Throughout the medieval period, Jain authors were employed by non-Jain rulers to write on subjects far beyond the boundaries of Jain tradition. Their works addressed practical concerns such as predicting the weather, assaying gold and administering antidotes to various poisons. This presentation examines the “everyday sciences” that Jain authors developed in both Sanskrit and regional languages, considering the role of Jainism in projects intended for non-Jain audiences. Join the Green School for an exploration of how Jain intellectuals contributed to wider scientific and cultural life during the medieval era in South Asia.
Join us also for a classical dance performance and Indian vegan dinner in celebration of Mahāvīra Nirvāṇa.
Guest Speaker
Eric Moses Gurevitch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University. His research explores the histories of science, technology and medicine in the medieval and early modern periods, with a focus on South Asia and the Indian Ocean. He is completing a book under contract with the University of Chicago Press, Everyday Sciences: Practical Knowledge and Knowledgeable Practice in South Asia, to be co-published in South Asia by Permanent Black. Gurevitch received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 2022, where his dissertation won multiple international awards, among them the DK Award for the Outstanding Doctoral Thesis on Sanskrit from the International Association of Sanskrit Studies.
For your convenience, we have reserved parking spaces for the event. Below is a campus map indicating in yellow the parking location.
