Dr McComas Taylor
Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University
 Head, South Asia Centre |
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Recent media
- Ancient stories find new life
- Hindi in Australian Universities
- Six things everyone should know about Sanskrit
- Friend in Asia
- Eye on South Asia's giants
- The Perfection of Sanskrit - ABC Radio 'Linga Franca'
Research interests
- The construction of truth in the Sanskritic episteme
- The ideas of social division in Sanskrit narrative literature
Teaching responsibilities
- Sanskrit language and literature, Spoken Sanskrit
- Individual and Society in Asia (Read my Student evaluations for 1st Semester 2007 and 2nd Semester 2007 and ASIA1025 S108 evaluation.pdf 1st Semeser 2008).
- Religion and Politics in South Asia
- Indian Epics ASIA2062
Administration
- Faculty of Asian Studies Education Committee (Tutor liaison)
- Faculty of Asian Studies Workloads Committee
- ANU Library Committee - South Asia
Nominations
- Vice-Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award, 2007 (two nominations)
- College of Asia and the Pacific Teaching Awards, 2007 (three nominations)
- Vice-Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006
Curriculum vitae
Recent publication
The Fall of the Indigo Jackal: The Discourse of Division in Purnabhadra's Pancatantra (SUNY Press, June 2007)
Societies divide themselves on the basis of class, race, gender, religion, occupation, ethnicity and nationality, and ascribe certain sets of behaviours to individuals in those groups. The discourses that legitimise such divisions and behaviours are often so ingrained in the fabric of society that the divisions appear normal, natural or common sense. I am examining the ways in which such a `discourse of division' is articulated in the Pancatantra, a collection of didactic tales compiled in Sanskrit in the twelfth century CE.
Further details and ordering information
Links
- First National Sanskrit Conference November 2007
- ANU Faculty of Asian Studies Sanskrit Studies page
- Sanskrit teaching and research news page.
- A fable in Sanskrit: पक्षिणो वानरश्च
- About my Family (Spoken Sanskrit) मम कुलस्य वृत्तान्तः
General interest article