies in South Asia” (Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 19H00554), JSPS Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B)) “Social Dynamism and Islamic Culture in Bangladesh” (Principal Investigator：Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA), Project Number:18KK0024)
  • *Pre-registration is needed.
  • For registration, please see ICBS Site.
  • Prof. Abhijit Dasgupta (Delhi University)
    Keynote Address: The Past in the Present: Revisiting a Village for Research”
    Part 1: Ethnographic Research Findings
    1. Nurul Huda Sakib(Jahangirnagar University) and Riadul Islam　(Jahangirnagar University)
    “Socio-Economic Changes in Gohira Village”
    2. Bulbul Siddiqi (North South University)
    “The Relationship between Local Society and Gohira and the Hathazari Madrasas in Chittagong”
    3. RanjanSahaPartha (Jahangirnagar University) and Dipwandita Ghosh (BRAC, Dhaka)
    “Migration and the Experiences of Local People in Gohira village”
    Part 2: Discussions on the Recent publications
    4. All members/ Discussant: Abul Kalam (Helen Keller International-Bangladesh)
    “Kinship and Family among Muslims in Bengal” (Masahiko Togawa & Abhijit Dasgupta, eds., Delhi: Manohar Publishers, 2021)
    5. All members
    “Recent Changes in Village Society and Agrarian Structure” (Ranjan SahaPartha, Dhaka: Shangbed, 2020)

The 7th meeting/ International Symposium: Pandemic Realities in South Asia: Identity, Exclusion and Everyday Experiences of Diversify Community

  • Date/Time: Fri 27 Nov 2020 - Sat 28 Nov 2020 16:00–19:30 (Bangladesh Standard Time)
  • Venue: Online meeting
  • Language: English
  • Jointly sponsored by ILCAA Joint Research Project “Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia”, Core Project “The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Multipolarization of Muslim Societies in South Asia” (Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 19H00554), JSPS Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research: Fostering Joint International Research (B) “Social Dynamism and Islamic Culture in Bangladesh” (Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 18KK0024）, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
  • 27 Nov　Part-1 Regional Diversities
  • Zoom Technical Operator: Riadul Islam Sakib (Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh)
    Chair: Rasheda Akhter (Jahangirnagar University)
    Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    Opening Remarks
    Nurul Huda Sakib (Jahangirnagar University)
    Introduction
    [India]
    Afroza Khatun (Surendranath College for Women, Kolkata) and Utsa Sarmin (Cambridge University)
    “Covid 19 and Islam in India: A Study of the Digital Social Media Productions”
    [Bangladesh]
    Ranjan Saha Partha (Jahangirnagar University) and Abul Kalam (Helen Keller Foundation, Dhaka)
    “Beyond New Normal Life: COVID-19 and Everyday Experiences of Lower Income Populace in Bangladesh”
    [Pakistan]
    Aliya Abbasi (the University of Queensland, Australia)
    “The Violence of Destitution, Inequality, and Deprivation in the age of COVID-19: Struggles of Impoverished Urban Children in Pakistan”
    [Sri Lanka]
    Rajni Gamage (University of Queensland)
    “Sri Lanka’s Experience of COVID-19 and the Politics of Authoritarian Populism”
    [Afghanistan]
    Mujib Abid (University of Queensland)
    “Pandemic in the Time of War: Responses to COVID-19 Outbreak in Afghanistan”
    [Nepal]
    Keshab Giri (The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia)
    “Making Feminist Sense of COVID-19 in Nepal”
    Discussant 1: Mozahidul Islam (Jahangirnagar University)
    Discussant 2: Masood Imran (Jahangirnagar University)
    Discussant 3: Sharmeen Ahmed (Independent University, Dhaka)
    All participants
    General Discussion
  • 28 Nov Diversified Experiences
  • Zoom Technical Operator: Riadul Islam Sakib (Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh)
    Chair: Saifur Rashid (University of Dhaka, Bangladesh)
    [Bangladesh]
    Md. Sazzadul Alam, Rasheda Akhtar, Tania Saha & Mossabber Hossain（Jahangirnagar University）
    “Life in ‘Between and betwixt’: Anthropological exploration of COVID-19”
    [India]
    Marilyn Kwan Kharkongor（University of Sydney）
    “Covid-19 Reveals Hidden Secrets: Plight of the Migrant Workers in India”
    [Bangladesh]
    Nurul Huda Sakib & Mohammad Sajedur Rahman (Jahangirnagar University）
    “Community Activism During COVID-19: Pattern, Consequences and Facades in Bangladesh”
    [Bangladesh/Pakistan]
    Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    “Muslim Societies and Prevention Strategies of Covid-19 in South Asia:Saudi Arabia, Bangladeesh, and Pakistan”
    [Pakistan]
    Farah Naz（National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan）
    “Post COVID-19 Automation Anxiety”
    [Bangladesh]
    Moiyen Zalal Chowdhury（Hiroshima University, Japan）
    “Social Media Governmentality in Pandemic: The case of Bangladesh during Covid 19”
    Discussant 1: Naseem Akhter Hussain (Jahangirnagar University)
    Discussant 2: Bulbul Ashraf (North South University, Bangladesh)
    Discussant 3: Obydullah Al Marjuk (Independent University, Bangladesh)
    All participants
    General Discussion
    Ranjan Saha Partha (Jahangirnagar University)
    Closing Remarks

