Contributors

Ainesh Dey is a sophomore at St Xavier’s College, Kolkata, India. An avid learner, he has participated and won laurels in several debates, quizzes, and creative writing endeavors, both at the national and international levels. His wide array of interests ranges from policy formulation, advocacy, and international affairs to international business and developmental economics

Vishvak Kannan is an ecologist by training, currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy from the School of Public Policy at IIT Delhi. He has worked in biodiversity policy in a collaboration project with GIZ and the National Biodiversity Authority and also gained first-hand experience in managing grassroots development working with CHIRAG, an NGO based in Uttarakhand. His research interests include environmental governance, climate change adaptation, and issues of climate justice and equity. 

Rohini Narayanan is a law graduate from Durham University, UK and is currently pursuing a law conversion course from National Law University, Delhi. Her areas of interest are Public International Law, International Human Rights Law and Constitutional Law, Counter-Terrorism and International Relations. Her fascination for the interplay of law, policy and international relations began when she wrote her undergraduate dissertation on ‘Self-Defence Against Non-State Actors.’  She aspires to pursue a career in international law and policy. In her free time, she likes reading, compulsively analyzing cricket statistics, getting engaged in Twitter wars, and playing the veena and violin.

CVTL Manasvini is an undergraduate at MIT WPU in Pune, where she is majoring in Sociology and minoring in Media Studies. Throughout her studies, she was able to complete projects and internships with a number of think tanks. She interned at the Institute for Conflict Management’s South Asian Terrorism Portal as a research intern. She has also documented and analysed situations in the past. She is currently employed by SHAPE NGO as a project associate which concentrates on Human Rights Education. She also did two internships with DraftCraft International, one of which was a field internship for one week. She also served with Christ Fellowship and Care Foundation Project at the United Nations, where she wrote a grant proposal for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls.

Ayush Mehta graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. For his junior year, he interned with the Democratic Party of Pulaski, Kentucky’s social media team during the 2020 elections. As a democracy fellow, he worked with the campus vote project. He worked as a risk analyst for Momentum India throughout his senior year. He started working full-time as a Protective Intelligence Analyst with Max Securities after graduating. Geopolitics and International Relations, he argues, are absolutely necessary for a long-term future. He is an expert in MENA politics and US foreign policy.

Hima Mishra is currently pursuing her Master’s in International Studies at Symbiosis School of International Studies. With a background in Political Science from Fergusson College, Pune, her academic interests lie in Political Economy, Chinese Studies, and Soft Power. Hima also finds herself fascinated by new developments in science and technology and amuses herself with political cartoons from time to time.

Sucheta Nair is a recent undergraduate from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, having completed her studies in Political Science and Sociology. A prospective graduate, her research interests lie in the fields of International Relations, Climate Security and Negotiations, and studies of Asia-Pacific. She is currently a Policy and Media Intern at the Intelligent Indian-TIIx and has previously interned at the policy think-tank Raisina House. She is an avid policy researcher and has contributed as a Research Coordinator at the Public Policy and Analysis Cell of her college. A versatile individual, she has actively participated in fields of sports, dramatics, music, etc. throughout her academic life. She aspires to put her determined spirit to use towards helping those around herself and giving back to society. 

Subham Choudhury is a post-graduate in International Relations from Webster University Thailand. He is a contributing writer in The Inquisitive Circle and The Youth Ink. He has interests in MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) and South Asian politics, Geopolitics as well as International and Regional Security. His hobbies are watching YouTube videos, listening to audiobooks, and penning down thoughts related to various policy-related issues.

Debahuti Sharma has a bachelor’s with honours in Political Science from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and a Masters in Political Science from Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi. She is currently the Head of the Department of Content Writing at Pink Legal Alpha. She has previously volunteered as a Senior Research Associate at Frank Creations, worked as a student intern in the Centre for Ethics, Politics, and Global Affairs, New Delhi, and interned at the Non-governmental organization GREEN REVOLUTIONARY ADMIRABLE SERENE SOCIETY (GRASS), Golaghat, Assam. She is skilled at Equity Research, Qualitative Research, Online Research, Structural Analysis, and Quantitative Research. Her areas of interest are mostly in the fields of International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Gender Studies.

Anushka Sahu is an active social worker with a demonstrated history of working with various non-profit organizations like Umeed- A Drop of hope and Make a Difference NGOs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi, and a diploma in Chinese language and literature from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. Her strength lies in conducting research, reviewing books on politics, and relaying information for effective communication. As an aspiring academician with interests ranging from International relations to comparative politics, she intends to make a significant contribution in the field of comparative political economy and public policy.

