Malavika Pradhan

Guest Faculty
Department of Political Science
Darjeeling Hills University

BIO

Malavika Pradhan is a doctoral researcher in Political Science at the University of North Bengal and Guest Faculty in the Department of Political Science at Darjeeling Hills University. She completed her M.A. in Political Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and her B.A. (Honours) in Political Science at Presidency University, Kolkata. Her research work explores populism, media and political communication in contemporary India, with a focus on how they shape democratic life, citizenship, and political subjectivities. She is particularly interested in questions of power, ideology, and exclusion, drawing on political philosophy, feminist thought, and critical theory to engage with debates on recognition, redistribution, and social justice in the Global South. She has presented papers at national and international conferences and has been involved in academic workshops and gender sensitisation initiatives.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Political Science​, University of North Bengal, Siliguri (2022 – Present)

M.A. in Political Studies​, Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences​, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (2017–2019)

B.A. (Honours) in Political Science​, Presidency University, Kolkata (2014–2017)

Qualified UGC NET Examination for Assistant Professor in Political Science (Dec 2019)

Online Certificate Course: Gender and Society, Women’s Studies and Development Centre, University of Delhi (Jan–May 2022)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

To be updated.

EXPERIENCE

To be updated.

PUBLICATIONS

Pradhan, M. (2022). Urbanisation and its discontents: Deciphering the politics of hegemonic social relations and spatial injustice. In N. K. C. Lepcha (Ed.), Rural and Urban Development in India: Issues and Challenges. New Delhi: Rajesh Publications.

Pradhan, M. (2022). The master’s tools will not dismantle the master’s house: Mainstream feminism and the paradox of women’s emancipation. Sikkim Chronicle; Countercurrents.org.

Pradhan, M. (2025). Deconstructing India’s Democracy: Essays in Honour of James Manor edited by Rob Jenkins and Louise Tillin [Book review]. Doing Sociology.

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

Presented paper titled “The Politics of Redistribution and Recognition: Rethinking Gender, Class and Caste in India” at the National Seminar on Empowering ExcludedWomen Through Socio-Political and Juridical Representation: Indian Experiences, Indian Institute of Legal Studies, Siliguri (2022).

Conducted a Gender Sensitization Workshop at Kurseong College, Dist. Darjeeling (September 2022).

Presented a paper titled “Borders, Precarious Citizenship and the Politics of Unbelonging in Contemporary India” at the ICSSR-sponsored National Seminar on Borders and Boundaries: India and Its Neighbours, Kurseong College (March 2023).

Presented a paper titled “Displacement Dynamics: Understanding Socio-Economic, Health and Educational Challenges Among Palestinians Amid Crisis” at the International Conference on Displacement Justice: Global Challenges, Issues and Strategies, Indian Institute of Legal Studies, Siliguri (2024).

Participated in the workshop “Analyzing the Quantitative Data in Indian Politics”, organised by Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi, in collaboration with NITTE Education Trust, Bengaluru (July 2024).

GRANTS AND AWARDS

To be updated.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

To be updated.