I am a university lecturer in contemporary South Asian politics at the Leiden University Institute of Area Studies. My primary area of interest is the political economy of development in contemporary India and South Asia. I have conducted extensive ethnographic research in various parts of South Asia for close to two decades, and have published on various facets of development politics and socio-economic inequality in the region. My most recent work explores questions of identity, sovereignty, marginalisation and democratic deficits in South Asia. I have a PhD in development studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and I am a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.

More information about Ritanjan Das

Fields of interest

My primary research interest is in the intersectional domain of development politics and inequality in the global South, with a particular focus on South Asia. I have explored this area through investigating into such broad and diverse themes as urban development, illiberalism, politics of space and identity, political dynasticism, social welfare, citizenship and migration, dispossession and displacement, neoliberal governmentality, and communist politics. I have written on various facets of political economy of development in contemporary India, using ethnographic, archival as well as mixed-methods research. My most recent work explores everyday expressions of marginality, non-state sovereignty, and different notions of belonging. I am currently working on several research projects on gender and education, postcolonial hegemony, religious urbanism, and a book on colonial history using personal archives. My most recent book is ‘The Politics of Community-making in New Urban India: Illiberal Spaces, Illiberal Cities’ (Routledge, 2023). Alongside my research, I also regularly contribute op-ed pieces to different South Asia-centric blogs and media platforms. 

Supervison

I am willing to supervise MA students on projects concerning any topics related to contemporary politics in India and South Asia. For PhD projects, I particularly welcome those interested in development politics and political economy of South Asia, as well as questions of identity, nationalism, democracy, party-politics and contemporary social and political history of the region. 

Research

The following is a brief description of my ongoing research projects.

Papers Under Review
Das, R., and Kumar, N. (2023/24). Unpacking Urban Marginality: The Politics of Place and Identity in Urban North India
Das, R., and Nielsen, K. (2023/24). Consolidating a Political Dynasty: Abhishek Banerjee, The Trinamool Congress, and the 2023 Panchayat Elections in West Bengal
Das, R., and Williams, N. (2024). The Legal Geographies of Offshore Carceral Regimes: A Conceptual Review
Das, R., and Rhoads, E. (2024). The Spectre of Potential Foreigners in Postcolonial Citizenship Discourses: A Comparative Study of Myanmar and India

Ongoing Projects
The Politics of Spatial Governmentality: A New Look at Community Lives and Neighbourhood Associations in Urban India  (with Nilotpal Kumar, Azim Premji University, India)
Empowerment, Education and Welfare: Exploring the consequences of Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes in India (with Zaad Mahmood, Presidency University, India)
God, State and the City: Negotiating Urban Development around Religious Properties in Calcutta and Rangoon (with Elizabeth Rhoads, Lund University, Sweden)
Postcolonial Hegemony: The Production of Consent in Post-Left Bengali Politics

Grants and awards

• Fellowship, UK Higher Education Academy, 2023.
• Best research output award for the book ‘Neoliberalism and the Transformative Left in India’, University of Portsmouth 2019.
• Research Grant for a project as part of the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative, International Institute of Social Studies (Netherlands), 2017-2018.
• Research Project Fund Award, University of Portsmouth, 2017.  
• The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust Grants (2008-2010).
• Central Research Fund Award, University of London (2008-2009).
• Research Studentship Awards, London School of Economics and Political Science (2005-2010).

CV

Education
PhD in Development Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science (2013).

PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Portsmouth (2005).

MSc in Information Systems, London School of Economics and Political Science (2003).

Masters in Information Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India (2003).

BSc in Information Systems Management, University of London External Programme, London School of Economics and Political Science (2002).

Diploma in Economics, University of London External Programme, London School of Economics and Political Science (2000)

Employment
University lecturer in contemporary South Asian politics, Leiden University Institute of Area Studies (since 2023)

Senior lecturer in development studies, University of Portsmouth, UK (2005-2023)

Lecturer in information systems, University of Portsmouth, UK (2003-2005).

Selected publications

Authored Books
The Politics of Community-making in New Urban India: Illiberal Spaces, Illiberal Cities (Routledge, 2023; co-authored).

Neoliberalism and the Transforming Left in India: A Contradictory Manifesto (Routledge, 2018).

Publications