Teaching
Courses
Education
- PhD, Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (Ongoing)
- MPhil, Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi – 2022
- MA, Political Science, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi, New Delhi – 2018
- BA (Hons), Political Science, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, University of Delhi – 2016
Profile
Vishal is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. His doctoral research takes a multidisciplinary approach to explore the conceptual and historical entanglement of Buddhism and caste, drawing on political theory, intellectual history, economic thought, and food studies. In his research, he examines two central questions: how modern intellectuals have articulated the genealogy of ‘untouchability,’ shaped by a significant historical moment when the concepts of labour, cattle, and food were central to the formation of modern life; and how these conditions led to a redefinition of the human (manus or manuski) through reinterpretations of Buddhism.
Previously, in his MPhil dissertation, he explored the conceptual entanglement of labour and culture through the works of Rahul Sankrityayan, focussing on the intersection of Marxism and Buddhism. He has presented papers at several international seminars and national workshops, addressing topics in intellectual history, economic thought, political theory, and cultural and religious studies. In addition to his doctoral research, he is also investigating the political economy and social dynamics of fox nut (makhana) production in Madhubani.
Research Interests
Vishal has a deep and enduring interest in Dalit history, cultural and political thought, food theory, and the history of capitalism.