Radhika Ramana Dasa
Encyclopedia
Radhika Ramana Dasa, also known as Dr. Ravi M. Gupta, is a notable Vaishnava scholar. Presently, he is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the College of William and Mary
in Williamsburg, Virginia
and a member of the faculty at Bhaktivedanta College
. He received his doctorate from Oxford University on the topic of Jiva Goswami
's Vedanta
, and has a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from Linacre College. He grew up in Boise Idaho
where his academic accomplishments were documented in the Idaho Statesman
. On April 17, 2008, he met with Pope
Benedict XVI and presented a gift to him on behalf of the Hindu American community. He is a disciple of Hanumatpreshaka Swami
.
, and included English, comprehension skills, critical thinking, debate, and communication. He also took Sanskrit, maths and science as separate subjects.
When he enrolled in the local Boise State University
at the age of 13, on the first day, the professor of the English department sent Radhika to the honors writing course because all the introductory classes were full. Radhika Raman recalls.
Five years later, at the age of seventeen, he left the University with a degree in philosophy, a BS in mathematics, and the university’s highest honor, a silver medallion.
at twenty-two with a doctorate in Hindu Studies
and was one of the youngest students to gain a PhD from this University. He has been assisted in his studies by Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
run by Shaunaka Rishi Dasa. From there he moved to the University of Florida
, Gainesville to teach for one year. In 2006, he became Assistant Professor of Religion at Centre College
, Kentucky. His Oxford doctorate of 2004, The Caitanya Vaishnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami was published by Routledge
press in 2007.
, Virginia, where he lives with his wife Amrita Keli.
He has received two teaching awards: Rookie Professor of the Year and the David Hughes Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was also chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to greet Pope Benedict XVI
on behalf of the Hindu American community during the Pope's first visit to the United States.
He is working on three books: two of them, written in collaboration with Kenneth Valpey, are on the Bhagavata Purana
, and will be published by Columbia University Press
. The third is an introduction to Chaitanya Vaishnava philosophy to be published as part of Ashgate publishing
World Philosophy Series.
In ISKCON, he serves in the Ministry of Educational Development on the executive board and teaches Sanskrit at the Bhaktivedanta College
.
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
and a member of the faculty at Bhaktivedanta College
Bhaktivedanta College
Bhaktivedanta College, located in the rural Ardennes region of Belgium, is a Vaishnava college administered by ISKCON. The programme at Bhaktivedanta College is the study of Vaishnavism. -History:...
. He received his doctorate from Oxford University on the topic of Jiva Goswami
Jiva Goswami
Jiva Goswami is one of the most prolific and important philosopher and saint from the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of Vedanta tradition, producing a great number of philosophical works on the theology and practice of Bhakti yoga, Vaishnava Vedanta and associated disciplines...
's Vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
, and has a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from Linacre College. He grew up in Boise Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
where his academic accomplishments were documented in the Idaho Statesman
Idaho Statesman
The Idaho Statesman is a U.S. daily newspaper serving the Boise, Idaho metropolitan area. The paper has a circulation of 61,000 daily, 83,038 Sunday, and employs about 300 people. It is owned by The McClatchy Company....
. On April 17, 2008, he met with Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Benedict XVI and presented a gift to him on behalf of the Hindu American community. He is a disciple of Hanumatpreshaka Swami
Hanumatpreshaka Swami
- External links :* * * * * * ISKCON Vancouver* ISKCON Houston*...
.
Childhood and Early education
He was brought up by his parents Ananta-Rupa Dasa and Aruddha Dasi in Boise, Idaho. He has been home schooled together with his brother Gopal with a curriculum based on the Bhagavata PuranaBhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
, and included English, comprehension skills, critical thinking, debate, and communication. He also took Sanskrit, maths and science as separate subjects.
When he enrolled in the local Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
at the age of 13, on the first day, the professor of the English department sent Radhika to the honors writing course because all the introductory classes were full. Radhika Raman recalls.
Five years later, at the age of seventeen, he left the University with a degree in philosophy, a BS in mathematics, and the university’s highest honor, a silver medallion.
Post graduate education
He graduated from the University of OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
at twenty-two with a doctorate in Hindu Studies
Hindu studies
Hindu studies is the study of the traditions and practices of the Indian subcontinent, especially Hinduism. Beginning with British philology in the colonial period, Hindu studies has been practiced largely by Westerners, due in part to the lack of a distinct department for religion in Indian academia...
and was one of the youngest students to gain a PhD from this University. He has been assisted in his studies by Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, founded in 1997, is a Recognised Independent Centre of Oxford University. The Centre is engaged in developing academic programmes of education, research and publishing in the field of Hindu studies...
run by Shaunaka Rishi Dasa. From there he moved to the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, Gainesville to teach for one year. In 2006, he became Assistant Professor of Religion at Centre College
Centre College
Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
, Kentucky. His Oxford doctorate of 2004, The Caitanya Vaishnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami was published by Routledge
Routledge
Routledge is a British publishing house which has operated under a succession of company names and latterly as an academic imprint. Its origins may be traced back to the 19th-century London bookseller George Routledge...
press in 2007.
Current career
In 2008, Ravi Gupta became Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the College of William and MaryCollege of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, Virginia, where he lives with his wife Amrita Keli.
He has received two teaching awards: Rookie Professor of the Year and the David Hughes Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was also chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to greet Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on behalf of the Hindu American community during the Pope's first visit to the United States.
He is working on three books: two of them, written in collaboration with Kenneth Valpey, are on the Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
, and will be published by Columbia University Press
Columbia University Press
Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. It is currently directed by James D. Jordan and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fields of literary and cultural studies, history, social work, sociology,...
. The third is an introduction to Chaitanya Vaishnava philosophy to be published as part of Ashgate publishing
Ashgate Publishing
Ashgate Publishing is an academic book and journal publisher based in Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom. It was established in 1967 and specializes in the social sciences, arts, humanities, and professional practice...
World Philosophy Series.
In ISKCON, he serves in the Ministry of Educational Development on the executive board and teaches Sanskrit at the Bhaktivedanta College
Bhaktivedanta College
Bhaktivedanta College, located in the rural Ardennes region of Belgium, is a Vaishnava college administered by ISKCON. The programme at Bhaktivedanta College is the study of Vaishnavism. -History:...
.