RESEARCH
SPECIALIZATIONS

Sociology / Anthropology of Marriage and Kinship

Marriage and kinship have been foundational to the disciplines of Sociology and Anthropology, and a key gateway to understand societies. Key theoretical interventions in kinship studies, especially influenced by feminist approaches have ‘denaturalised’ kinship towards more processual and performative dimensions of relatedness. These interventions continue to inform our knowledge about social hierarchies, intimacies and personhood. Relatedness, broadly conceived, is also central to movements for social and policy changes, to understand other social constellations or identities based on gender, ethnicity, class, or caste.

Migration and South Asian Diasporas

Migration and Diaspora studies is a rich inter-disciplinary field, which now contributes to several policy discussions, and more nuanced understanding of the histories of south Asian Diasporas, lived experiences of migrants in diverse and multicultural contexts, and the ways in which gender, ethnicity and class intersect with the broader trends. Rootedness or being settled have often been conceptualized as the norm of human societies, and migration as an aberration or disruption. However, migration and mobility have been central to human existence since the days of early civilizations. In the ‘modern’ contexts with a greater emphasis on borders, migration is a highly complex and layered phenomenon. South Asian diaspora is among the world’s largest and widespread, and it continues to grow exponentially. The rise of refugees from war-torn regions, have brought an urgent focus on the experiences of migration and borders. Additionally, ‘domestic’ migration has come to typify the experiences of millions of people in Asian contexts.

Phenomenology of Religion

The significance of religion has not waned due to modernisation, secularisation and globalisation processes, instead it continues to grow, as evident from the increase in religion-driven conflicts and nationalisms around the world. While the monothetic or Judeo-Christian conceptions of religion as a category have been challenged, a broader emphasis on text-based and dominant forms of religions have been central to conversations on religion. The phenomenology of religion has brought a focus on the intimate, personal and experiential dimensions of religions, which provides exciting pathways to explore social hierarchies and embodiments in everyday life. Moreover, vernacular and indigenous practices in everyday life provide new understandings of other social processes such as urbanisation and migration.

Urban Studies

Bangalore is the third most populous city of India, with a population of over ten million. It exploded into an urban agglomeration after the Information Technology boom at the turn of the millennium. However, academic research about the city have approached it mainly as a case study for globalization, unchecked development and urban problems. I seek to understand and map the processes of urbanization through entanglements of gender, religion and inequalities, and how they inflect the experiences of diverse individuals and groups in the city.

Religiosity and Well-being: An inter-disciplinary exploration of personal and social perspectives

This research project explores the relationship between religiosity and well-being, broadly conceived. It adopts a comparative and inter-disciplinary approach by weaving psychological and social-anthropological perspectives. In particular, the research seeks to document diverse religious practices and experiences, and their relationships to people’s sense of well-being. The research intends to explore such practices across diverse religious traditions in India. Within the broad fields of Psychology, religious and spiritual practices and faith have been indicated to influence well-being directly and indirectly. Gratitude, forgiveness, purpose, meaning and social support have been identified by research studies as mediating factors for well-being. However, the defining features of these factors remain understudied, especially in the Indian context. Additionally, this study also aims to understand personality dispositions of the participants, their coping behaviours and the efficacy of existing subjective well-being scales. Although many research studies show a positive relationship between religiosity and well-being, the mechanisms remain poorly understood because of the participant groups and methods they employ. Also, psychiatrists are turning to this research as the dimension of religious practice can be explored for therapeutic purposes (especially for those who already hold religious beliefs). Studies on religiosity and spiritual practices have a long history within anthropology of religion. In the broad area of scholarship in religious studies, scholars have repudiated monotheist conceptions of religion and highlighted that it is not a sui generis category, but a shorthand to encapsulate multiplicity of practices that underpin people’s everyday worlds. Studies have highlighted the entanglements of these everyday worlds with ritual, social order and group politics, or have explored the phenomenological experiences of devotion, rituals and intimacies. In particular, ritual healing through trance or divine possessions have highlighted the social and cultural elements of well-being. The anthropological inquiry of this research project is located in people’s everyday experiences. While the relationship of devotion between the deity and devotee has been explored within phenomenology of religion, the relations in the everyday religious worlds through communities, rituals and intimacies are under-explored in the urban contexts of Karnataka, which this study seeks to explore.

