Nick Allen (Social Anthropology, Univ of Oxford)
Asceticism and the Indo-European tradition

Monika Boehm-Tettelbach. (South Asia Institute, Univ of Heidelberg)
The Ramanandi Balanand and the Institutionalisation of the Militant Vaishnavas

Axel Borchgrevink (Anthropology, Center for Development and the Environment, University of Oslo)
Selflessness and sacrifice: mystical power, asceticism and moral ideas in the Philippines

Bénédicte Brac de la Perrière (Ethnologie, CNRS, LASEMA, Paris)
Relationships between renouncement, power and possession in Burma

John Clarke. (History of Ideas, Univ of Kingston)
Asceticism in Reverse: Taoist Logic and the Power of Self-Cultivation

Catherine Clementine-Ojha. (CNRS, Paris)  
Relationships between the court of Jaipur and ascetics in the 19th century

Rupert Cox. (Social Anthropology, Royal Asiatic Society - Research Fellow)
An historical anthropology of western scholarship on Japanese asceticism.

Gavin Flood (Religious Studies, Stirling University)
Subjectivity and Power in Tantric Saivism.

Peter Flügel. (Religious Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies)
Jain ascetics.

Roxanne Gupta (Religious Studies, Albright College)
Aughar, Aghori, Aghoreshwar: Avadhut Bhagwan Ram and the Politics of Heterodoxy

Jorgen Hellman. (Social Anthropology, Goteborg University)
Ritual Fasting on Java, Indonesia: Politics of Control and Empowerment.

Gustaaf Houtman. (Social Anthropology, Royal Anthropological Institute)
Vipassana in Burma

Julia Leslie. (Religious Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies)
Ascetics and anthills.

Timothy Lubin. (Washington & Lee Univ, USA)
The Householder Ascetic and the Uses of Self-Discipline

Justin Meiland (Oriental Studies, Oxford University)
The Buddhist Wrathful Ascetic.

Patrick Olivelle. (Yale Univ)  
Royal and ascetic power:  The ascetic appropriations of 'dharma'.

Vena Ramphal. (Religious Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies)   
Tapas in the Puranas

Ellen Schattschneider. (Social Anthropology, Emory Univ)
The construction of ethnic and national identities in the personal narratives of female ascetics in Japan.

Irine Steng (Anthropology, Univ. of Amsterdam)
Moderate Asceticism among the Thai urban middle class: the case of the Samnak Hubpha Sawan

Susan S. Wadley (Anthropology, Syracuse University)
Women Magicians, Powerful Goddesses, and Nath Yogis in the North Indian Oral Epic Dhola

David White   
Yogic and Political Power Among the Nath Siddhas of North India

Travel and accommodation arrangements

There is a limited budget, and participants are encouraged to make their own travel arrangements.

Subsidies for accommodation and meals are being sought from the British Academy, but this remains to be confirmed.

Location of venues

Royal Asiatic Society,
60 Queen's Gardens, 
London W2 3AF,
United Kingdom
telephone +44-20-7724 4741 (work)
fax +44-20-7706 4008

RAS Map

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), 
Thornhaugh Street, 
Russell Square, 
London WC1H 0XG

SOAS Map

The cheapest option for travel from Heathrow to SOAS is to take the underground (Piccadilly line) direct to Russell Square (takes about 45 minutes) . The fare is approximately 5 GBP each way . Otherwise, you could take a black cab, which will cost you upwards of 30 GBP one way (dependent upon traffic).

Accommodation

All of the following hotels and B&B's are within walking distance of SOAS, which is centrally located in Russell Square, Bloomsbury. This area is conveniently close to the British Museum, the British Library, and various other museums, galleries, theatres, shops and restaurants in Covent Garden, Soho, Piccadilly, etc . It perhaps goes without saying that accommodation in central London can be quite expensive, and the following suggestions range somewhat in price according to the facilities provided . I have suggested several options, as many of the smaller B&Bs have under 20 rooms available, and may fill up quickly .It is thus important to book early . All prices below include breakfast and VAT. Most of the hotels listed below have websites which may provide you with additional info and a glimpse of what to expect . If you do not see something below which catches your eye, you may want to search further on your own. One good site to try (which lists many of the hotels below) is here. All accommodation booked outside of Ramsay Hall should be paid directly to the hotel/B&B concerned.

List of Accommodation (arranged by price):

The Indian YMCA

41 Fitzroy Square, 
London W1P 6AQ
tel +44-20-7387 0411
fax +44-20-7383 4735/7651
email: indianymca@aol.com
http://www.indianymca.org
Single room (shared bathroom): 33 GBP per day
Double room (attached bath): 50 GBP per day
Double Room (common bat): 45 GBP per day
Family Suite (double with attached bath): 45 GBP per day
Four bed room (with common bath): 85 GBP per day

Simple accommodation, but there is the benefit of reasonably priced and filling curries. Booking early (September-October) more or less guarantees a place.

Quaker International Centre & William Penn House:

1-3 Byng Place
London WC1E 7JH
tel:+44-171-387-5648/ +44-171-388-3810
email: qic@btinternet.com
Single room (shared WC facilities): 30 GBP per night
Twin room: 50 GBP per night
Provides simple accommodation, but clean, friendly, and very close.

Mentone Hotel:

54-56 Cartwright Gardens
London WC1H 9EL
tel: +44-171-387-3927
fax:+44-171-388-4671
email: MentoneHotel@compuserve.com 
Single room (en suite facilities): 60 GBP per night
Double/Twin room (en suite): 78 GBP per night
Rooms are simple, but include television, telephone, and tea/coffee making facilities.

President Hotel:

Russell Square
London WC1N 1DB
tel: +44-171-278-7871
fax:+44-171-837-4653
Single Room (ensuite): 65 GBP
Part of the Imperial-London chain of hotels . Quite a big hotel, unremarkable furnished rooms (quite small), but efficiently run . SOAS has booked large conferences through this hotel on several occasions . When booking, note that you are part of the ASA conference (SOAS, University of London).

Harlingford Hotel:

61-63 Cartwright Gardens
London WC1H 9EL
tel: +44-171-387-1551
fax:+44-171-387-4616
Single Room (en suite facilities): 66 GBP per night
Double/Twin Room (en suite): 82 GBP per night
A family run hotel -- very friendly and helpful staff .Rooms, once again, are simple, and include television, telephone, tea/coffee making facilities. Note that there is no lift in this hotel .

Bonnington Hotel:

92 Southampton Row
London WC1B 4BH
tel:+44-171-242-2828
fax:+44-171-831-9170
Single Room (en suite facilities): 88 GBP per night
Another family-run hotel . Yet again, unremarkable furnished (as is usual for this price-range), but the staff are personable and efficient.

Academy Hotel:

17-21Gower Street
London WC1E 6HG
tel: +44-171-631-4115
fax: +44-171-636-3442
Single Room (en suite facilities): 124 GBP per night (88+ VAT) Starting to get a bit more up-market (as reflected in the price) . The hotel is made up of 3 Georgian town houses, nicely furnished .The hotel has a common sitting room area and a patio garden, and includes what looks like a nice restaurant in the basement .

The Russell Hotel:

Russell Square
London, WC1B 5BE
tel:+44-171-837-6470
fax:+44-171-837-2857
Single Room (en suite facilities): 132 GBP per night A landmark building in Bloomsbury -- a large hotel with an impressive late-Victorian facade. I have been informed that the hotel is renovating all their rooms, which will be complete by the time of the conference . The best rooms overlook the gardens . Quite pricey, but predictably nice.