Professional headshot of Elizabeth Rohlman, a female profesor with red hair wearing a dress and jewelry

Dr. Elizabeth Rohlman

Ph.D.
Pronouns: she/her

Affiliations

Associate Department Head

~ Other ~

Contact information

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-3287

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Background

Educational Background

B.A.,summa cum laude, Philosophy, University of Dayton, 1997

M.A Religious Studies, History of Indian Religions, University of Virginia, 1999

Ph.D. Religious Studies, History of Indian Religions , University of Virginia, 2007

Biography

I am trained as a Historian of Religion, and study the history of both philosophy and religion in India from the classical through the post-colonial eras.

Generally speaking, my research explores narrative Sanskrit literature, especially regional Sanskrits from Western India. In particular, I am interested in the ways narratives from the polyglossic literary cultures of India have historically been used to both express and shape communal identities. My interests in narrative span from Buddhist Jataka Tales to Hindu Puranas to conteporary Indian English novels.

My current research interests focus on the concept of the "urban" in Indian literature and on the urban in Hindu narratives from ancient Kashi to medieval Patan to contemporary Calgary.

Additional research interests include Colonial Indology and Orientalism, Feminist and Post Colonial Theory, Vernacular Religious Practices in Contemporary India, Theories and Philosophies of Religion, and Historiography.

I am currently accepting graduate students in Religious Studies or Philosophy who are interested in any of the above topics. 

Research

Areas of Research

History of Philosophy and Religion in India, Classical and Medieval India, Sanskrit Narrative Literature, Polyglossic Literatures of India

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
PHIL 399.XX Philosophy in Literature: Indian English Novels Fall 2026
PHIL 335 Asian Philosophy (Classical and Medieval India) Winter 2027
RELS 451/603/703 Advanced Studies in Hinduism: The Many Ramayanas (Seminar) Winter 2027