Research approach:

The research is currently located in the state of Karnataka, India. It adopts qualitative social research methods such as ethnographic fieldwork, participant interviews and historical analyses. The Principal Investigators of this project are Dr Setu Havanur and Dr Ranjana Raghunathan, whose academic backgrounds are in Psychology and Sociology/Anthropology respectively.

PhD Candidate profile:

We are seeking doctoral candidates to work on this research project. The ideal candidate will have at least a master’s degree in Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Social work, History or allied fields in the social sciences and humanities. Research interests or experience in qualitative research methodologies is required.

Economic History

A study of Economic History is rich in themes, geographies, and methods.  Themes could range from colonialisation, agriculture, trade, livelihoods, innovation, etc.  Geographies – the only restriction is the planet.  Methods often used in economic history are of course empirical, but also, narrative, descriptive, phenomenological, ethnographic, archival, to name just a few.

With a canvas as vast as this, the discipline is in fact a colourful place to learn and create knowledge in.

Urban Ethnography around Neighbourhoods in Bangalore

Areas of Bangalore (or any town/city) are rich with historical and anthropological insights. Barring a few research projects, Bangalore has predominantly been a case study for understanding globalisation, unchecked development, and the consequent exacerbation of urban problems. Consequently, literary writings on the city through fiction and conservation of heritage have gained recent attention. What are the imaginaries of the city for its inhabitants? How does one write about the city beyond the problems of urban development and infrastructure problems? By placing the neighbourhood at the centre of this inquiry, Dr Ranjana Raghunathan, the principal investigator has begun working on this research by attending to the everyday moments in the life of the city neighbourhood.

Research approach:

This research is an urban ethnography and ethno-history project of select neighbourhoods around Bangalore. It traces the social and cultural histories of these neighbourhoods through the experiences, memories and personal histories of its inhabitants. It examines the different aspects of urban neighbourhoods, such as histories of social change, religious communities, educational institutions, heritage sites, and key places of interest. It adopts ethnographic research methods (such as field observation, interviews, oral histories) and historical analyses.

PhD Candidate profile:

We are seeking doctoral candidates to work on this research project. The ideal candidate will have at least a master’s degree in Sociology/Anthropology, Social work, History, Urban Studies or allied fields in the social sciences and humanities. Research interests or experience in qualitative research methodologies is required.

Financial Economics

Financing and investment decisions are two major make-or-break decisions of firms. Access to capital markets in emerging economies is often hindered by weak institutions, concentrated ownership, and information asymmetry. Understanding how firms navigate these constraints to raise capital is a key puzzle demanding empirical investigation. Furthermore, considering that a nation's economic health hinges on business investment, analyzing the factors influencing these choices is equally important. More research is required to provide valuable insights into both financing methods and investment decision-making processes, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of this vital economic engine.

Other research interests: Market sentiments and security performance, Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance and Fintech

Macroeconomics

Rising prices poses a significant challenge for the Indian economy, impacting individuals and businesses nationwide.There exist a complex relationship between inflation and production in the Indian economy. It is important to disaggregate inflation into its various components and analyze how each component is linked to production issues at both the national and state levels. This disaggregated approach will allow for a more nuanced understanding of the inflationary pressures in India. By employing empirical methods to identify production bottlenecks within specific sectors that contribute to inflation, such a study will ultimately provide valuable insights for policymakers to formulate targeted interventions to stimulate production and achieve price stability. Additionally, the research will analyze state-level variations in inflation and production linkages, offering a deeper understanding of regional disparities and informing the development of tailored solutions for individual states.

