RESEARCH GROUPS
Vidisha Research Group: Locating Pan-Indian Processes of Cultural, Religious and Historical Change in a Regional Setting
Convenor and director: Dr. Michael Willis, The British Museum, London
First established in the year 2000, this research group is engaged in collaborative programmes of research, fieldwork and publication. The group consists of an international conference of scholars at all stages of their careers; the organisational structure is intentionally organic. Core members of the group are as follows:
- Daud Ali (London)
- Archana Verma (New Delhi and Shimla)
- Hans Bakker (Groningen)
- Anne Casile (Paris and London)
- Meera Dass (Bhopal)
- Dorian Fuller (London)
- Jason Hawkes (Cambridge)
- Adam Hardy (Cardiff)
- Derek Kennet (Durham)
- O. P. Mishra (Bhopal)
- Julia Shaw (London)
- John Sutcliffe (Oxford)
- Michael Willis (London)
 Sanchi. View of Stupa 3, second century BCE onward |
 Dam at Bhojpur, eleventh century |
The group's geographical focus is eastern Malwa, from the city of Vidisha in the north to Hoshangabad and the Narmada river in the south. The disciplinary base is Indology, religious studies, epigraphy, geography, archaeology and history.
The aim of the group is to foster new ways of working and thinking about pre-modern India. This aim has and is being achieved by seminars which have helped members of the group develop substantial research projects.
Links to current projects are shown in the box at the right.
Shiva linga in the unfinished temple at Bhojpur, eleventh century
Seed funding for the research group was provided by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust. Funding for specific projects developed by the group has come from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