Fatima Tahir is a graduate of Amity University in Noida with a degree in Applied Psychology. She conducted numerous quantitative and qualitative studies during the course, including “Identifying the Need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in India,” “Rehabilitation vs Incarceration,” and “Underlying Bias Towards Muslims in India,” all of which have significant policy consequences. She has worked on numerous humanitarian projects, including “Baatein Ankaheesi” (BA) as a mental health group facilitator and “Project Rakshak,” a nationwide campaign to eradicate Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). She is also the Co-Founder of Girl Up Naaz, which is part of the UN Foundation’s global Girl Up Campaign for women’s empowerment and gender equality. She is a voracious reader who keeps up with world events, with a special interest in US domestic and foreign policy.

Ishani Sharma is a penultimate-year undergraduate at the O.P. Jindal Global University in Haryana, pursuing a B.A. in Global Affairs. She is passionate about International Relations and Diplomacy, with research interests primarily in Global Power Dynamics, Human Rights, International Diplomacy, and Gender Politics. She presently works as an Assistant Editor at the Centre for Security Studies and previously interned as a Research Intern at the Centre for Middle East Studies. She has written numerous research papers on topics such as Saudi Arabia’s Sedentarization of Bedouins and HAMAS’s social legitimacy. She hopes to broaden her awareness of global concerns by writing commentaries and policy briefs on current events.

Dhruv Rajpoot is an advocate with more than 4 years of experience in preparing notices, suits, petitions, appeals, contracts, and research. He has written for a variety of platforms and published extensively with them. Intellectual Property Laws, Information and Cyber Laws, Matrimonial Laws, Contract: Drafting, Management, Negotiation, Review, and Due Diligence are among his areas of expertise and interest. He has written articles titled “The Property Rights Of A Hindu Woman” and “Indian Legal Approach To Euthanasia.”

Samayala Sami is an undergraduate student at the University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. She is planning to graduate with a specialization in Economics and Mathematics. She is a researcher and writer. She has worked with the International Institute of SDG and Public Policy Research as a researcher (IISPPR is an official partner of the United Nations). She has also contributed to the Public Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals department. It was during this period, she decided that she wanted to work in the field of International Economics and Government Policy.  Alongside this, she also authored a solo research paper entitled ” Why we can’t stop wildfires until we solve climate change issues?”. This study paper arose from her serious concern about climate change and investigating it was her way of dealing with it. She has also worked with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), where she honed her approach of writing news-oriented pieces and publications specializing in economics. She is deeply invested in Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, and International Relations. She is also an independent writer. Her work is primarily focused on economic development and world affairs. She is currently working on her first book which is about the financial crisis in Lebanon. Her end goal is to work with policymakers to help tackle issues related to poverty and illiteracy.

Himadri Brahma is currently pursuing a Master’s in Development Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Guwahati, Assam. She holds an M.Sc. degree in Botany as well. She enjoys reading, writing, and conversing about the current sociopolitical and economic situation in order to provide some new insights into the discourse. She aims to leverage her scientific knowledge with her interest in the humanities to make a meaningful and practical contribution to the community. She is now interning in Guwahati, Assam, at an online multimedia company. She has also interned with Pratham, an NGO dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to education and bridging the persisting educational divide. Women in agriculture and other informal industries are among her areas of interest. She also takes a keen interest in rural development, female child safety and education, and universal literacy. Her objective is to forge ahead in the field of academia and work tirelessly to improve her surroundings.

Gandhali Bhide is a Contributing Writer at GPC and has graduated from Mumbai University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Cultural Policy, Relations, and Diplomacy from the Goldsmiths, University of London. She is interested in and wants to contribute to the field of international relations, namely the sub-fields of cultural relations, history, and soft power. For a year, she represented India in Denmark as a Rotary International Cultural Youth Exchange Student, and it was here that her interest in people, culture, and politics blossomed. She has worked with ‘India Lost & Found’ as a writer and narration reviewer for a year. It is an initiative with the goal of creating a virtual museum showcasing India’s rich and diverse cultural history, as well as telling stories and raising awareness about India’s monuments and culture. She has also interned with Pratham Educational Foundation’s International Collaboration Team, working in Southern African countries. Currently, she is working as a Research Analyst with Sapio Analytics in the Geopolitical and Heritage Restoration Division. 

