Postgraduate students

Nicole Aaron BA MA, PhD candidate

Devadasi Women in Karnataka and the burden of HIV/AIDS: Using Religious Tradition as a Form of Empowerment

The Devadasi tradition is estimated to be over 1800 years old, with the majority of the women now residing in Northern Karnataka. Traditionally temple servants and prostitutes, legal restrictions have physically removed the women from their temple setting, leaving them in a position of commercial prostitution. However, for centuries these women have held a revered social status, and continue to do so within their tradition. The majority of development organisations are now fighting for complete eradication of the tradition, while the Devadasis remain silent, un-consulted, bystanders in the situation. Now holding one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in India, the Devadasi battle is one of tradition, culture, and women’s rights. My thesis will focus on finding mitigation strategies for Devadasi women which are inclusive of religious empowerment, this includes culturally sensitive mitigation strategies. This will result in a multidisciplinary study including research in the fields of religion, development, anthropology, health science, theatre, etc.

Supervisors: Dr Will Sweetman and Dr Doug Hill