Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Bettina Sharada Bäumer

Born 12 April 1940 in Salzburg, Austria
Daughter of (late) Prof. Eduard Bäumer and Valerie Bäumer (born Feix)
Nationality: Indian (former Austrian)

Academic qualifications:

1959: Matura (High School Leaving Certificate), Salzburg

1959–1967: University studies in Philosophy, Religion, Indology (Sanskrit), Theology and Music at the Universities of Salzburg, Wien, Zürich, Rome and Munich (Germany)

1967: Dr. phil. (Ph.D.) in Philosophy from the University of Munich, thesis on "Creation as Play: The Concept of Lila in Hinduism, its Philosophical and Theological Significance."

1967–1971: Post-doctoral research in Indian philosophy and Sanskrit at Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi)

1973: Diploma in Musicology, Banaras Hindu University

1997: "Habilitation" (Qualification for Professorship) at the Institute for the Study of Religions, University of Vienna

Awards received:

2002 Awarded Dr.h.c. (honoris causa) from the University of Salzburg (Austria) (first woman in the 380 years history of the University from the Faculty of Theology) [more info (in German)]

2012 Received the "Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz fur Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse" from the Austrian Government, Ministry for Science and Research (Ministerium fur Wissenschaft und Forschung) for her merits in the bilateral relations between India and Austria at the scholarly level.

2015 Received the Padmashri award from the President of India in recognition of her contribution to the field of Literature and Education.

Scholarships held:

1961: Exchange Scholarship from University of Zürich

1964–1967: Scholarship from the Bavarian State Government, Munich

1967–1971: Reciprocal Scholarship from the Government of India

1994: Senior Research Fellowship, Center for Study of World Religions, Harvard University (USA)

Assignments:

1972–1974: Lecturer in German, Banaras Hindu University

1975–1979: Assistant and Lecturer in Sanskrit, Institute of Indology, University of Vienna (Austria)

1979–2000: Research Director, Alice Boner Foundation for Research on Fundamental Principles in Indian Art, Varanasi

1982–1990: Member of the "Equipe de recherche" (research group) on Hinduism under the direction of Andre Padoux, at the CNRS, Paris

1985–1987: Visiting Lecturer in German, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi

1994: Senior Research Fellow, Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University

1986: Visiting Professor at the University of Frankfurt (Germany)

Summer Semester 1986-1995: Honorary Coordinator, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Varanasi Office; since 1995 Honorary Consultant

1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003: Professor in Religious Studies, University of Vienna (Summer Semester)

1997–1999: Visiting Professor and Head of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Bern (Switzerland)

Summer Semester 2000: Visiting Professor, University of Salzburg

October-November 2003: Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

2000–2002: Coordinator, Orissa Research Project (DFG- Germany)

1988–2007 President of the "Abhishiktananda Society", reg. in Delhi

2004–2007 Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (under HRD Ministry, Govt. of India)

2008 Advisor, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (MID/DIM)

2007–2008 Fellow, The Medlycott Foundation, St. Thomas College, Trissur, Kerala

2009 Visiting Professor, University of Salzburg (Summer semester)

2010 Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

2015-2017 National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

Present position:

Director, Samvidalaya: Abhinavagupta Research Library, Varanasi

Proficiency in Languages:

Modern languages: German (mother tongue), English, French, Italian, Hindi
Ancient languages: Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Hebrew