[INDOLOGY] Jain Studies Unit Call for Papers AAR 2026

[Ana Bajzelj]

Apologies for cross-posting.


Dear Colleagues,



The Jain Studies Unit welcomes submissions for the 2026 Annual Meeting of
the American Academy of Religion. We especially welcome suggestions for
panels to be co-sponsored with other units and for panels that address the
2026 Annual Meeting’s Presidential Theme: “Future(s).” Finally, the Jain
Studies Unit encourages proposals to include voices that are diverse in
terms of race, caste, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, age,
socioeconomic status, geographic region, professional rank, and
institutional affiliation. Questions can be addressed to one (or both) of
the Jain Studies Unit co-chairs, Gregory Clines (gclines at trinity.edu)
and/or Ana Bajzelj (abajzelj at ucr.edu).



Please note that the Jain Studies Unit *only accepts proposals for complete
panels*, *roundtables, book discussions, etc., and does not accept
individual paper proposals*.



The following are proposed panel titles with contact information as of
January 26th, 2026. If interested in participating, please contact the
listed person(s) directly. Additional panel proposals are welcomed. The
Jain Studies unit exclusively uses the AAR PAPERS system for all
submissions.



*November In-Person Meeting:*



·       Jains and Politics (Samyak Modi, samyak.modi at ucr.edu)

·       Jain Pilgrimage (Bhumi Shah, bhumi.shah at email.ucr.edu)

·       Ethical and Moral Cultivation in Jain Thought (Alba Rodriguez,
alba.rodriguezjuan at email.ucr.edu)

·       Jain Goddesses (Anchit Jain, jnanchit at gmail.com)

·       Jains and Caste (David Silverberg, d.silverberg at columbia.edu)

·       Intertextuality, Interculturality, and Jainism (Christine
Chojnacki, christine.chojnacki at utotonto.ca)



*Statement of Purpose*



This Unit began in 2009 in recognition of the burgeoning state of the field
and its relative neglect in the AAR. Originating in India in the first
millennium BCE, Jainism — historically as dominant a South Asian religious
tradition as Buddhism and Hinduism and, in the light of current
demographics, a disproportionately powerful presence in the cultural and
economic life of India — is a world religion now extending far beyond South
Asia to East Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia. Given the
increasing focus of scholarly attention on Jainism both in India and around
the globe, this Unit provides a venue in North America for scholars of
Jainism to meet regularly and exchange ideas.



*AAR Jain Studies Travel Grants*



As in the past two years, we will again be offering the Jain Studies Travel
Grants this year, funded through the generosity of the Manish and Varsha
Mehta Family Foundation. These awards are intended for scholars who are
scheduled to present a Jain Studies paper at the AAR Annual Meeting in
November. We will circulate an announcement after the call for papers
closes.


-- 
Ana Bajzelj
Associate Professor
Shrimad Rajchandra Endowed Chair in Jain Studies
Department for the Study of Religion
Cooperating Faculty Member
Department of Philosophy
University of California, Riverside
Co-Chair, AAR Jain Studies Unit
Steering Committee Member, AAR Hindu Philosophy Unit
She/her/hers
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