Hebatallah Adamis a Professor of Economics, School of Business, Horizon University College, United Arab Emirates, and recipient of the UAE’s 10-year Golden Residence Visa (Geniuses of Talent). Formerly Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, she has held academic posts at Ain Shams University, the German University in Cairo, and the Arab Academy. Founder of the Jindal Centre for the Global South, the Global South Research Foundation, and the Africa Dialogue Forum, she has published extensively with Springer, Routledge, and Palgrave Macmillan, focusing on international development, political economy, and Global South studies.
Andrea Benvenuti is an Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at the School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia. He currently teaches twentieth-century international history and diplomacy at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His research interests focus on post-1945 international history, with a particular emphasis on the Cold War in Asia. He recently published Nehru’s Bandung: Non-Alignment and Regional Order in Indian Cold War Strategy (London: Hurst, 2024; New Delhi: Speaking Tiger, 2024), and co-authored China’s Policy: The Emergence of a Great Power (London: Routledge, 2022). He is presently completing a multi-authored two-volume monograph on the role of Western powers in Asia from the First World War to the end of the Cold War (London: Bloomsbury). He holds a DPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford, an MA by research from Monash University, and a BA (Hons) from the University of Florence.
Aurko Chakrabarti is an Applied Geopolitical Researcher at the Advanced Study Institute of Asia, where he has worked since the organization’s founding, and he currently serves as the editor of the quarterly Decypher Journal. He began his professional career in 2022 as a Narrative Designer at the Sanrachna Foundation, following an internship with the Economic Times in 2020 and earlier volunteer work in Kolkata. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication from Swansea University. With more than three years of research experience, Aurko contributes to the Institute’s De/Cypher newsletter and supports a range of research projects and collaborations.
Aitor Debbarma is a PhD candidate at the Department of English at The ICFAI University, Tripura. He has served as Guest Faculty of English at Holy Cross College, and Kathia Baba Mission College, Agartala, Tripura. For his doctoral research, he is working on the influence of the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami on East Asian cultures. His areas of interest are Cultural Studies, Generational Studies, East Asian Studies, Reception Studies, and Translation Studies. He has published a short story called “Fatal Little Things” in the Tripura Times Newspaper in 2019. His future plans are to continue his research in academia on topics relating to unique literary and cultural concepts. In his free time, he enjoys writing, playing football, playing music, and trying new artistic endeavors.
Jangkhongam Doungel is a Professor in the Department of Political Science, Mizoram University. He is a member of various academic forums, and has published many research articles in reputed journals. He has presented research papers at many seminars at the state level, and at the national and international levels. He is also a senior Fulbright Research Fellow at the University of Cincinnati, and an Associate Editor of Rising Asia Journal.
Priyanka Garodia is an MPhil graduate in International Relations and Political Science from Jadavpur University, specializing in international affairs, gender politics, and feminist international relations. With a BA and MA from Presidency University, and having studied at Sciences Po, Paris, she currently works as a research analyst at the Advanced Study Institute of Asia (ASIA) of the SGT University, Gurugram, India. Priyanka specializes in providing in-depth analysis and insights into South Asian political trends. Her book reviews have appeared in Rising Asia Journal.
Philip George is a solicitor, cross-border jurisdiction lawyer, former international sportsman, writer, and global traveler. Born in Malaya and educated in England, he has spent five decades navigating law, culture and politics across continents. Now based in Tuscany, he writes on geopolitics, identity and power, blending lived experience with historical insight to explore how nations and individuals adapt in an unsettled world. He has published Racket Boy: Where’s My Country (with Geetha K.), and Ruta 40 at 72.
Shlok Goenka is an undergraduate student at Manipal University in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with an interest in physics, computer science, and mathematics. He aspires to pursue research in these fields, especially in areas like quantum physics and classical mechanics. Alongside his academic pursuits, Shlok is deeply passionate about linguistics and philosophy, which he explores through the Sanskrit Server, an online community he founded and manages. His inquisitive nature drives him to seek deeper understanding in both the sciences and the humanities. Beyond academics, Shlok is committed to creating a positive impact, and actively works toward building a more thoughtful and progressive society.
Nzano Elise Humtsoe is a Master’s student at Patkai Christian College, where she focuses on political science, student movements, and contemporary political theory. Her academic interests are in social change and collective action. In her free time, she enjoys reading widely and painting as a way to reflect and recharge. She has presented her work on youth political engagement at the North East India Political Science Students Association (NEIPSA) Conference (2024) and contributed a paper, “Feminism at the Margins: Student Movements and Political Consciousness in Northeast India,” to the MAPS Review. Her broader interests include decolonial theory, feminist political thought, and participatory governance.
