Cultural Studies Methodology Lab

Department of English and Cultural Studies

In collaboration with

Department of Media Studies

CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore India

Organizes

A Research Symposium on Migration Studies in Peninsular India

August 28-30th, 2025

Migration and issues related to migration has acquired political, cultural, and economic significance in an urgent way recently in Peninsular India. With the recent proposals of large-scale infrastructure-led developmental projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands questions of ecology and sustainability has become critical for these ecologically fragile zones. Underpinning these questions of ecology and sustainability is also the question of migration. Therefore, there is a need to theorize and conceptualize migratory processes of Peninsular India in the light of these recent developments. One should also take into account that Peninsular India has also been a host to refugee population at crucial moments in its history.

Migration has been studied by various disciplines based on their unique methodologies and questions. Migration Studies as an interdisciplinary field tries to provide an intellectual terrain that enables us to bring a more comprehensive approach to our understanding of migration. This symposium tries to bring together in conversation both the disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary approaches taken by researchers. Given that migration in Peninsular India is fluidic and dynamic, we think that this dialogic approach will be a generative exercise.

This research symposium invites early career scholars, doctoral scholars, prospective doctoral scholars, journalists, and final year masters’ students planning to research on migration in the context of Peninsular India to present their work/proposal/ideas. This symposium will be conducted in the form of an open discussion based on thematic tracks. The aim of this symposium is to raise crucial and unexplored questions around migration in Peninsular India. Presenters can choose from the following track to share their projects:

• Track 1: Intra-state migration
• Track 2: Inter-state migration
• Track 3: International migration
• Track 4: Migration, Media and Culture
• Track 5: Refugee and Statelessness
• Track 6: Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
• Track 7: Theories of Migration (Economic, Political, Social, Cultural)
• Track 8: Ecology and Migration

We especially encourage scholars, students, and practitioners working in the institutions of the region of Peninsular India to share their work at the symposium.

The central aim of this symposium is to work towards forming a Migration Research Collective. A network of researcher and practitioners which will identify, investigate, and consolidate research work around migration.

Please submit an abstract (300-400 words) clearly mentioning the chosen track and a short bio-note with affiliation (150 words) to csc@christuniversity.in by July 07, 2025.

Important Dates:

●      Abstract Submission: [July 07, 2025]

●      Notification of acceptance: [July 15, 2025]

●      Payment of registration fee: [July 31, 2025]

Registration fee:

Full time faculty and professionals: INR 2500

Doctoral Scholars: INR 1500

Current MA Students: INR 1200

Conveners:

Mithilesh Kumar, Department of English and Cultural Studies, Christ University, Bengaluru

Amoolya Rajappa, Department of Media Studies, Christ University, Bengaluru