The 6th meeting

  • Date/Time: Sat 10 Oct 2020 14:00–17:30
  • Venue: Online meeting
  • Language: Japanese
  • Jointly sponsored by ILCAA Joint Research Project “Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia”, Core Project “The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Multipolarization of Muslim Societies in South Asia”(Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 19H00554)
  • Pre-regisutration is required.
    Register through this site. (in Japanese) Registration deadline is 8th Oct, before 18:00.
  • “Transformation of Muslim Society and Life World”
  • Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    Introduction
    Kenichiro TAKAO (ILCAA Junior fellow, The Middle East Institute of Japan)
    “Tourism and its Politicization in Saudi Arabia”
    Ryo ARAKI (The University of Tokyo)
    “Indonesian Society and its Islam through the Analysis of “Religious Commodities””
    Yusuke KATSURA (Graduate School at Osaka University)
    “Typology of Conversion to Islam in Japan: Beyond the Marriage / Voluntary Conversion Dichotomy”
    All Participants
    Discussion
    Commentator 1: Sachiyo KOMAKI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Takasaki City University of Economics), Commentator 2: Hirofumi OKAI (Kyoai Gakuen University)

The 5th meeting/ Seminar：Can Dalit Speak?: Ethnographic Studies in South Asia ：Report (Japanese)(1.1MB)

  • Date/Time: Mon 17 Feb 2020 13:00–17:30
  • Venue: ILCAA Multimedia Conference Room (304)
  • Language: Japanese
  • Jointly Sponsored by ILCAA Joint Research Project “Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Multipolarization of Muslim Societies in South Asia” (Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 19H00554), Core Project “The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2”, The Center for South Asian Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (FINDAS), Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B)) “Social Dynamism and Islamic Culture in Bangladesh” (Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 18KK0024), 13th Seminar of Modern Bengal Studies
  • Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    Introduction
    Aya IKEGAME (Tokyo Universtiy)
    “Dalit refusal of the buffalo sacrifice in South India: how did anthropological studies miss their voices”
    Ai SUGIE (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Nagaoya University)
    “How can we represent discriminated groups among Muslims?: A case of a musician occupational group in rural Bangladesh”
    Discussant: Akio TANABE (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Tokyo University)

The 4th meeting/ Kinship and Family in a Muslim Village in Bengal: Revisiting an Ethnography by the late Professor Hara Tadahiko after 50 Years

  • Date/Time: Sat 19 Oct 2019 10:00–17:30
  • Venue: Faculty Lounge Room No. 7010 Department of Media and Communication, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB)
  • Language: English
  • Jointly sponsored by ILCAA Joint Research Project“Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia”, Core Project“The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)“Multipolarization of Muslim Societies in South Asia”(Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 19H00554), Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))“Social Dynamism and Islamic Culture in Bangladesh”(Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 18KK0024)，Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR), Independent University, Bangladesh
  • First Session
  • Chair: Zakir Hossain Raju (Independent University Bangladesh)
    10:00-10:05 Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    “Introduction”
    10:10-10:50 Abhijit Dasgupta (ILCAA Joint Researcher, University of Delhi)
    “Village, Kinship and the Wider World: Prof. Hara Tadahiko’s Contributions to Sociology in South Asia”
    Discussant: Debasish Kumar Kundu (University of Dhaka)
    10:55-11:35 Anwarullah Chowdhury (The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka & The former Ambassador of Bangladesh to Bahrain)
    “Contribution of Tadahiko Hara to Social Anthropology: A Tribute to Professor Hara”
    Discussant: Zobaida Nasreen (University of Dhaka)
    11:40-12:20 Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    “Revisiting the Ethnographic Study by the Late Professor Hara Tadahiko: Islam and the Peasant Society of the Gohira village in Chittagong, Bangladesh”
    Discussant: Sayed Abu Touab Shakir (Jahangirnagar University)
  • Second Session
  • Chair: Rasheda Akhter (Jahangirnagar University)
    13:20-14:00 Md Mujibul Anam (Jahangirnagar University), Md Abul Kalam (Helen Keller International, Bangladesh)
    “The methodological aspects of Professor Hara’s Ethnography and its relevance to Bangladesh village studies”
    Discussant: Sharmeen Ahmed (Independent University Bangladesh)
    14:05-14:45 Atrayee Saha (Muralidhar Girls' College)
    “Village as an Economic and Cultural Unit Tadahiko Hara’s study of Paribar and Kinship”
    Discussant: Mohammad Tarikul Islam (Jahangirnagar University)
    14:50-15:30 Ranjan Saha Partha (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Jahangirnagar University)
    “Reconceptualizing Peasantry in the Changing Village Structure of Bangladesh.”
    Discussant: Moiyen Zalal Chowdhury (Hiroshima University)
  • Third Session
  • Chair: Manosh Choudhury (Jahangirnagar University), Raisa Rasheeka (Independent University Bangladesh)
    16:00-16:30 Ai SUGIE (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Nagoya University)
    “Individualism in Rural Bangladesh: Ethnography of Professor Hara and Other Village Studies”
    Discussant: Masood Imran (Jahangirnagar University)
    16:30-17:30
    “General Discussion”
    Discussant: Nurul Huda Sakib (Jahangirnagar University), Ala Uddin (University of Chittagong)
    Comments: Abhijit Dasgupta (ILCAA Joint Researcher, University of Delhi)

