For a Multivocal History of the Attitudes Towards Non-human Animals in South Asia. Ethics, Practices, Symbolism. Investigating New and Unsolved Issues.

 Areas: H - Social Sciences and Humanities; SH3 “The Social World and Its Diversity” 

Abstract: This research aims to lay solid foundations for a systematic history of South Asia's rich and almost unique approach to the human – non-human animal relationship. It will address new or little explored aspects and unresolved knots of fundamental themes, proposing innovative interpretations. We will work on primary sources in various ancient and modern languages (especially Sanskrit, Pali, Hindi/Urdu, Persian), on iconographies, and with targeted field work, drawing on the diverse and varied expertise of the participants. In perspective, the aim is to initiate the construction of a large multidisciplinary repository on the subject. The purpose is to make an important contribution not only to South Asian Studies, but also to Western Animal Studies and related disciplines, in the conviction that in the West this topical issue is still addressed with little awareness of the contribution of other cultural systems. 

Duration of the project: 15/10/2023 – 15/10/2025 

Co-Principal Investigator: Marco Franceschini 

Principal investigator: Cinzia Daniela Pieruccini 

Partnership: Università degli studi di Milano, Università di Torino, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia 

Budget of the University of Bologna: 43.547 EUR 

ERC sectors: SH3_10, SH3_5, SH5_10