Ruthi Hmingchungnungi (PhD) is currently working as Guest Faculty in the Department of Education (ITEP), Mizoram University. Coming from Political Science background, she teaches Political Science at her place of work. She is a member of various academic related associations. She has published several research articles in UGC Care listed journals and peer reviewed journals. She has presented several research papers in the state, and at national and international seminars.
Kelvin Ke Jinde is Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. An award-winning writer and media practitioner, he received the Departmental Teaching Excellence Award in 2024, and the Industry Engagement Champion Award in 2025. His research focuses on film, cultural studies, and intangible cultural heritage. As a practitioner, he works across filmmaking, arts curation, and time-based media. Kelvin is especially interested in the role of the arts as a mode of social activity and public engagement, exploring how creative practices intersect with community, identity, and heritage through both academic inquiry and creative production.
Anwitha Kandula is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Student and is currently ranked 2/208 throughout the institution. Alongside five current science-based research publications, Kandula has earned over 1,000 downloads collectively for all her papers and has made several “Top 10 Lists” for her research in different journals. Throughout her educational career, Kandula is intensely driven, not just to succeed, but to lead and create impact, pursuing excellence with long-term vision and strategic action. Her research background can be found in microfluidics, biomaterials, and mesothelioma cancer, with growing interests in foreign policy, diplomacy, international relations, and global politics.
Manashjyoti Karjee is a Researcher in Security and Society at the Advanced Study Institute of Asia. With a postgraduate degree in International Relations & Area Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ramjas College, University of Delhi, he brings a strong academic foundation to his work. Manash has contributed extensively to publications on security dynamics, Indian political developments, cross-border terrorism, the geopolitics of the Arctic, and global geopolitical shifts. He has also collaborated with leading Risk Management firms, applying his expertise to real-world challenges. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Manash is passionate about sports journalism and grassroots development, reflecting his diverse interests and commitment to making an impact across multiple sectors.
Vimal Khawas is a Professor in the Special Centre for the Study of North East India at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He was conferred the Prof S.R. Basu Memorial Award in November 2025 for his work on water-related issues at the 4th International River Conference of the South Asian Institute for Advanced Research and Development in New Delhi. Previously, he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies and Management, Sikkim University. He headed the department in 2018-20. He holds an MPlan degree (Urban and Regional Planning) from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and PhD (Political Geography) from the Political Geography Division, Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, JNU. He specializes and works around issues of regional development and planning, disaster management, environmental security, and natural resources management.
Anirban Lahiri holds a Bachelor of Science in Operations Research from Columbia University, New York, and an MBA from London Business School in the United Kingdom. He was the Head of Research for the joint venture between the leading regional investment banking and securities brokerage arm of CIMB group and VNDIRECT, a leading retail brokerage and investment bank in Vietnam. He also founded the medical education and peer-to-peer networking platform Medisetter and grew it into the largest multichannel digital doctor community in Vietnam, eventually exiting via a strategic sale in 2025. In previous years, Anirban was a Senior Research Manager at Viet Capital Securities, a leading investment bank and securities brokerage house in Vietnam where he oversaw coverage of Vietnamese equities. Prior to this, Anirban was an Associate Director at PENM, the private equity fund management arm of Danish asset management firm, Bankinvest Group. He commenced his career as an investment banking analyst at UBS in New York and has eighteen years of professional experience spanning investment banking, strategy consulting, private equity, and new venture development with a particular focus on developing Asian countries.
Christopher J. Lee has published twelve books, including Making a World after Empire: The Bandung Moment and Its Political Afterlives (2010, rev. 2nd edition 2019), Unreasonable Histories: Nativism, Multiracial Lives, and the Genealogical Imagination in British Africa (2014), Frantz Fanon: Toward a Revolutionary Humanism (2015), Kwame Anthony Appiah (2021), and Alex La Guma: The Exile Years, 1966-1985 (2024). He is currently the Lead Editor of the journal Safundi.
Artha Mishra is a Class Eleven high-school student at Awadh Prabha Vidyapeeth and an enthusiastic writer whose work focuses mainly on blending technical clarity with cultural and analytical depth. They are very aspirational about bringing social change and working for the collective good. They got into writing at the age of twelve, writing poetry about a variety of topics like social reform, historical injustices, and human emotions and struggles. They also turned to prose, writing short fictional stories based on real-life struggles and issues, as well as articles and essays on philosophical inquiry, social problems, and science. They also enjoy writing essays, articles, and sketches.
