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Dr. Mrinal Pande is an Adjunct lecturer in Comparative Cultural Studies at the Innovation HUB campus of the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. For more information, click here.
Dr. Mrinal Pande
Field of Expertise: Comparative Cultural Studies; Media Production Management
Campus: Innovation Hub
Office Hours: By Appointment
- Dr. Mrinal Pande is a Berlin-based anthropologist with extensive teaching and research experience. She has been affiliated with the DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence Religion and Politics and the SFB 1150 Cultures of Decision-Making at the University of Münster, where she designed syllabi, taught undergraduate and graduate courses, supervised Master’s theses, and conducted course evaluations. Her expertise spans Social and Cultural Practices, Media Narratives, Religion and Politics, Performance, Diaspora and Migration, Anthropology of Space and Emotions, Gender, and Ethno-nationalism.
Dr. Pande has authored a monograph, contributed book chapters, co-edited a compendium, and published in peer-reviewed journals. She has been featured on podcasts and moderated events at cultural institutions in Berlin and Mumbai. Her research has been presented at international conferences across Europe and India, including in Amsterdam, Berlin, Cottbus, Erfurt, Marburg, Münster, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Zurich. With years of academic experience, she is dedicated to mentoring students from diverse backgrounds, fostering critical engagement, and bringing depth to her teaching.
- Since 2024 – Lecturer and Master’s Thesis supervision at the University of Europe
- 2021 – Freelance Facilitator for the preparatory W-course Studienkolleg, specializing in Business Cultures and Economics.
- 2019 – Supervisor of Master’s Thesis at the Institute of Social Anthropology, University of Muenster and the HMKW University of Applied Sciences, Berlin.
- 2015-2019 – Post-doctoral Researcher at the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB 1150), ‘Cultures of Decision-Making’ at the University of Muenster.
- 2017 – PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University of Muenster.
- 2012-2015 – Doctoral Researcher at the Excellence Centre ‘Religion and Politics’ at the University of Muenster.
- 2011 – Completed the course ‘Understanding Hindu Identity’ from the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
- 1998 – University Lecturer and Facilitator for Graduate and Post-Graduate courses at the University of Mumbai, India and University of Muenster, Germany.
- 1999 – Qualified the National Eligibility Test conducted by the University Grants Commission, India for graduate teaching.
- 1996-1998 – Master of Arts in History; University of Mumbai, India.
- 1993-1999 – Bachelor of Arts in History, Ramnarain Ruia College, University of Mumbai.
- Monograph
- · Pande, Mrinal (2022) Popular Hinduism, Stories and Mobile Performances: The Voice of Morari Bapu in Multiple Media. London: Routledge. www.routledge.com/9781032204352
- · Pande, Mrinal. 2026 (forthcoming) Mediatization and the Immediacy of Decision- making: A case study of marriages.
- Edited Volume
- · Pande, Mrinal, Koch, Julia, Kurz, Helmar, & Strauss, Annika (eds.) (2022) Practices of Transformation: Transformations of Practice. Muenster: University and State Library of Publishing. https://www.uni-muenster.de/Ebooks/index.php/series/catalog/book/299
- Journal Articles
- · Pande, Mrinal and Bhatawadekar, S, (2024) Decolonizing Narratives: Rethinking Indian Collections in Ethnographic Museums in Germany. Urban People/Lidé města, 26(2). Retrieved from https://ojs.cuni.cz/lidemesta/article/view/4717
- · Pande, Mrinal (2022) Generational Practices in Diaspora: Shared Memories in Morari Bapu’s Ramkatha. in Nidan : International Journal for Indian Studies. Vol.7, No. 2., pp. 17-31. https://doi.org/10.36886/nidan.2022.7.2.2
- · Pande, Mrinal (2022) Gendered Analysis of Hindutva Imaginaries: Manipulation of Symbols for Ethnonationalist Projects in the Journal of Modern European History,SAGE Publications. Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 407-422. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/16118944221110725
- · Pande, Mrinal (2020) Contextualizing Religiosity Within the Ramkatha in Sarah Demmrich and Ulrich Riegel (eds.) ‘Religiosity in East and West: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges in Global and Local Perspectives’. Veröffentlichungen der Sektion Religionssoziologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. pp. 233-248. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-658-31035-6_13
- Book Chapters
- · Pande, Mrinal. 2025 (forthcoming). ‘Saints, Devotional Empires and Neo-Heritage Destinations.’ in Timothy Dallen and Kiran Shinde (eds.), Religious Heritage and Tourism in Asia. London: Routledge.
