India is home to a rich mosaic of religious traditions, including some of the world’s oldest religions, such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, and a significant and historical presence of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, and the Bahá'í faith. Historically, it has welcomed diverse faith communities, some of which came to its shores seeking refuge. Despite this deep and diverse religious heritage, there is a conspicuous absence of a robust academic framework for studying religion in India. This gap contrasts countries like the United States, where institutions such as the American Academy of Religion (AAR) have encouraged a vibrant scholarly community dedicated to studying religion as a sociocultural, historical, and political phenomenon.

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