Professor Sangeetha Menon
Shivdasani Visiting Fellow
Visiting Fellow
Professor Sangeetha Menon has been working in Consciousness Studies for over eighteen years. Her core research interests are Indian ways of thinking in classical philosophical schools, Indian psychology and Indian dramaturgy, and current discussions on consciousness. Her doctorate thesis was ‘The concept of consciousness in the Bhagavad Gita’. After graduating in science (zoology) she took her postgraduate degree in philosophy from University of Kerala. A gold-medallist and first-rank holder for postgraduate studies, she received national University Grants Commission fellowship for her doctoral studies. Since 1996, she has worked as Fellow at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), in the campus of Indian Institute of Science.
She has co-organised national and international conferences including ‘Scientific and Philosophical Studies in Consciousness’ (1998, NIAS), ‘Science and Metaphysics: Consciousness and Genetics’ (2002, NIAS), ‘Science and Beyond’ (2003, NIAS), and ‘Consciousness, Experience and Ways of Knowing’ (2006,NIAS).
Her book Dialogues: Philosopher meets the Seer (2003, Srishti Publishers) is a set of nine dialogues with her spiritual teacher on socio-cultural issues of contemporary importance and the common concerns of science and spiritual quest. The Beyond Experience: Consciousness in Bhagavad Gita is Menon’s latest book (2007, Blue Jay Books, New Delhi). Dr Menon has co-edited four books: Consciousness, Experience and Ways of Knowing: Perspectives from Science, Philosophy and the Arts (2006, NIAS), Science and Beyond: Cosmology, consciousness and technology in Indic traditions (2004, NIAS), Consciousness and Genetics (2002, NIAS) and Scientific and Philosophical Studies on Consciousness (1999, NIAS). She has several articles in peer-reviewed journals, and contributed chapters on a variety of issues relating to science and religion, self, mind, and consciousness. She contributed a chapter on ‘Hinduism and Science’ for the recently published Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science (2006, OUP). She has also authored monographs on consciousness in the context of Indian thought. Presently she is engaged in writing a book on ‘Consciousness and Agency' as part of the Global Perspectives on Science and Spirituality award', received from Universite Interdisciplinaire de Paris, and Elon University supported by Templeton Foundation.
She has received national awards for her achievements in the field of consciousness and Indian contributions. She also received the Young Philosopher Award (2003) from the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, for her research work.