Abstract
This research aims to lay solid foundations for a systematic history of South Asia's rich and almost unique approach to the human – non-human animal relationship. It will address new or little explored aspects and unresolved knots of fundamental themes, proposing innovative interpretations. We will work on primary sources in various ancient and modern languages (especially Sanskrit, Pali, Hindi/Urdu, Persian), on iconographies, and with targeted field work, drawing on the diverse and varied expertise of the participants. In perspective, the aim is to initiate the construction of a large multidisciplinary repository on the subject. The purpose is to make an important contribution not only to South Asian Studies, but also to Western Animal Studies and related disciplines, in the conviction that in the West this topical issue is still addressed with little awareness of the contribution of other cultural systems.
Results achieved
CONFERENCE PAPERS AND INVITED LECTURES All the members of the UNIBO Unit presented a paper at a conference named after the project, which was held in person at the University of Milan on November 21-23, 2024: ► Marco Franceschini, “Can animal characters be ‘receptacles of rasa’? An overview of the positions held on this issue in the Kāvyaśāstras.” ► Saverio Marchignoli, “Against animal sacrifice. Philosophical arguments and discussions on abstention from sacrificial violence in Sāṃkhya and Yoga texts.” ► Luigi H.T. Singh, “The flight of the antelope. Outlining two different perspectives on the aesthetic reception of a verse from Kālidāsa’s Abhijñānaśākuntala.” In addition, Marco Franceschini gave two invited lectures: ► Marco Franceschini, “Animals and aesthetic experience (rasa) in kāvya literature.” Invited lecture at the journée d’étude “Hommage à Marie-Claude Porcher et Bruno Dagens”, organised by the Association française pour les études indiennes at the Collège de France, Paris, November 16, 2023. ► Marco Franceschini, “Animals and aesthetic experience (rasa) in kāvya literature.” Invited lecture given at the Department of Philosophy, Jadavpur University, Kolkata (India), January 10, 2024. PUBLICATIONS Contributions by members of the UNIBO Unit were published in a Special Issue of the journal Kervan. International Journal of African and Asiatic Studies (Class A SC 10/N3 and 10/N3, ISSN: 1825-263X; Open Access, double-blind reviewed), “For a multivocal history of the attitudes towards animals in South Asia: Concepts, ethics, practices, symbolism”, Vol. 29, No. 2, Special Issue, July 2025 (https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/kervan/issue/view/907): ► Marco Franceschini (with C. Pieruccini, G. Pellegrini, A. Rigopoulos), “Preface”, pp. 3–5. ► Marco Franceschini, “Can animal characters be ‘receptacles of rasa’? An overview of the positions held on this issue in classical Indian treatises on poetics”, pp. 197–218. ► Luigi H.T. Singh, “The flight of the antelope: Outlining two different perspectives on the aesthetic reception of a verse from Kālidāsa’s Abhijñānaśākuntala”, pp. 219–237. ► Marco Franceschini (with C. Pieruccini, G. Pellegrini, A. Rigopoulos), Editorship of the volume Kervan, International Journal of African and Asiatic Studies, Vol. 29, No. 2, Special Issue, July 2025. In addition, the following publications are forthcoming: ► Marco Franceschini (forthcoming), Editorship of the volume of the “Proceedings of the Conference of the Associazione Italiana di Studi Sanscriti (AISS), Accademia Vivarium Novum (Frascati), October 11-13, 2024”. The volume includes articles resulting from the research carried out within the framework of the PRIN project. ► Saverio Marchignoli (forthcoming), “Saying no to the ritual killing of animals: The relationship between ahiṃsā and dharma in Yuktidīpikā, ad SK 2,b”, Series Studi orientali – Interventi, Bologna, Bonomo. TEACHING – LECTURES AND SEMINARS (IN ITALY AND ABROAD): ► Saverio Marchignoli, “Jainism, the problem of non-action and the rejection of violence” (Course Filosofie dell’India e dell’Asia Orientale, Università di Bologna, March 25, 2024). ► Saverio Marchignoli, “The rejection of animal killing in the Edicts of Aśoka” (Course Filosofie dell’India e dell’Asia Orientale, Università di Bologna, April 18, 2025). ► Saverio Marchignoli, “The rejection of sacrificial violence and animal killing in Sāṃkhya and Yoga Philosophies” (Course Filosofie dell’India e dell’Asia Orientale, Università di Bologna, April 28, 2025). ► Saverio Marchignoli, Seminar on “The Rejection of Sacrificial Violence in the Texts of Samkhya and Yoga: Reading and Commentary on Yuktidīpikā ad SK 2ab and Pātañjalayogaśāstra 2, 30-35.” Held on May 14, 2026, 5-7 pm, Via Zamboni 33, Room V. ► Luigi H.T. Singh, Group reading session with students on relevant passages from Kalidāsa’s Abhijñānaśākuntalam”, Università di Bologna, May 20 and 27, 2024. THIRD MISSION & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: ► Saverio Marchignoli, Seminar on “Nonviolence and Its Indian Origins: Debates on Gandhi's Ahimsa”, Seminar held on December 16, 2025, as part of an initiative in collaboration with Professor Matteo Santarelli, entitled "Violence, Nonviolence, Peace. Reflection on the Coherence between Means and Ends, between East and West, in collaboration with the Regional Legislative Assembly of Emilia-Romagna, the School of Peace of the Savena District - Bologna, and Amici dei Popoli, NGO. ► Saverio Marchignoli, design and installation of a bibliographic exhibition on “Nonviolence and Peace: A Brief History of an Idea”. In collaboration with the ‘Regional Legislative Assembly of Emilia-Romagna’, the ‘School of Peace of the Savena District - Bologna,’ and ‘Amici dei Popoli’, NGO. The exhibition was open at the Scuola di Pace Library, Via Lombardia 36, Bologna, from December 3, 2025, to June 17, 2026. ► Saverio Marchignoli, lecture “Nonviolence: Indian Origins, Diffusion, Controversies.” Held on February 7, 2026, at the Furio Jesi Library of the Scuola di Pace, Via Lombardia 36, Bologna. ► Saverio Marchignoli (University of Bologna), lecture “Nonviolence and Peace: Theory and Practice of Coherence between Means and Ends.” Held on March 14, 2026, at the Furio Jesi Library of the Scuola di Pace, Via Lombardia 36, Bologna. FIELDWORK AND RESEARCH ABROAD ► Marco Franceschini, Research mission to Paris, November 15-19, 2023. ► Marco Franceschini, Research mission to India (Kolkata and Northern West Bengala), January 6-18, 2024.Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Marco Franceschini
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà
Coordinatore:
Università degli Studi di MILANO(Italy)
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 43.547,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
15/10/2023
Data di fine:
14/10/2025
