Viraj is study for a BSc in Engineering Science. Viraj is a committe member of the OCHS Leadership Programme.
Current students
Viraj Aggarwal
India/UK
Balliol College
2012
Iliyana Angelova
Bulgaria
Wolfson College
2013
MSc in Social Anthropology - Oxford University (2009)
Iliyana is pursing a DPhil in Social Anthropology. Her area of academic focus is Christianity in India.
Samvartika Bajpai
Canada
University College
2012
Samvartika is studying History at University College.
Nayan Ashwin Bedia
UK
Wolfson College
2011
BA in History - Brunel University (2006)
MA in Religion - SOAS (2008)
MA in History - SOAS (2011)
Nayan is pursuing a D. Phil. in Oriental Studies. His area of academic interest is Hindi literature with a focus on the ideas and representation of auxiliary Gods, Krsna and Siva in the works of Rama-Bhakta Tulsidas.
OCHS Awards:
Damji Devji Pattni Scholarship
Jason Birch
Australia
Balliol College
2009
Bachelor of Commerce - University of Sydney (1996)
BA (Honours) - University of Sydney (2005)
Jason is pursuing a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies with a focus on Sanskrit and Yoga.
OCHS Awards:
Ramlal Patel Bursary
Josephine Brill
USA
Wolfson College
2012
BA in Mathematics and Economics - Drake University (1980)
MA in Economics - Cornell University (1984)
Josephine is studying for a MSt in Oriental Studies. Her areas of focus are Sanskrit, Sastra, Genre and Metarules.
Edwin Burlton
UK
Oriel College
2013
Edwin is studying Theology at Oriel College. His areas of academic interest are Christianity, Hinduism and the Psychology of Religion.
Abbie Cavanagh
UK
Regent's Park College
2011
Abbie is studying for a BA in Theology. Part of her studies involve Hinduism.
Massimo Ce
Switzerland
Magdalen College
2011
Massimo is studying for a BA in Classics with a focus on classical languages, literature and philosophy.
Avni Chag
UK
St Cross College
2013
BA in Study of Religion (SOAS)
Currently pursuing a Mphil in Classical Indian. Her areas of academic focus are Sanskrit, Brahmanism and Vaisnavism.
The title of her thesis is: An Introduction and Annotated Translation of the unpublished second chapter of Bhāradvāja Samhitā.
Ka-Kin Cheuk
China
St Antony's College
2010
B.S.Sc in Anthropology - The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2006)
M.Phil. in Anthropology - The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2008)
Ka-Kin is working towards a D.Phil. in Social and Cultural Anthropology. His research interests currently focus on two disparate yet interrelated topics. The first includes a longitudinal ethnographic study of Sikhs in Hong Kong.
His second research topic relates to Indian textile traders in China. It seeks to explain how and why Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, China, has recently become a global textile-trading hub in which a substantial number of Indian traders can be found.
OCHS Awards:
Prof. Makhan Lal Roy Chowdhury Book Prize
Other awards:
Chinese Research Travel Award, School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies - 2011
The Carr & Stahl Travel Funds, St. Antony's College - 2011
The Oxford and Cambridge Society of Hong Kong Scholarship - 2011
Chinese Research Travel Award, School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies - 2010
The Au Ping-Reyes Graduate Research and Travel grant, China Centre - 2010
Swire Cathay Pacific Scholarship, St. Antony's College - 2009 to 2013
Research Postgraduate Studentship, The Chinese University of Hong Kong - 2006 to 2008
Mr Y.S. Hui Postgraduate Scholarship, The Chinese University of Hong Kong - 2006 to 2008
CASH Scholarship, The Chinese University of Hong Kong - 2004
Mr Y.S. Hui Memorial Scholarship, The Chinese University of Hong Kong - 2004 to 2006
Maura J. H. Collins
UK
St John's College
2012
Maura is studying for a BA in Classics and Oriental Studies (Sanskrit with Greek). Her main areas of interest include comparative philology, Indo-Iranian languages, epic poetry and eastern religions.
Ida Danewid
Sweden
Lady Margaret Hall
2012
Ida is studying for a MPhil in International Relations. Her areas of interest are International Political Theory and Global Ethics.
Kunchok Dolma
USA
Balliol College
2012
BA in English Literature and Politics - The City University of New York (2009)
Kunchok is pursuing a MPhil in International Relations at Balliol College.
Tiffany Donohue
USA
Blackfriars
2011
Tiffany is studying History, Theology and Philosophy at Oxford.
