Dr. Anne Murphy

Biography

Anne Murphy is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of British Columbia and co-Director of UBC's Centre for India South Asia Research. Her research focuses on early modern and modern cultural representation in Punjab and the Punjabi Diaspora, with particular attention to the historical formation of religious communities, especially the Sikh tradition. Her monograph, 'Materiality Past: History Representation Sikh Tradition' (Oxford University Press, 2012), explores the construction of Sikh memory and historical consciousness through textual forms and material representations of religious sites from the eighteenth century to the present. She also edited a thematically related volume titled 'Time, History Religious Imaginary South Asia' (Routledge, 2011). In collaboration with Churnjeet Mahn from the University of Strathclyde, she has worked on commemorative practices related to the Partition, leading to the edited volume 'Partition Practice Memory' (Palgrave UK, 2018). Currently, she is pursuing research on the history of the Punjabi language and the emergence of Punjabi literature during the early modern and modern periods, as well as advocacy for the Punjabi language in India, Pakistan, and among the Punjabi Diaspora, including in British Columbia.

Research Interests