Thesis Title:
Re-imagining Indian Cultural Formations: A Case Study of the Odia Ritual of Daṇḍa Nāṭa
Supervisor:
Prof. Sondra Hausner
College:
St Antony’s College
Biography:
Ankit Rath is a doctoral researcher in Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford, specialising in the anthropology of ritual in South Asia. His research focuses on the intersections of performance, belief, and cultural identity, with a particular emphasis on the Odia ritual of Danda Nata. This work—framed in his thesis, Reimagining Indian Cultural Formations: A Case for the Odia Ritual of Daṇḍa Nāṭa—explores how traditional ritual performances adapt to changing socio-cultural contexts while retaining their symbolic depth and communal significance.
With a strong academic foundation in religious studies and anthropology, Ankit combines ethnographic fieldwork with historical analysis to offer nuanced perspectives on Indian cultural expressions. He has conducted extensive field research in Odisha, engaging with practitioners, community leaders, and audiences to document and interpret the evolving meanings of Daṇḍa Nāṭa. His work contributes to broader debates on ritual continuity, cultural resilience, and identity politics in contemporary South Asia.
Beyond academia, Rath is committed to cultural preservation and public scholarship. He has engaged with cultural organisations and local communities to create platforms for dialogue between tradition bearers and wider audiences. Upon completion of his DPhil, he intends to return to India to further his research, contribute to cultural policy discussions, and work toward safeguarding intangible heritage.
His academic and professional pursuits are united by a dedication to deep, empathetic engagement with the communities he studies and a belief in the power of cultural traditions to inform and enrich modern society.
Educational Background:
06 October 2024 - 6 April 2029
University of Oxford, Oxford (UK)
DPhil in Theology and Religion
I work in the field of ritual studies, and for my DPhil, I explore rituals as sites of cultural memory and as machinery generating meaning and shaping social values within cultures. My research is fully funded by the Felix Scholarship.
–
11 November 2020 - 25 June 2025
The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad (India)
MA in English Literature
I studied English Literature and explored related areas of study alongside it, due to being enrolled in the cafeteria program. Thus, I have worked early on in an environment that is research-based as opposed to the conventional syllabus-based curriculum.
–
September 2017 - September 2020
Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur (India)
BA in English
I studied a BA in English, with a syllabus following guidelines from the Odisha Ministry of Higher Education.
Research Interests:
Ritual and Performance; Myth and Religion; Critical Humanities; Counter-culture and Memory
Links:
https://ankitrath.xyz