Other research interests: Capital formation; Fiscal policy

Bio-psycho-social Pathways to Health and Wellbeing

The overarching focus of clinical health psychology is the interaction between physical health, illness, and behavior. The holistic approach shifts the emphasis of health from the biomedical to the biopsychosocial model. I’m inquisitive in exploring the areas of health promotion and maintenance, prevention, and treatment of illness, the etiology and correlates of health, illness and dysfunction, and improvement of the health care system. I’m also interested in identifying the determinants of food choice behavior

Psycho-social and Palliative Care for People Living with Cancer/Chronic Illnesses

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, and its many different forms are widespread across the globe. However, while a lot is known about the physical aspects of the disease, there is a pressing need to talk about the psychological implications of this disease. I’m interested in developing and facilitating high-quality, collaborative, and clinically relevant psycho-oncology research that focuses on innovative ways to improve the quality of life and psychological well-being of people affected by cancer. The study areas aim to improve outcomes for cancer patients and address the needs of vulnerable populations. I am also intrigued to explore palliative care for people living with serious illnesses and in informed decision-making and enhancing communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers.

History of Economic Thought

HET is a discipline that, after a few decades of neglect in university curricula, is making a return.  India has seen a thin but adequate scattering of high-quality conferences in the last few years.  Highlights of these conferences have been their workshops meant for young scholars and their enthusiastic acceptance of student research.  This is a heartening trend because HET is an invaluable part of the ecosystem of economics research.

I see economics as a study of the relation between humans and their material surroundings.  This gives it a scope much wider than what a standard textbook would lead one to believe.  I hold a similar view of the sub-discipline, history of economic thought.  Smith, Kautilya, Ricardo, Mill, Mises, etc. are some of the popular scholars whose works are studied, but HET also includes the works of the nameless hundreds who wrote anything at all to express their worldview and generate a discussion on their circumstances.  While HET continues to study the famous tomes written in the last three centuries, it considers it equally important to study scraps and snatches scribbled over the last two and a half millennia.

The creation of knowledge in the area of history of economic thought plays two roles in the ecosystem of economics research.  First, it holds value by itself.  Knowing about the lives and perceptions of women who lived 2,500 years back or 250 years back is valuable for its own sake.  It has intrinsic value.  Second, such research adds perspective to the lives lived and perspectives held today.  It also has instrumental value.  Moden policy can be informed by studies of old.  An understanding of the process of creation of knowledge can help organise thought in a more meaningful way.  Over my years of teaching HET at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I have observed students express excitement for both these reasons.

Machine Learning and Neural Network based models in Finance

Financing and investment decisions are two major make-or-break decisions of firms. Access to capital markets in emerging economies is often hindered by weak institutions, concentrated ownership, and information asymmetry. Understanding how firms navigate these constraints to raise capital is a key puzzle demanding empirical investigation. More research is required to provide valuable insights into both financing methods and investment decision-making processes, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of this vital economic engine.

Further areas of interest are on Sentiment Analysis; Time Series Models using ML; Machine Learning and Neural Networks applications in Finance; Asset Pricing, ESG and Fintech.

Areas
Finance,Corporate Finance,Machine Learning and Neural Network based models in Finance

Macroeconomics; Forecasting- Machine Learning and Neural Network based models

The critical interplay between Fiscal Policy, its impact on Capital Formation, the resulting Multipliers within an economy, and the implications for Inflation are paramount to understanding macroeconomic stability and growth. Research in these areas offers vital insights into how government financial decisions shape economic landscapes, influence investment, propagate through the system, and affect price levels, particularly in today's volatile global environment. I am particularly interested in taking students who are willing to work on forecasting using Machine Learning models and Neural Networks.