Khushi Agrawal is currently pursuing BA Honours in Political Science at Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi. She is passionate about public policy and is particularly interested in International Relations, Conflict Studies, and Human Rights. She wrote a research paper for CNPR titled “The Existing Incompatibility between Multiculturalism and Feminism in India.” She has worked for non-profit organizations such as Zero Gravity and Renovatio, and she is currently affiliated with Sandhira Foundation, where she is a core member of the Research and Ideation Department, and she has competed in numerous debating competitions held by various universities and colleges in Delhi. She intends to work for marginalized groups in the future and make a difference in the field of human rights and law.

Aditi Shetty is a final year student pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Economics, and Sociology at Mount Carmel College Autonomous Bengaluru India. She was entrenched in the field of education through stints as a student volunteer at various NGOs and later cultivated her interest in policy-making in education through an internship at Pratham Education Foundation. She also bagged internships in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility and at a Human Resource boutique in Bangalore. Being a rank holder from her college, she wishes to climb the great wall of academics and work towards making it more accessible to young students like her and be able to discern the world better. She hopes to carve out a career juxtaposing social impact, entrepreneurship, and policy.

Mehr Kaur is currently pursuing BA honours in Sociology at Hindu College, University of Delhi. She is interested in contemporary issues of gender, politics, and caste. Having interned at organizations aimed at promoting social welfare, she has a passion for the same. Additionally, she is keen to expand her writing and research skills and looking to make a contribution to the field of Sociology. Some of her hobbies include listening to podcasts, watching films, and participating in collegiate parliamentary debates. 

Sweta Chowdhury graduated in the discipline of Political Science from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and went on to pursue her Masters in the same discipline from Presidency University, Kolkata, and qualified for the NTA NET (National Eligibility Test).  Her areas of specialization include Democratic Theory, Civil Society, Feminist Political Theory, Hermeneutics, Political Sociology, and Neuropolitics. Her Post Graduation thesis was based on ‘Democracy and Civil Society’, and she submitted her dissertation titled, ‘The First Cadences of Consciousness: Bengal Renaissance and the commencement of a civil space for women in India’. She has worked closely with a number of Political Parties while working as the Project Head of a group of Political and Data Analysts at a Political Consultancy Firm, Grayroots Communications Pvt.Ltd., in Mumbai. She has also coached UPSC aspirants in a course on Political Science at Unacdemy, where she worked as a Verified Educator. Currently, she is rigorously working on ‘Zombie Politics and Floating Voters’ as a part of her research on Substantive Democracy. She has actively participated in a number of seminars, debates, and conferences on wide-ranging themes including ‘Polio Eradication’ organized by ‘Rotary India National PolioPlus committee’, ‘Media and the role of Democracy’, Recommendations on Climate Change to the Conference of Parties (COP), the apex decision-making body of the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC), in the form of a debate held by a global think tank, Observer Research Foundation, ‘Philosophy’s place in the Social Sciences: Is and Ought’. She has worked as an active reporter and editor of the National Service Scheme’s (NSS) annual magazine, ‘Kadam’.

Akanksha Tiwari is a first-year Political Science student at Loreto College, Kolkata. She is passionate about International Relations and Diplomacy and has authored a research paper on the ‘The Quad: A Pragmatic Path Towards A Strategic Security Co-operation’ that has been published on the website of the Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development (CSIRD). She has also served as the Dialogue Facilitator for Reflections Research Advocacy, a network of South and Southeast Asian Women working in the community space in their respective contexts who have come together to craft a new narrative of cultural empowerment of women by deliberating, researching, and advocating for the cultural agency of women in their respective communities. The Network operates virtually through calls (online dialogues, workshops, webinars), producing publications that are crowdsourced and creative online advocacy campaigns. Besides actively engaging herself in public speaking, and research activities, Akanksha has regularly participated in co-curricular activities such as dance, music, sports, debate, headed her drama team for three consecutive years, and has also received an award in Sanskrit from the former Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India, Smt. Smriti Irani. Akanksha is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and classical singer. She has represented her school in various Zonal and National level athletic competitions.  She has also held several leadership positions in her school including the Vice-Head Girl, Vice-Captain, Prefect for two consecutive years, and Secretary of The Change Makers Club. Apart from this, she has volunteered in several community services as a member of the Interact Club, Eco Club, the Euphrates Institute, and as the Student Coordinator of the Online Circle of Compassion, the first of its kind online platform for connecting youth from Asia and Africa to people from all over the world. It is a diverse group with facilitators from over 15 countries. This platform is a safe space to practice compassionate listening where young people can come forward and share their challenges, emotional issues, mental health issues, and everything that they are unable to share with their families. This initiative guarantees confidentiality and the opportunity to share in different languages because it connects with facilitators who know English, French, Arabic, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto, Bengali, and Spanish.