The 3rd meeting ：Report (Japanese)(768KB)

  • Date/Time: Sat 15 Jun 2019 13:00–18:00
  • Venue: Hongo Satellite 8F
  • Language: Japanese, English
  • Jointly sponsored by ILCAA Core Project “The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2”, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Multipolarization of the Muslim society in South Asia” (Principal Investigator: Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA) Project Number: 19H00554), The Center for South Asian Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (FINDAS)
  • Session 1 (in Japanese)
  • Sachiyo KOMAKI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Takasaki City University of Economics)
    “Pakistani Community and Forced Marriage in Norway”
    Yuko YAGI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Miyagi Gakuin Women’s University)
    “Marriage Ceremonies and Ritual songs in Bhojipuri Region”
  • Session 2 (in English)
  • Abhijit Dasgupta (ILCAA Visiting professor, University of Delhi)
    “Mahatma Gandhi and an Anthropologist”
    Discussants: Tetsuya NAKATANI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Nara Prefectural University), Sumie NAKATANI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Kagoshima University)

The 2nd meeting ：Report (Japanese)(669KB)

  • Date/Time: Sun 17 Mar 2019 13:00–18:00
  • Venue: ILCAA Small Conference Room (302)
  • Language: Japanese
  • Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    Introduction
    Mayuri KOGA (Kaichi International University)
    On the book of “Ethnography of Rituals and Performing Ritual Arts in South Asia”
    Ai SUGIE (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies/JSPS) Discussant
    Toshiki SHIBUYA (Kanto Gakuin University)
    “Cultures apprearing to belong to the lower castes”
    Tetsuya NAKATANI (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Nara Prefectural University) Discussant
    General Discussion

The 1st meeting ：Report (Japanese)(131KB)

  • Remembering Village after 50 Years: Revisiting an Ethnography by the late Professor Hara Tadahiko
  • Date/Time: Sun 24 Jun 2018 14:50–17:30
  • Venue: Room 115, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
  • Language: Japanese
  • Jointly sponsored by Japan Bengal Forum, Core Project “The Potential Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Managing Hazards in Asia and Africa: The Anthropological Explorations into the Linkage of Micro-Macro Perspectives 2” and Joint Research Project “Ethnographic Studies of Muslim Society in South Asia”
  • Shinkichi TANIGUCHI (Hitotsubashi University, Professor Emeritus)
    Welcome address
    Masahiko TOGAWA (ILCAA)
    “Revisiting Ethnographic Studies of Rural Society in Bengal:Reconsidering an Ethnographyof the Muslim Peasant Society by the late Professor Hara Tadahiko”
    Ai SUGIE (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies/JSPS)
    “Multifaceted nature of contemporary Bangladeshi village society: from an ethnography by the late Professor Hara Tadahiko and subsequent village studies”
    Koichi FUJITA (Kyoto University)
    “Social foundation of agricultural and rural development in Bangladesh with special reference to the arguments by the late Professor Hara Tadahiko”
    Mineo TAKADA (ILCAA Joint Researcher, Hiroshima Shudo University)
    “On the works of Hara Tadahiko with special reference to his first field research”
    Hiroshi ISHII (ILCAA, Professor Emeritus): Discussant
    General Discussion

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