[INDOLOGY] India matters AJEI

[Julie Rocton]

Dear all,

The Association Jeunes Études Indiennes (AJEI) is pleased to invite you to
its *India Matters* seminar, which will take place on *April 2, 2026*, at *4:00
PM (France, CET+1)* / *10:00 AM (Québec, UTC-4)*.

*Title:* *Testing Alain Testart's Hypothesis on Female Martiality from the
Episode of Ambā in Vyāsa's Mahābhārata*

*Speaker:* Dr. Julie Rocton (Aix-Marseille Université, TDMAM)
*Discussant:* Prof. Mathieu Boisvert (UQAM, CERIAS)

*Abstract:*
According to the French anthropologist Alain Testart, women have almost
universally been excluded from martial practices involving bloodshed due to
an unconscious law of avoiding blood accumulation. This study examines this
hypothesis through the figure of Ambā in the Sanskrit *Mahābhārata*,
reflecting the ideology of Brahmanical society. Reincarnated as Śikhaṇḍinī
and later transformed into Śikhaṇḍin, Ambā ultimately confronts Bhīṣma, the
object of her vengeance. While this narrative may initially seem to support
Testart’s model—since Ambā cannot fight as a woman—a closer analysis
reveals more complex martial dimensions in the Ambā–Śikhaṇḍin figure. It
also shows that Śikhaṇḍin does not become a warrior like others due to
lingering female attributes. This study further suggests another possible
explanation for the exclusion of women from the martial sphere: the
symbolic analogy between combat and sexual intercourse.

*Zoom link:*
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84532058269?pwd=bTGpmK5bigbw1USa48Ie9NHXQLNF0x.1

*Meeting ID:* 845 3205 8269
*Passcode:* 431715

We would be delighted to have you join us for this discussion.

Kind regards,

*The AJEI Team*
*Email <ajei.office at gmail.com> :* ajei.office at gmail.com
*Website <https://ajei.hypotheses.org/>* : https://ajei.hypotheses.org/
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[image: india matters ajei rocton.jpg]
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