Dr. Jonathan Parry

Biography

Professor Jonathan Parry FBA is a leading anthropologist with significant contributions to the study of South Asia, particularly in the fields of Hinduism, caste, and the forms of inequality that arise from industrialization and labor dynamics. His extensive field research includes immersive studies in the rural sub-Himalayan regions of India, where he explored quintessential anthropological themes such as caste, kinship, and marriage. He further expanded his research in urban settings, notably in Banaras, examining communities of 'sacred specialists' who engage in death-related rituals. His focus has also included the experiences of workers in the central Indian steel city of Bhilai, a result of Soviet technological collaboration in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Bhilai Steel Plant, one of the largest in Asia, has been a site of both public and private sector industrial development, which Professor Parry analyzed through worker interviews and community interactions. His scholarly work encompasses significant theoretical discussions on topics related to death, the human body, and exchange processes in anthropological contexts.

Research Interests