Santali

The main research themes are social changes and changes in religion and culture. In Denmark and

Europe it has mainly been investigated through surveys and in India through participant observation

and through archive studies in London. A main theme in the research in India regards the Santals and conceptualisations of religion, Christian missions, education, modernity and tribe. A series of sturies in the Santal Rebellion 1855-1856 will be published as a book in 2023. 

He chaired a panel study on religion and psychological wellbeing during Covid-19 during 2020 and 2021 Nr. 72 (2021): COVID-19 - Religion, trivsel og eksistens | Religionsvidenskabeligt Tidsskrift and has also edited (thgether with Amit Prakash og Meghna Guhatarkurta) a thematic issue on Covid-19 and civil society in South Asia. His studies in the Santal Rbellion in Bengal in 1855-1856 will be finalised with a book to be published the spring 2023.

Curriculum Vitae Peter B. Andersen

Present Position

Ass.Prof. Dept. of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen.

1956 Born.

1974 Enrolled at Sociology of Religion, University of Copenhagen.

1982 Graduated in Sociology of Religion.

1984 Magister (Diploma).

1994 PhD in Sociology of Religions, University of Copenhagen.

Employments

1978-1989 Various part time teaching experiences in the high school and universities (University of Copenhagen, Odense University, Aarhus University).

1986 Government of India Scholarship (5 months), Calcutta University.

1989-1993 Scholarships (Carlsberg Foundation, The Danish Research Academy), University of Copenhagen and Stockholm University.

1994-1996 Amanuensis, University of Copenhagen, Dept. of History of Religions.

1996-1999 Assistant Professor.

2000- Associate Professor, Department merged with Department of Cross-Cultural and

Regional Studies 2004.

University positions

2002-2004 Head of Department, Department of History of Religions, University of Copenhagen.

Professional positions (selection)

1996-2001, 2005-2010 Chair of the Association for the Study of the History of Religions,

Copenhagen.

1996 Co-convener for “The 14th European Modern South Asia Conference”, Copenhagen.

1997-2006 Member of the Board of the European Association for South Asian Studies.

1998-present Member of the Danish Research Team on the European Values Study Group.

2001-2003 Chair of the board of the Nordic Centre in India.

2005-2008 Member of the Welfare Project (funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research) in a sub-project under The Danish National Institute of Social Research.

2006-2009 Member of the board of the INORS (The International Network On Religious Studies) (Funded by the Council for Social Science).

2007-2009 Chair of the research group: Caste, Creed and Social Capital, What happened to the Christian Churches in Tranquebar after the Independence of India? (Funded by

Bikuben fonden), (in Nationalmuseets Tranquebar Initiativ and Galathea III).

2020-2022 PI on Covid-19 – Religion and existential wellbeing – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk) 

Funded by the VELUX Foundation. 

2021-2023 PI research network Complexity and Beyond in Studies of Religiosity in the Nordic Countries (CBSR) – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk) under bevilling fra NOS-HS.

Honorary

2009-2019 Union representative at the Department for Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies,

University of Copenhagen.

2008-2019 Member of the board of the University Teachers in the union DM ULAB

(Universitetslærer Afdelingens Bestyrelse).

2011- 2013, 2019 Joint Union representative (Fællestillidsrepresentant) for the Teachers and

Researchers in DM at the Faculties of Humanities and Theology, University of

Copenhagen.

Training and courses

2012 The training programme for research and group leaders, University of Copenhagen.

Key qualifications and network

The board of the "Nordic Association for South Asian Studies, (NASA" 1990-1991, 1996-2002 (1998) as secretary; Member of the council for the PhD programme, Humanities, Copenhagen University, 1993-1994. More than four years research and work experience in India, hereof one year in a Santal village where I speak the language. Archive studies regarding the Santal Rebellion 1855 at the India Office Library in the British Library, London, 6 months 2010.

Teaching

Teaching and supervision at all levels at the University including one Ph.D.-student, and has been member of evaluation committees of Ph.D.s in Denmark, India and Sweden.

2004-2006 Ph.D. co-ordinator at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies.

Research

The main research themes are social changes and changes in religion and culture. In Denmark and Europe it has mainly been investigated through surveys and in India through participant observation and through archive studies in London. A main theme in the research in India regards the Santals and conceptualisations of religion, Christian missions, education, modernity and tribe. Regarding the Santals Andersen has published a number of articles in high level anthologies and journals and been part of the edition and translation of Santali texts collected by Rev. Bodding from 1892 to about 1927,