Brian Dunn
Canada
Regent's Park College
2010
BA in Religious Studies - Lakehead University (1994)
MSt in Study of Religion - University of Oxford (2005)
Brian is studying for his D.Phil. in Theology. His main areas of interest are comparative theology, Ramanuja, Srivaisnava and Visistadvaitin thought, Anglican sacramental theology, and second-century patrisitcs.
Tristan Edward Elby
UK
St Cross College
2009
BA in Theology of Religious Studies - Cambridge University (2008)
MSt in The Study of Religion - St Peter's College, University of Oxford (2009)
Tristan is working on his D.Phil in Theology. His areas of interest are Hindu conceptions of 'sacred time', the 'renouncer' traditions, and Hindu and Buddhist tantric traditions.
OCHS Awards:
Damji Devji Pattni Scholarship
Paul Gerstmayr
Germany
Balliol College
2010
Paul has completed his BA in Oriental Studies (Sanskrit with Old Iranian) and is commencing his MA in Tantric Sanskrit. His MA research is on different strata of injunctions for Kubjika, a Shakta-Shaiva Tantric tradition preserved in Nepal. Other interests: Shaiva traditions/Mantrayana interaction, epics (esp. Mahabharata), transmission of Avesta, and Vedic philology.
OCHS Awards:
Gupta Dan Bursary
Frances Girling
UK
Regent's Park College
2011
Frances is studying for a BA in Theology.
Corin Golding
UK
Wolfson College
2009
BA in Hindi and Study of Religions - SOAS (2004)
MA in Buddhist Studies - SOAS (2007)
Corin is pursuing a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies. His focus is on religious interaction in the Himalayas and the anthropology of the Indian and Tibetan Himalaya.
OCHS Awards:
Hanuman Bursary
Gopal Hari Gupta
USA
The Queen's College
2005
BSc in Electrical Engineering - Boise State University (2001)
MSc in Artificial Intelligence - Boise State University (2004)
MSt in Science and Religion - Oxford University (2009)
Gopal is pursuing a DPhil in science and Hinduism. His research interests include conceptions of conciousness, nature and divine agency in classical Hindu thought.
OCHS Awards:
Jiva Goswami Scholarship
Other awards:
United States Achievements Academy National Engineering Collegiate Award - 2001
Clarendon Fund Scholarship, University of Oxford
Cyril and Phillis Long Studentship, Queen's College
Mark Hannay
Netherlands
St Anne's College
2012
Mark is studying for a BA in Classics and Oriental Studies. He is concentrating on the study of the Greek epics and Sanskrit.
Matthew James Martin
UK
Wolfson College
2012
BA in Religious and Theological Studies - Cardiff University (2012)
Matthew is studying for a MSt in Study of Religion. His areas of academic interest are Hindu and Buddhist traditions and Anthropology of Religion.
Chris Jones
UK
Wolfson College
2010
BA in Theology and Religious Studies - Cambridge University (2007)
MPhil in Classical Indian Religion - Oxford University (2009)
Chris is studying for a D.Phil. in Buddhist Studies focusing on Indo Tibetan Tathagatagarbha literature.
Gayathiri Kamalakanthan
UK
Worcester College
2013
Gayathiri is pursuing a BA in Theology. Her areas of academic concentration are Hinduism and the Nature of Religion.
Brunda Karanam
India
Worcester College
2012
BA Honours in Law - National Law School of India University (2011)
Brunda is studying Law at Worcester College.
Casey Alexandra Kemp
USA
Wolfson College
2011
BA in Religious Studies - University of Canterbury, NZ (2007)
M.Phil in Religious Studies - University of Oxford (2009)
Casey is pursuing a D.Phil. in Buddhist studies. Her areas of academic concentration include Tantra, and Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy.
Emily Kilburn
UK
University College
2011
MSc RS in Structuralism - Edinburgh University (2009)
MA RS in Renunciation - Edinburgh University (2010)
Emily is pursuing a DPhil in theology. Her research areas include Aurobindo, Auroville, Utopian theory, Samkhya, structuralism, semiotics and Sanskrit.
Ameer Kotecha
UK
St Peter's College
2012
Ameer is studying for a BA in Politics and Philosophy, with a focus on International Relations, Religion, Ethichs and Politics in Africa. Ameer is a committe member of the OCHS Leadership Programme.
Rahul Kulka
Germany
St Hugh's College
2012
Rahul is pursuing a BA in History. His area of focus is the Early Modern History of Europe.