Yayan Ganda Hayat Mulyana (PhD) currently serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Sweden, concurrently accredited to the Republic of Latvia. Dr. Mulyana joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993 and has since held numerous key positions, including: Head of the Foreign Policy Strategy Agency, Head of the Center for Education and Training, and Head of the Secretariat for Special Envoys of the President. His overseas postings include: Consul General of Indonesia in Sydney, Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, and Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the UN in New York. He graduated from the University of Padjadjaran, Department of International Relations, and pursued master’s and doctoral programmes in the United States under a Fulbright scholarship.
Erick Raven is a Research and Teaching Excellence Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at Baylor University. He graduated with his PhD in Rhetoric and Composition from Texas Christian University in 2025. He taught middle school in the United States and South Korea before teaching at the university level at the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, and Baylor University. His work has appeared in the peer-reviewed journals, The Journal of Popular Culture and Black Camera. Afro-Asian Rhetoric is the core of his research interest as he focuses on its expression in popular culture, particularly the visual arts and music. African American and East Asian women are at the center of his work as he is interested in researching the connection of Afro-Asian rhetoric in relation to Black and East Asian feminism(s) as well as how cultural interactions between these two groups are efficacious in the mutual goal of complete liberation and social equality.
Cut Nury Hikmah Sabry (Nury) is a Junior Diplomat/Attaché at the Center for Policy Strategy for the America and Europe Region, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, a role she has held since 2022. She holds a Master’s in International Security from Sciences Po Paris and a Bachelor’s in International Relations from Universitas Indonesia. Her work centers on formulating foreign policy strategies. Beyond diplomacy, Nury embraces her role as a mom and savors quiet moments with a cup of coffee—small pauses that keep her grounded in the fast-paced world of international affairs.
Salikyu Sangtam is a Fellow, Geopolitics and International Relations, at the Logdrum Foundation in Dimapur, India. He is also concurrently an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Tetso College in Chumoukedima, India. His research focuses on Indian and Chinese strategic traditions, political theory, and non-western political thought. He is a regular contributor for the Rising Asia Journal.
Urmi Sengupta is an Assistant Professor of English at The ICFAI University, Tripura. She is also an Executive Council Member of the Comparative Literature Association of India, and member of the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Canadian Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. She was awarded a PhD in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University. For her Doctoral Research she has engaged in a comparative analysis of the works of Alice Munro (Canada) and Nirmal Verma (India). Her research interests include Canadian Literature, Ecocriticism, Gender, Translation Studies, Indigenous Studies, and Memory Studies. Her essays have been published in journals like Sahitya: The Journal of the Comparative Literature Association of India, Littcrit: An Indian Response to Literature, The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs, and Sanglap: Journal of Literary and Cultural Inquiry. She has contributed chapters in peer-reviewed volumes on Ecocriticism and Environment: Rethinking Literature and Culture (Primus, 2018), Nation-building, Education and Culture in India and Canada (Springer, 2019), and Memory Studies in the Digital Age: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (Routledge, 2025).
Gurjit Singh served as an Indian diplomat for thirty-seven years, representing India in Germany, Indonesia, Timor Leste, ASEAN, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the African Union, and held postings in Japan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Italy. As Ambassador to ASEAN, he played a key role during the launch of the Act East Policy in 2014. A prolific writer, he has authored books on India’s ties with Japan, Indonesia, and Germany, including a comic book and YouTube video that creatively explored India-Indonesia relations. An expert on the Indo-Pacific and Asian affairs, he frequently comments on ASEAN, the Act East Policy, and regional dynamics. His latest book, The Mango Flavour: India & ASEAN After a Decade of the Act East Policy, was published by the ISEAS, Singapore in August 2025.
A. Sooklal is currently South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. He previously served as Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg. He also served as South Africa G20 Sherpa, BRICS Sherpa, IBSA Sherpa, and Focal Point of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). He also served as Deputy Director General of Asia and Middle East in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). He holds a PhD in Oriental Studies and a PhD in Religious Studies, and prior to joining the South Africa Foreign Service he lectured at the University of South Africa and University of KwaZulu Natal.
Leishilembi Terem is a Class Ten high school student, with an interest in botany. Alongside her interest in these fields, she is also interested in policy research and political studies, particularly concerning Northeast India. At the age of seven, she had written her first poem, “The Sky Beneath Loktak,” and a short story, “Salt in the Wind” at the age of eight. She has authored an analytical piece, “A Manufactured Conflict: The Structural Logic of India’s Role in the Manipur Ethnic Violence,” published in the Imphal Review of Arts and Politics. She also wrote an article, “Manipur’s Self-Destructive Strife: How the Meitei-Kuki Conflict Serves External Interests?” for the magazine Indian Currents. In addition, she had penned a realistic fictional short story, The Year the Fireflies Didn’t Come Back on the 2023 Manipur conflict through the eyes of an unnamed teenage Meitei girl, which was published in The Borderless Journal. In the future, she is interested in pursuing a career in law.
