Indologie

Geetha K Wilson

Doctoral Researcher / Lecturer

Doctoral Supervisors:
- Primary supervisor: Jun.-Prof. Dr Claire Maes
- Secondary supervisor: Prof. Dr. Heike Oberlin

Geetha K Wilson joined the Department of Indology as a Doctoral Researcher in November 2022. Her area of interest is Caviṭṭunāṭakam – The Stamping Drama, a specific genre of Musical Theatre "traditionally" performed amongst specific coastal belts of central and southern Kerala. Her doctoral research is on the many tales of Kāṛaḷmān- Emperor Charlemagne, recounted in the coastal communities as a Caviṭṭunāṭakam text. 
Geetha completed her Master's in Media and Cultural Studies at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. She has been a Sahapedia-UNESCO Research Fellow (2017), International Youth Forum Member UNESCO Beijing (2018), Media Arts Fellow (University of Changsha, China,2018) and Robert Bosch Crossing Borders Fellow (2019). Her films have been screened at many national and international film festivals. 

Curriculum Vitae

Publications

Book Chapters: 

Wilson, Geetha K. Dharma Rajan, Priyadarsanan. “Nummada Kaaralmaan (Oh, unser Karl der Große) Eine Einführung in die Darstellung Karls des Großen und seiner Paladine im Chavittunatakam von Kerala, Indien”. Geschichte im Bistum Aachen,Band 15 2019 / 2020, edited and translated by Dr Frank Pohle, Geschichtsverein für das Bistum Aachen e.V., Verlag Ph. C. W.Schmidt, Neustadt a. d. Aisch, 2021, ISSN 1616-4091, pp 145-190.

Wilson, Geetha Kaimathuruthil. “Rajah Carlomagno: el Chavittunatakam y los orígenes de las representaciones de batalla en laIndia.” La Fiesta de Moros y Christianos en el mundo Tomo II, edited and translated by Dra. Milena Cacares Valderrama, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Instituto Riva-Agüero, 2021, ISBN: 978-612-4496-06-6, 2021, pp. 305-334.

Popular Articles:

Wilson, Geetha K. “Kalayude moolyam samoohathil” (Value of Art in society; Malayalam).Jeevanaadham Weekly, Special Edition 16 July 2020, pp. 15.

Talks given:

Wilson, Geetha K. “National Webinar on Chavittu Natakam.” Probhodha Trust, Kochi, in association with Department ofSociology, St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam & Department of Malayalam, St.Xavier's College for Women, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala, 3 August 2021. YouTube. 14 August 2021.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUderAdX5ps

Wilson, Geetha K. “Chavittunatakam: Charithravum Kaaralmaan Charithavum (The Stamping Drama: History and the Chronicle of Emperor Charlemagne). Three day National Webinar on Kollam: Saamaskaarika mudarakalude bhoopadam (Kollam: A map of cultural insignia), Folklore Padana Webinar Parampara (Folklore Studies Webinar Series). Department ofMalayalam, Fathima Mata National College (autonomous), Kollam & Kerala Folklore Academy, Kannur, Kerala, 23September 2021. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w75zznE- iAQ&list=LL&index=8&t=1899s

Multimedia presentation:

Wilson, Geetha K. “Folk Theatre: A comparative study of Chavittunatakam, India and Huaguxi, China”.Hunan School of Design, Hunan University, Changsha, China, 18 June 2018.

Conference Presentations: 

2025    “Ṟōḷdōn’s Dance of Death: Narratives of the Death of Paladin Roland in Caviṭṭunāṭakam Musical Theater of Kerala, India.” International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, Leeds, The United Kingdom, July 7-10.

2025    “Futures for the Study of Religion: Research, Relevance, Responsibility.” Workshop – The Study of Religion: Pasts, Presents, & Futures Tübingen-Toronto. Panel Participant and Presenter (working group with Johannes Gradel and Shannon Drew). Center for Religion, Culture and Society (CRCS), Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, May 26-27.

2024     “By the Power of the Cuvaṭi: Examining Caviṭṭunāṭakam Manuscripts as an Artefact of Invented Heritage.” Workshop – Chavittunatakam The Past, Present and Future of a Creolised Performance Genre organized by Mar Chrysostom Chair, Mahatma Gandhi University and Muziris Heritage Project, Kodungallur, India, December 26-28.

2024    “Karalman and Cultural Creole: A study on the Charlemagne Corpus of Chavittunatakam.” International Seminar Creolization – Literature, Art and Culture organized by Peruvanam International Village Festival, India, Dec 8. 

2024    “Karalman Charitam: Transcultural Dissemination of Charlemagne Lore in Kerala.” Kārika International Seminar on Folk Culture and Performances, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India, October 22-25. 

2024    “The Tamil Flower and Latin Catholicism: A Study on the Influence of Flos Sanctorum in the Curation of Cultural Identity of the Portuguese Padroado Converts of Southern India.” International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, Leeds, The United Kingdom, July 1-4.

2024    “Becoming Kāṟaḷmān: The many tales of the dancing Charlemagne and Paladins in the Caviṭṭunāṭakam Musical Theatre of Kerala, India.” International Workshop – How to make sense of collected data? (online) organised by GEAS Triple Alliance, June 14.

2024    “Rolling Ṟōḷdōn: The Many tales of Roland in Kāṟaḷmān Caviṭṭunāṭakam Manuscripts.” International Workshop – Malayalam in Performance Texts and Contexts, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen and University of Glasgow, Tübingen, February 12-15.

2023        “The Chronicle of the Charlemagne Chronicle in the Caviṭṭunāṭakam MusicalTheatre of Kerala, India.” European Council for South Asian Studies 2023, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, July 26-29.

2021    “Chavittunatakam: an Indo-Iberian heritage at crossroads- Kaaralmaan Chavittunatakam and Moros y Christainos in Kerala, India." International Congress Patrimonio Religioso de Iberoamérica – Expresiones Tangibles e Intangibles (Siglos XVI–XXI), Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, July 8.
 

Films

WHERE THE BLUE LOTUS BLOOMS || Documentary || 24 MINS || English, Hindi || 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcLhG-8p1A4

TIME VAMPIRES || Documentary || 27 mins || English, Malayalam, Hindi, Dimasa || 2016

https://youtu.be/PJF7DcMqO3Y

Fellowships

2019           Crossing Borders Fellow-Fall Cycle 2018, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Germany

Subject : “Nummada Kaaralman” (Oh, our Charlemagne) - A study on the representation of Charlemagne in Kerala, India and Aachen, Germany

2018           Member, International Youth Forum (IYF) on the conservation of Culture and Heritage along the Silk Roads 2,UNESCO Beijing, China

Subject: Conservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage along the Silk Roads

Area of focus : Vembanad, Kerala, India; Vembanad is the largest natural lake system in India which spans over three districts in the southern state of Kerala.

2018           Media Fellow, “Experience Changsha Media Arts Programme”, Government ofChangsha, Hunan, China

Subject: A comparative study on the folk theatres- Chavittunatakam, India and Huaguxi, China

2017           Sahapedia- UNESCO Research Fellow, Supported by Ministry of Culture, Government of India

Subject: Multimedia module creation of the art form- Chavittunatakam- The Stamping Drama Public link:https://www.sahapedia.org/chavittunatakam-maritime-dance-drama-of-keralaThe complete module carries a textual overview placing its history, a short video, audio, quick facts, bibliography, and video documentation of students' performance at the 58th State School Annual Festival 2018 (uploaded with permission).