Maggie Paul

I am a researcher of South Asian politics and culture. I am currently pursuing my PhD with the Department of Politics and IR at the University of Adelaide, Australia. My PhD research focuses on civil society and the 'crisis' of migrant citizenship in the time of COVID-19 lockdown in India. In my first year of candidature, I was employed as a tutor in the course titled 'Introduction to Global Politics' at my department.

Having lived, studied and worked most of my life in India, I aspire to be an embedded action researcher in the context with an agenda for meaningful social change. I have previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and held research consultation as well as executive positions with various non-profits in India. I am part of various activist circles in India and am also an author with magazines based out of South Asia, such as HimalMag and the Wire. In terms of education, I completed my Masters in Development Studies and Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and Bachelors in Psychology from University of Delhi. Besides academics, I am an avid gardener, cyclist and collector of myths. I deeply appreciate the power of well crafted words and striking visual story telling.

Research interests:
Migration and migrant citizenship practices; Citizenship regimes and civil society; Political role of philanthropy; Social theory specifically gender theory; Gender and Livelihood; Buddhist ethics, psychology and ecology; Educational philosophy and pedagogical innovations.

Academic writing:

-- [Book Review] Changing Contexts and Shifting Roles of the Indian State: New Perspectives on Development Dynamics, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies.

-- [White Paper] How Sensitive? How Nuanced?: Review of Media Coverage of Kathua Rape Case, Population First, Published by Network of Women in Media, India.

-- Jed-o-jehad of Everyday: Two Cases of Negotiating Space Making by Migrant Women in City- spaces, Published by Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group, India.

-- Women and Work: A review of the National Skill Development Corporation in the wake of Globalization, ​​​​Journal of Politics & Governance.

International Conferences/ Summer Schools:

-- Selected for participation at Summer School “Beyond the City Limits: Rethinking New Religiosities in Asia” (Göttingen University, Germany, July 18-22, 2016)

-- Paper titled “Contingent Methodologies’ and Marginalized Migrant Populations in Bainganwadi, Mumbai” selected for presentation at the 5th International Crossroads Asia Conference: Area Studies’ Futures (Center for Development Research – ZEF, Bonn, Germany, September 22-23, 2016)

-- Paper titled “A Critical Assessment of "Participatory" Master Plans: A Theoretical Incursion” selected for presentation at the 17th NAERUS Conference 2016: Governing, Planning and Managing the City in an Uncertain World; Comparative Perspectives on Everyday Practices (University of Gothernburg and Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy, Sweden, November 17-19, 2016)

-- Paper titled “Jed-o-Jehad of everyday: The De-Facto Right to the City Claim of Migrant Muslim Women in Bainganwadi, Mumbai” selected for presentation at the International Conference on Right to the City in the South, Everyday Urban Experience and Rationalities of Government ( University Paris Diderot, France, November 15-17, 2017)

Awards:

Dalai Lama Global Fellow at San Francisco, USA (2015-16 batch)