Monish Kulkarni
UK
Lincoln College
2012
Monish is studying History at Lincoln College. His areas of interest are British and Indian History
Yuge Ma
China
Wolfson College
2011
MSc in Contemporary Indian Study - Tsinghua University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
Sasidhar Madugula
UK
The Queen's College
2012
Sasidhar is pursuing a Msc in Neuroscience at The Queen's College.
Anirudh Mathur
UK
Balliol College
2012
Anirudh is studying for a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).
OCHS Awards:
Patel Book Grant
James Michael Macdonagh
UK
Regent's Park College
2012
James is pursing a BA in Theology. His main areas of interest are Hinduism and Sociology of Religion.
Dr Alok K Mishra
India
2012
PhD in Psychometric Disorder
MSt in Philosophy
MSt in Clinical Psycology
Dr Mishra is studying Statelessness and International Law. His area of academic interest is Internation Development.
College: Oxford Department of International Development
Amit Mishra
UK
Harris Manchester College
2013
MBBS in Medecine - Imperial College London (2010)
Amit was studying PPE.
Amit passed away on the 27th February 2013, before the completion of his degree.
Bhavnisha Modi
UK
St Anne's College
2011
Bhavnisha is studying for a BA in the classics and Sanskrit
OCHS Awards:
Hansraj and Kanchanben Popat Bursary
Ionut Moise
Romania
Wolfson College
2011
BA in Theology - University of Bucharest (2006)
MRes in 'Sciences des Religions' - Université de Strasbourg (2008)
MA in Theology - The Orthodox Institute for Christian Studies, Cambridge (2010)
MSt in Study of Religions - University of Oxford - (2012)
Ionut is pursuing D Phil in Indian Classical Philosophy.His thesis title is 'Self in Vaisesika'.
OCHS Awards:
Pandit Abaji Scholarship
Other awards:
Spalding Trust (2010)
Teape Trust (2011)
Amy Norman
UK
Wolfson College
2011
MA (Honours) in Religious Studies - University of Aberdeen (2011)
Amy is currently pursuing an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies. Her areas of academic concentration include Sanskrit, and Buddhism and gender identity.
Shanna Patel
UK
St Cross College
2012
Shanna is pursuing a MSc in Contemporary India. Her areas of interest are Indian Politics since 1947, Indian Political Economy and Human Development in India.
Kirtan Patel
UK
Mansfield College
2012
Kirtan is studying History at Mansfield College.
Ramesh Pattni
UK
Blackfriars
2010
BSc (Joint Honors) in Biochemistry and Physiology - King's College, University of London (1978)
MBA - International Management Centre (1986)
MA in Psychology of Religion - Heythrop College, University of London (2010)
MSt in Study of Religion - Oxford University (2011)
Ramesh is pursuing a DPhil on the psychology of Yoga and is developing a model of Well-being and flow in positive psychology.
Public Positions Held
Chair of Interfaith committee - Hindu Forum of Britain
Co-chair - Hindu Christian Forum
Secretary - Council of Dharmic Faiths
Trustee - Chinmaya Mission, UK
Trustee - Faith Based Regeneration Network
Trustee - Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education
Brainerd Prince
India
2010
Bachelor of Commerce - Delhi University (1994)
MA in English - Himachal University (1997)
BA in Divinity - Serampore University, Pune (2001)
Brainerd is pursuing a PhD on Sri Aurobindo's philosophy of religion with a working title: Embodied Spirit: A Hermeneutical Reading of Aurobindo’s Integral Philosophy with Implications for the Study of Religion under Professor Gavin Flood, Oxford University. Apart from his work on Sri Aurobindo, his research interests include Hermeneutics, Phenomenology and the Academic Study of Religion.
Other awards:
Langham Partnership Scholarship - 2011
Anna Rawlings
UK
Mansfield College
2010
Anna's studies include a spatial analysis of Hindutva, the relationship between the brahman, renouncer and king in Hindu society and narrative analysis with reference to subalternity. She aslo has an interest in Islam, writing the particular and universal aspects of Islam into a single narrative.
Megan Robb
USA
New College
2013
MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies - Oxford University (2010)
BA in Indian studies and English literature - Indiana University (2008)
Megan is studying for a DPhil in Oriental Studies. Her areas of academic studies are South Asian Studies and History of Islam in South Asia.
Anna Rose McCrory
India/UK
St Peter's College
2012
Anna is studying Theology at St Peter's College
John Schiepers
USA
Balliol College
2011
BA in Classics - Trinity College, Dublin (2010)
John is pursuing a BA in Sanskrit.
Vibha Selvaratnam
UK
Oriel College
2012
Vibha is studying Mathematics at Oriel College. Her area of academic interest is Mathematical Models in Fluid Dynamics.
