Projects

Past Projects

1. From the Margins: Deconstructing the ‘Other’ in Indian Legal, Literary and Streaming Cultures
   (Postdoctoral Project, DFG-funded CRC 1385, Law and Literature, University of Münster, 2021-2023)
   
   The project examined the processes of bordering and Othering within postcolonial Indian literature, cinematic and streaming cultures while performing scrutiny of those legal acts that further marginalise communities and hegemonise the Hindutva agendas in India’s current socio-political arena. The title of the project, “From the margins”, implied both the study of literature and media’s marginality in legal discourse as well as the marginalised narratives within the context of Indian literature and media. The project attempted to reopen the epistemic fractures caused due to both colonialist and totalitarian impulses within the contemporary legal processes and emphasized a politics of justice rather than the politics of pity and vulnerability of the Othered citizen. It unveiled the processes of Othering that often go unnoticed in the laws of India and those of the so-called ‘developed’ nation-states of the West, underlining our shared histories and precarities in a globalised world. The research project focused on the representations in literature, films and OTT series as case studies by adopting decolonial legal theories, feminist theories and deconstructionist approaches. Alongside, it performed a discourse, historical and comparative analysis of selected Indian laws and EU policies to question the “legal orientalism” embedded within them.
   
2. Online Media and the Indian Hindu Diaspora in Europe
   (Postdoctoral Project, ERC-funded ONLINERPOL, LMU Munich, 2020-2021)
   
   The project investigated the online and offline responses of the Indian diaspora in Europe to India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA 2019), focusing on diaspora dynamics, Hindu nationalism, and digital media. It explored how diasporas articulated their stances on the CAA, aligning with or against it, and the influence of digital spaces on their expressions of nationalism and resistance.
   The research utilized digital ethnography conducted from December 2019 to June 2020, analyzing a mix of online and offline data sources. Online data comprised nearly 35,000 tweets and retweets, collected using tools such as Mozdeh, AntConc, MAXQDA, and Tweet Binder. Offline data included interviews with diaspora members. The analysis focused on the content and sentiment of digital discussions, examining terms, hashtags, and the overall discourse surrounding the CAA within the Indian diaspora in Germany. The broader aim of this project was to understand how online media reshapes political participation and recasts questions of faith and nation, revealing the complex interplay of religious nationalism, propaganda, extreme speech, exclusionary practices and surveillance tactics in digital spaces.
   
3. Nation, Home and Identity: An Inquiry into Diasporic Trajectories in Selected ‘Post- 9/11’ Pakistani Novels and Hindi Films
   (Doctoral Project, University of Münster and University of Mumbai, EU Marie Curie CoHaB-funded and DAAD-funded, 2015-2019)
   
   The project stands as a pioneering effort in South Asian studies and diaspora criticism, offering a comparative analysis of both literary and cinematic portrayals of Indian and Pakistani Muslim diasporas since 9/11. It focused on four Pakistani English novels and four Indian Hindi films produced in the two decades following the 2001 attacks. The project traced the origins and impacts of discriminatory national practices affecting South Asian diasporas, migrants, and refugees residing in the Global North. It critically addressed how textual and audio-visual cultural products such as novels and films serve as soundscapes of trauma and complex histories, providing new insights into the socio-political landscapes of South Asia, US, UK and Europe. The methodology involved a content analysis of selected novels and films, treating them as analytical tools to challenge and potentially alter conventional perspectives on the status quo of Indian Muslim and Pakistani Muslim diasporas. By examining the texts and films as archives, the study navigated through the layers of transnational desires and the intersections of the concepts of diaspora, citizenship, nation and home. It also critically engaged with the periodization of history pre- and post-9/11, questioning the spatial, temporal, and corporeal dimensions of nationalist acts of memorialization and contemporary right-wing populism.
   
4. Records of South Asian Muslims in 9/11 Memorial & Museum, New York
   (Independent Project, DAAD research and travel grant, 2018)
   
   The project focused on the representation of South Asian Muslim trajectories in the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It aimed to explore how South Asian diasporic Muslim identities are depicted within the museum’s exhibits. The study sought to analyze the assumptions and social consequences of these portrayals, with an emphasis on understanding the diversity and complexity of these identities rather than simply categorizing them as acceptable or unacceptable.
   The study utilized qualitative research methods, including content analysis of museum exhibits, reviews and interviews with visitors to understand their perceptions.
   
5. Digital Archives of Diasporic Communities in Consulate General of India, Frankfurt
   (Independent Project, DAAD research and travel grant, 2016)
   
   The project aimed to trace the historical development of “Indian diaspora diplomacy” particularly in the context of Germany. It examined India’s foreign policy initiatives from the first decade post-independence to the economic challenges of the early 1990s that necessitated global political interventions. A significant focus was on how these conditions influenced India’s engagement with its diaspora communities to foster closer ties between India, its overseas community, and Germany.
   
6. Jain Diasporic Indian Associations in Antwerp and London
   (Independent Project, EU Marie Curie CoHaB research and travel grant, 2015)
   
   The project focused on examining the performative practices of the Indian Jain diaspora in Belgium and the UK, particularly how they reveal, negotiate, and mobilize their religious identity. The study aimed to explore the dynamics of identity formation and expression within the diaspora, understanding the ways in which Jain immigrants maintain and adapt their religious practices in new cultural environments. It also considered the interactions of diasporic Jain diamond merchants with governmental authorities and the implications of these interactions for their personal and public identities. The research utilized an anthropological approach, incorporating both qualitative interviews and ethnographic fieldwork. Interviews were conducted with Jain immigrants to gather first-hand accounts of their experiences and perspectives. Additionally, the research traced both physical and virtual networks by visiting the Jain Cultural Centre in Antwerp and the Shankheswar Parshvnath Jain Temple in Antwerp and Kenton. Observations were also made on community websites, blog pages, and social networking sites to understand how Jains interact and present themselves online.
   
7. Gender, Disability and Justice in Films
   (Independent Project, EU Marie Curie CoHaB research and travel allowance, 2015)
   
   The research focused on the representation of women with disabilities in Hindi cinema, particularly examining how films address the intersection of disability and sexuality. The study specifically analyzed “Barfi” and “Margarita with a Straw” to identify and critique the cinematic language that perpetuates sexist and ableist norms, leading to discrimination and exploitation. Extending this exploration, the research also examined the narratives of self-discovery in popular Hindi films such as “English Vinglish” and “Queen,” relating these to the myth of the moral Lakshman Rekhas and their impact on the portrayal of Indian women within patriarchal values. Additionally, the study explored the role of impersonation as a narrative device in the Srilankan-French film “Dheepan,” investigating how it affects perceptions of national identity, security, and human rights in the context of Tamil refugees. The methodology employed detailed film analysis, using cinematic critique as a tool to dissect and understand the layers of representation. This involved an examination of narrative structures, character development and thematic elements that articulate or challenge existing social norms.