Anthropology News: The monks in the basement—with Tilak Parekh

Writing in Anthropology News, Cambridge PhD candidate Tilak Parekh explores the often-hidden religious infrastructures that sustain communities in times of crisis. Focusing on how the Hindu community in Abu Dhabi adapted as conflict between the USA, Israel and Iran escalated, he reveals how informal and improvised spaces—“monks in the basement”—became vital sites of spiritual life, care, and resilience. 

The piece offers a nuanced look at how faith practices adapt under pressure, challenging assumptions about where and how religion is lived. It also speaks to wider interfaith and sociological questions around migration, belonging, and the role of religious networks in precarious contexts.

Visit Anthropology News to read the whole piece and reflect on the broader implications.

Tilak was also recently interviewed on the Voice of Islam breakfast show, where he discussed his research at Neasden Temple in London, Hindu beliefs about the soul and reincarnation, and the importance of having a grounded guru.