Centre of South Asian Studies
Since its inception in 1916, the School has been an important international centre for the study of South Asia. In 1966, the Centre of South Asian Studies was established to co-ordinate the research of the South Asia specialists spread widely throughout SOAS. At present SOAS employs more than 50 South Asian specialists in the teaching staff. In addition to a department of South Asian Languages and Cultures, SOAS has South Asia specialists in the departments of Anthropology, Art and Archaeology, Development Studies, Economics, History, Law, Music, Religions and Politics.
One floor of the SOAS Library is dedicated to the South Asia collection, overseen by the South Asia librarian and two assistants. More than 100 courses on South Asia are taught at SOAS, and many others contain a significant South Asia component.
The Centre hosts academic seminars, discussions on current events, and screenings of feature and documentary films that feed into graduate research on South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka). Members of the Centre contribute to the MA South Asian Area Studies programme as well as to other teaching in their disciplines. The Centre also hosts research associates and visiting scholars who are working on projects relevant to the Centre.
The Centre is primarily responsible for recording and publicising academic activities on South Asia, and for organising seminars, workshops and conferences. It is a central point of contact between SOAS and the wider London community on issues connected with South Asia. Its annual review, the South Asia Annual Review, which is published once a year, lists meetings to be held on South Asian topics in London and elsewhere. There is an annual lecture, and several occasional lectures are arranged to provide a forum for scholars visiting SOAS from all over the world.
