Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship 2023: A Blessing Muinao and Thangaduraipandi R

Blessing and Thangaduraipandi are the 2023 recipients of the Inlaks-King’s India Institute Studentship.

Blessing is currently pursuing a PhD in mass communication at Mizoram University, Aizawl.. He received his M.A. in Mass Communication with a gold medal from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. His research interests include digital nationalism, Naga cyber-nationalism, media and ethnic communities, and social media discourse.

Thangaduraipandi R. is a PhD scholar in the Department of Psychiatric Social Work at the prestigious National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. His research focus is primarily on enhancing Mental Health Literacy and providing Suicide Prevention Training for School Teachers.

Here, they share how the Studentship will propel their work in their chosen area of research.

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A Blessing Muinao

The Nagas are a conglomeration of several tribes spread across the four Indian states of Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and parts of Myanmar. The Naga political struggle, demanding their right to self-determination and sovereignty, is considered one of the longest postcolonial struggles in the world. The internet revolution and social media have affected everyday nationalism and repertoires of contention, giving the Naga netizens political opportunities and a space to connect beyond physical borders and globalize their struggle.

My thesis, titled ‘Cyber-nationalism: The Imagined Naga Community in Cyberspace’ focuses on understanding the reconfiguration of Naga nationalism in the digital age. It explores the online activities and strategies used, the expression of ethno-symbolic dimensions, and Naga identity construction on social media platforms. Cyber-nationalism is an ideology and movement evolving online that utilizes digital technologies to integrate members and mobilize for participation, amplify nationalist spirit, organize events, and globalize sentiments.

I have presented papers at international conferences and national seminars on Naga cyber-nationalism and have published articles in Media, War & Conflict, and Media Asia journals, where I studied and analysed discussions on social media as a space for Naga identity negotiation, transnationalism, and contentious politics.

University libraries in the UK have extensive data on the subject, and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford has the largest Naga collection. The studentship will provide access to these archived Naga historical documents and collections, as well as interactions with experts and researchers to help advance scholarship on Naga cyber-nationalism studies.

Thangaduraipandi R

As a member of a multidisciplinary team in the Adult Psychiatry unit and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Clinic, my work is focussed in the field of suicide prevention. During my M.Phil. in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS, my research on De-Addiction Centers in Bengaluru, helped me gain an extensive clinical training in mental illness, substance use disorders, behavioural addiction etc.

My doctoral research is on developing a comprehensive mental health literacy and suicide prevention training module specifically for high school teachers. This module will be a robust tool to empower educators with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivity to identify early signs of mental distress and intervene effectively. Ultimately, the aim is to create a supportive and nurturing school environment that fosters mental well-being and provides a safety net for vulnerable children.

As part of the  Studentship, I will work under the guidance of Dr. Tatiana T. Salisbury, a public mental health scientist, to elevate my research on this critical subject. I will be engaged in conducting literature reviews, participating in seminars, initiating discussions, and making extensive use of the invaluable resources available at the King’s India Institute Library. Additionally, I have the unique opportunity to tap into the vast archival resources within the UK and engage with experts from various institutions and organizations to enrich my research endeavors on the subject.