- · Bhatawadekar, S. and Pande, Mrinal (2022) Rethinking Urban Heritage Tourism Practices in India: Critical Perspectives From Europe, in Chowdhary, N., Billa, S. and Tiwari, P. (ed.) Indian Tourism, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 111-124. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-937-820221008
- · Basu, Helen & Pande, Mrinal (2021) Enacting Meanings of Decision-Making in Situations of Talk in India, in Philip Hoffmann-Rehnitz, Matthias Pohlig, Tim Rojek and Susanne Spreckelmeier (ed.) ‘Semantiken und Narrative des Entscheidens vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart’, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht: Göttingen. pp. 482-497. https://www.vandenhoeck-ruprecht-verlage.com/themen-entdecken/literatur-sprach- und-kulturwissenschaften/germanistik/neuere-deutsche- literaturwissenschaft/52639/semantiken-und-narrative-des-entscheidens-vom- mittelalter-bis-zur-gegenwart
- · Heinemann, Isabel; Nienhaus, Sarah; Pande, Mrinal; Wagenknecht, Katherin (2018) Heirat, Hausbau, Kinder – Narrationen von Familienentscheidungen, in Ulrich Pfister (ed.) ‘Kulturen des Entscheidens: Narrative – Praktiken – Ressourcen‘, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht: Göttingen, pp. 90-115. https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/44035
- · Pande, Mrinal (2017) Ramkatha Soundscape: Listening to Voices, in Martina Wagner- Egelhaaf (ed.) ‘Stimmen aus dem Jenseits/ Voices from Beyond’, Würzburg: Ergon. pp. 217-235. https://www.nomos-shop.de/ergon/titel/stimmen-aus-dem-jenseits-voices- from-beyond-id-67698/
- · Pande, Mrinal (2017) The Voice of Ethnography in Martina Wagner-Egelhaaf (ed.) ‘Stimmen aus dem Jenseits/Voices from Beyond’, Würzburg: Ergon. pp. 148-153.
- · Pande, Mrinal (2017) Voice Hearing in Gujarat in Martina Wagner-Egelhaaf (ed.) ‘Stimmen aus dem Jenseits/Voices from Beyond’, Würzburg: Ergon. pp. 266-269.
- Book Review
- · Pande, Mrinal (2023) Review of Ehud Halperin’s The Many Faces of a Himalayan Goddess: Hadimba, Her Devotees, and Religion in Rapid Change. 2019. in Nidān: International Journal for Indian Studies. Volume 8, Issue 1. July 2023, pp. 160-167. https://hasp.ub.uni- heidelberg.de/journals/nidan/article/view/22229
- Professional Engagements and Creative Contributions
- Podcast Feature
- Featured in Episode 232 of Raj Balkaran’s New Books in Indian Religions podcast on October 13, 2022, discussing the book Popular Hinduism: Stories and Mobile Performances. The episode explores the role of Morari Bapu’s voice across multiple media platforms, emphasizing its influence in contemporary religious discourse. https://newbooksnetwork.com/popular-hinduism-stories-and-mobile- performances
- Curated Conversations
- Co-hosted a curated conversation with art historian Anitha N. Reddy on “Siddi Textiles of Care” at the Gallery ‘Under the Mango Tree’ in Berlin on September 16, 2023. The event delved into the intricate narratives of the Siddi community’s textile traditions, highlighting themes of heritage, identity, and care practices in their artistic expressions. https://underthemangotree.de/exhibitions-2023-hotte-thumbisodu-siddi-textiles-of-care
- Conducted an interview in Berlin on September 14, 2024 exploring matrimonial decision-making, its socio-cultural challenges, and evolving perspectives. The discussion examined evolving family practices and representation in the context of marriage negotiations.
- Anchored the celebrations at the Embassy of India in Berlin, on 26th February 2025 facilitating discussions on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, heritage discourses, and his contemporary relevance in cultural identity formation.
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Assisted in scripting and translations of documentaries during fieldwork in Gujarat, capturing cultural and social narratives, notable projects include: Dawa and Dua (Drugs and Prayers: documentary that intertwines traditional healing practices with contemporary healthcare challenges & Spirits of Envy (A nuanced exploration of local myths and social conflicts).
- https://www.uni-muenster.de/imperia/md/content/ethnologie/institut/visuelleanthropology/spirits_of_envy_dvd-cover_20121011_dt.pdf
- Translation and Editing
- Undertook translation and editing during field research, ensuring precise representation of ethnographic and regional contexts.
- Radio Broadcasts
- Created and presented current topics for live radio broadcasts on All India Radio, Mumbai, from May to September 1998. The broadcasts focused on timely cultural and social issues, drawing on cultural aspects and ethnographic insights.