Prof. Dr. William Sax
SAI Room 507
+49 (0)6221 – 54 8836
william.sax@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
consultation hours :
Tu 1-3 pm
current Research Projects:
Prof. Sax’s research focuses on affliction amongst the lowest castes in the Central Himalayan region of north India. This involves research into various forms of black magic, exorcism, and sorcery, as well as medical anthropology, notions of selfhood, the body, gender, and caste
Memberships:
1. American Anthropological Association
2. American Academy of Religion
3. American Ethnological Society
4. Amnesty International
5. Association of University Staff of New Zealand
6. Association for Asian Studies
7. Association for Asian Studies in New Zealand (National Secretary)
8. Center for the Study of World Religions
9. New Zealand Associations of Social Anthropologists (National Executive)
10. New Zealand India Society
11. Phi Beta Kappa (Alpha of Washington)
12. Society for Tantrik Studies
Curriculum vitae
1957
born in Colville (Washington)
1978
Hindi Diploma at the Benares Hindu University (Varanasi, India)
1980
B.A., South Asian Studies, University of Washington (Seattle)
B.A., Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Washington (Seattle)
1982
M.A. in Anthropology at the University of Chicago with the title: ‘The Ramnagar Ramlila: a Theatre of Pilgrimage.’ Advisors: Ralph Nicholas (chairperson), Bernard Cohn, R.T. Smith
1985-1987
Teaching Assistant at the Universität of Chicago
1987
Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Chicago (Seattle) on the relationship between the cult of a regional Hindu goddess and the lives of local peasant women. Title of the doctoral thesis: ‘Chaya Maya: the Songs and Journeys of Nandadevi.’ Advisors: Ralph Nicholas (co-chairperson), McKim Marriott (co-chairperson), Paul Friedrich, Wendy Doniger (ne O’Flaherty)
1987-1989
Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies
1988-1989
Lecturer at the Department of Anthropology, Havard University
1989-2000
Senior Lecturer for Philosophy und Religious Studies at the University of Canterbury
since 2000
Head of Department of Anthropology, South Asia Insitut, University of Heidelberg