Cultures and Literatures in English from Northeast India

This research area will focus on cultural production and literatures in English from Northeast India, including vernacular writings that have been translated into English. At once removed from and, simultaneously, a hypervisualised “other” to the mainstream, the Northeastern region of the country elicits moments of subliminal awe (such as is the case of the NE as a tourist destination) and on-ground realities of resource extraction, indigenous land rights and ethno-nationalist politics. Such perspectives of the Northeastern region of India—as evinced in the work of scholars such as Sanjib Baruah, Bengt G. Karlsson, Dolly Kikon and others—offer insights into the modernisation of the region with literatures in English being one of the key manifestations of modernity in the Northeast. The questions that research in this area would hope to engage with are: 1) what is the impact of modernity—propagated through law, policies and politics—on the cultural production in the region? 2) what has changed, since British rule, to how the Northeast is viewed as a cultural category? 3) how is universality addressed in literatures and cultures from the Northeast India?

Cultures and Literatures in English from Northeast India

This research area will focus on cultural production and literatures in English from Northeast India, including vernacular writings that have been translated into English. At once removed from and, simultaneously, a hypervisualised “other” to the mainstream, the Northeastern region of the country elicits moments of subliminal awe (such as is the case of the NE as a tourist destination) and on-ground realities of resource extraction, indigenous land rights and ethno-nationalist politics. Such perspectives of the Northeastern region of India—as evinced in the work of scholars such as Sanjib Baruah, Bengt G. Karlsson, Dolly Kikon and others—offer insights into the modernisation of the region with literatures in English being one of the key manifestations of modernity in the Northeast. The questions that research in this area would hope to engage with are: 1) what is the impact of modernity—propagated through law, policies and politics—on the cultural production in the region? 2) what has changed, since British rule, to how the Northeast is viewed as a cultural category? 3) how is universality addressed in literatures and cultures from the Northeast India?

Cultures and Literatures in English from Northeast India

This research area will focus on cultural production and literatures in English from Northeast India, including vernacular writings that have been translated into English. At once removed from and, simultaneously, a hypervisualised “other” to the mainstream, the Northeastern region of the country elicits moments of subliminal awe (such as is the case of the NE as a tourist destination) and on-ground realities of resource extraction, indigenous land rights and ethno-nationalist politics. Such perspectives of the Northeastern region of India—as evinced in the work of scholars such as Sanjib Baruah, Bengt G. Karlsson, Dolly Kikon and others—offer insights into the modernisation of the region with literatures in English being one of the key manifestations of modernity in the Northeast. The questions that research in this area would hope to engage with are: 1) what is the impact of modernity—propagated through law, policies and politics—on the cultural production in the region? 2) what has changed, since British rule, to how the Northeast is viewed as a cultural category? 3) how is universality addressed in literatures and cultures from the Northeast India?

Women and Narrative

While Paul Ricoeur had famously declared that stories map the human experience of time, topics for research in this area will intend to show how women disrupt historical time and patriarchal narratives through their recourse to memory, affect and body-centred storytelling. Beginning with Hélѐne Cixous’ écriture feminine upto Andrea Long Chu’s reflections on feminist authority, research in this area would extend to cultural forms that are transgressive, cyclical and woman-centred in their approach to storytelling. Additionally, the research will also address the negotiations that women make with the historical processes that form the undercurrent to how their stories/narratives are heard and why. The questions that research in this area would hope to engage with are: 1) what are the ways in which womanist narratology complicate the idea of historical time and linearity? 2) is there even such thing as “female” authorship? 3) what is the politics behind womanist narrative production?

African American Culture and Literature

Drawing upon the epistemological, phenomenological and ontological approaches to the study of African American cultural production, this area of research intends to examine the interchanges between African American art forms such as music, fine arts and performance with literature. Taking after the critical insights of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Houston A. Baker, bell hooks, Angela Y. Davis, Tricia Rose, Isabel Wilkerson, Molefi Kete Asante and Ralph Ellison, among others, research in this area will address the continued relevance of African American cultural production and literature within the current, global context. The questions that research in this area would hope to engage with are: 1) how do the specificities of race, class and (possibly) caste in African American cultural production intersect with global frameworks such as capitalism? 2) what are the ways in which African American cultural artefacts and intangible heritage influence global citizenship and identity? 3) can we conceive of a global connectedness and sense of solidarity among marginalised groups within an African American critical framework?