Rohana Seneviratne
Sri Lanka
Pembroke College
2011
BA in Sanskrit - University of Peradeniya (2005)
MPhil in Philosophy of Language - University of Liverpool (2009)
Rohana is studying for a DPhil in Sanskrit. His major research interests include Philosophy of Language, Vedic and Classical Sanskrit Grammar and Semantics.
Swati Seshadri
UK
St Hugh's College
2012
Swati is studying for a Bachelors degree in Engineering. She helped establish the Oxford Indian Classical Arts Society (OICAS).
Sagar Shah
Belgium
St Catherine's College
2012
Sagar is study for a BSc in Engineering Science. Sagar is a committe member of the OCHS Leadership Programme.
Tushar Shah
UK
Mansfield College
2012
BA in Politics, Psychology, Sociology and International Studies - University of Cambridge (2011)
MA in South Asian Studies - School of Oriental and African Studies (2012)
Tushar is pursuing a MSt in the Study of Religion. His areas of focus are Christianity, Hinduism and Nature of Religion.
Rajan Shah
UK
St Hugh's College
2012
Rajan is studying for a BA in Classics.
Jaideep Shah
UK
Wolfson College
2011
BSc in Government and Economics - LSE
MA in Postcolonial Studies - University College of London
Jaideep is pursuing an MPhil in Classical Indian Religions with a focus on Indian and Western philosophy.
Naama Shalom
Israel
Balliol College
2008
MA in Sanskrit and Hindu Studies - Hebrew University
Naama's D.Phil. topic is the Mahabharata.
OCHS Awards:
Ashvattha Narayan Scholarship
Mahaveer Singhvi
India
New College
2012
MBA in Management and Law - University of Delhi (2008)
Mahaveer is pursing a Masters in Diplomatic Studies. His areas of interest are International Law and International Relations.
Shibanee Sivanayagam
UK
Trinity College
2013
Shibanee is pursuing a BA in PPE.
William David Soud
USA
2010
BA in English - Davidson College
MA in English - University of Delaware
David is currently pursuing a D.Phil in English. His research focuses on religious conversion and commitment, spiritual practice, and the notions of the self and the Absolute in the later poetry of W.B. Yeats, T.S. Eliot and David Jones. He shares with Yeats and Eliot an abiding interest in Indic traditions, especially Kashmir Shaivism and Raja Yoga.
Priya Sury
USA
Balliol College
2013
Priya Sury is studying for a Masters in the Study of Religions. Her areas of academic interests are Hinduism and Buddhism.
Jay Swain
India
Exeter College
2011
Jay is studying for a bachelor's degree in law.
Sophie Von Der Tann
Germany
St Peter's College
2012
Sophie is studying for a BA in Theology and Oriental studies.
Sumil Thakrar
UK
Balliol College
2010
Sumil is studying for a BA in the Philosophy of Physics.
Sitara Thobani
Canada
St Antony's College
2010
BA in Anthropology - University of British Columbia (2007)
MA in South Asian Studies - University of Toronto (2008)
Sitara is studying for a D.Phil. in Social/Cultural Anthropology. Her areas of interest include South Asian Diaspora Studies and Indian Classical Dance.
OCHS Awards:
Patel Book Grant
Tariq Waris
Pakistan
St Stephen's House
2011
BA Honours in Theology (History of Christianity in the Indian sub-continent) - London School of Theology (2010)
Tariq is studying for an MSt in the Study of Religion with a focus on Christian - Muslim studies in South Asia.
Holly Welsh
UK
Regent's Park College
2010
Holly is studying for a BA in Theology.
Oliver Whiteman
UK
St Cross College
2012
Oliver is studying for a M.Phil. in Modern South Asian Studies. His areas of interest are Himilayan Politics and the British Imperial History in Asia.
Lucian Wong
Singapore
Mansfield College
2010
BA in Philosophy (Indian Philosophy) - University College London (2006)
MA in Indian Religion (Caitanya Vaisnavism) - SOAS (2008)
Lucian is pursuing a DPhil in theology, particularly looking at 19th Century Vaisnavism.
OCHS Awards:
Jiva Goswami Scholarship
Clarisse Zoulim
France
St Catherine's College
2012
Mphil in Philosopy - Paris-Sorbonne University
M.A in Philosophy - University College London (2010)
Clarisse is a visiting student from Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris. She is currently studying Philosophy at St Catherine's College. During her stay in Oxford, Clarisse is the French Lectrice to undergraduate students, at both St. Catherine's College and Wadham College.