Sunila S. Kale, Associate Professor in the Jackson School of International Studies and Chair and Director of South Asia Studies, and Christian Lee Novetzke, Professor in the Jackson School of International Studies, Associate Director of the Jackson School, and Director of the Center for Global Studies, discuss their collaborative book project, "The Politics of Yoga."

The project traces yoga as a technique that originated in the mundane world of politics, migrated to the worlds of transcendence, and seems to have returned in the current moment to the worlds of statecraft and politics. The current prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, used the idea of yoga as the grand finale of his first address to the UN General Assembly, called for an International Yoga Day, and frequently relies on yogic practices and referents to underwrite his political authority and charisma. Our project explores yoga as a political and intellectual idea, from its earliest articulations in ancient texts of about 4,000 years ago, to the present use of yoga in a global vocabulary.

Kale and Novetzke invite attendees to read their recent essay, "Some Reflections on Yoga as Political Theology," before the event.

The Simpson Center series Practicing the Humanities Now provides opportunities for University of Washington scholars to discuss how the practice of the humanities is adapting to changing conditions and times.