in Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit
Congratulations to Tara (Fabienne) Hathaway!
The Queen’s College, University of Oxford is pleased to offer, beginning in Michaelmas Term 2018, a fully-funded graduate scholarship for up to a maximum of three years for a DPhil student in Oriental Studies whose research focuses on Manuscript and Text Cultures with a special focus on Sanskrit (including all areas, historical periods, and aspects of this field).
In October 2018, the John P Clay Graduate Scholarship in Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit was awarded to Tara (Fabienne) Hathaway.
Tara studied Sanskrit, Old Iranian and the Dramatic Prakrits for her BA and MSt degrees at the University of Oxford, and she is now working towards her doctorate in Oriental Studies at The Queen’s College.
Here is Tara’s description of her DPhil research project.
Introduction
I’m a 4th year DPhil student specialising in Sanskrit epic and drama at Queen’s. I have also been a Board Member for the Centre of Manuscript and Text Cultures since 2018, when I joined Queen’s. Beyond Indology, I have a keen interest in literatures more generally: in particular, page-to-screen adaptation, anti-hero/sympathetic villain characterisations, Gothic, intertextuality, and metafietion; I have previously written articles on such topics for websites like The Culture Trip et cetera.
DPhil Research
My DPhil is a hybrid translation-and-analysis project focusing both on Indian dramaturgy: essentially, I am interested in how Sanskrit plays adapted material from famous epic episodes for the stage, and I investigate the ways narrative is embellished, manipulated, or emended to contextualise problematic behaviour: gambling, rage-fuelled assault, abandonment, to name a few examples. Alongside the analysis, I am also working on an English language translation and commentary of two 10th Century Sanskrit plays, whose material has been adapted from the Mahābhārata.
Content
I have largely been working on the translation and commentary of two plays, Kṣemīśvara’s Naiṣadhānanda (‘The Bliss of the Niṣadhan King’) and Rājaśekhara’s Bālabhārata (‘The Little Bhārata‘), both of which have no European-language translation (as far as I am aware!). The former play adapts the Nalopākhyāna, while the latter, of which only the first two acts survive, chronicles Draupadī’s svayaṃvara (‘marriage contest’) and her humiliation in the Assembly Hall after Yudhisthira has used her as a stake in gambling. Where possible, 1 have used multiple editions and/or manuscripts to translate the ‘most accurate’ version of the text.
Upon completing the translation and commentary, I will focus on the analysis aspect of my thesis, using these two plays as the primary texts through which I will explore the themes of culpability and personal responsibility, and how ‘madness’ and supernatural forces are invoked as excuses to excuse wrongdoing.
Aim & Other Projects
In embarking upon this project, I wish to make the fascinating world of Indian epic and drama more accessible to those with an interest in literatures beyond Europe, enabling the richness and beauty of Sanskrit poetics to reach a larger audience. I also hope that such translations could generate more forays into comparative studies. In this vein, I recently acted as a contributing editor on Flame Tree’s Rāmāyana project, where I abridged Ralph Griffith’s English verse translation for publication, providing summarising notes where necessary.
Tara (Fabienne) Hathaway
Email address: fabienne.hathaway@queens.ox.ac.uk
Updated September 2022
Original Scholarship Notice
The John P Clay Graduate Scholarship in Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit covers course fees, college fees and a grant for living costs at the same rate as provided by Clarendon Scholarships. Awards are made for the period of fee liability for the agreed course.
The John P Clay Graduate Scholarship in Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit has been established thanks to a generous donation by the JJC Foundation (founded by John P Clay, Oriental Studies, 1954 and his wife Jennifer Coutts Clay) in support of Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit at The Queen’s College.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals who are applying to a DPhil course at the Faculty of Oriental Studies for entry in October 2018, or current students studying for a DPhil at the Faculty of Oriental Studies. This scholarship may be held in conjunction with other partial awards, but the total value of your scholarships should not exceed the cost of tuition and college fees in full and a grant for living costs at the same rate as provided by Clarendon Scholarships.
The John P Clay Graduate Scholarship in Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit is held in association with The Queen’s College. The successful candidate will be expected to engage closely with its research cluster on Manuscript and Text Cultures (https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/workshopmanuscript- and-text-cultures).
The scholarship is open to UK, EU, or Overseas students.
Applicants applying for a DPhil in Oriental Studies (with a special focus on Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit) for entry in October 2018, and who submit their application to the University by Friday 12:00 noon, 19 January 2018 at the latest, will be automatically considered. On-course students should submit an application form to Jane Kruz (graduate.admissions@orinst.ox.ac.uk) by 19 January 2018 at the latest. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit and potential.
Applications should include:
- The John P Clay Graduate Scholarship in Manuscript and Text Cultures: Sanskrit application form
- Two reference letters
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research proposal of up to 2,500 words. Candidates should make clear in the proposal how their project relates to Manuscript and Text Cultures.