Aakanshi Bansal is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. Aakanshi has completed her bachelor's in Political Science from Amity University. Her avid interest in Geo Politics and Security has led to her interning in other think tanks like CLAWS and CENJOWS as well. She is currently pursuing her Master's in International Development Practice from TISS and Monash University.
Aanchal Budhwar is currently pursuing her Masters degree in International Studies from Symbiosis School of International Studies in Pune with a specialisation in Asia Area Studies. She completed her Bachelors degree in English Honours from MCM DAV College, Chandigarh. She is an avid reader and is passionate about learning new languages. She is keen on learning about Asian culture and geopolitics and deciphering the strategic meaning behind the political, diplomatic, cultural, economic and social developments taking place in China and its impact beyond the borders.
Aanchal Pannu is a student of International Relations. She is also a writer for The International Scholar. Her research interests lie in Security and Defense.
Abhishek Sharma is a Doctoral Student in Korean Studies under the Department of East Asian Studies at University of Delhi. He is a postgraduate in International Relations from South Asian University. He is interested in evolving Geopolitics of East Asia and the Indo-Pacific Region, focusing on India-South Korea relations and Indian Foreign Policy. His research interests also include the intersection of Gender and International Politics, particularly in Environmental Peacebuilding, Nuclear Disarmament, and Feminist Foreign Policy.
Abhishek Verma is a PhD scholar at Diplomacy and Disarmament (DAD) division, Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He holds a research experience at international relations magazine ‘The Kootneeti’ and ‘Foreign Policy Research Centre’ (FPRC) a New Delhi based think tank, The Takshashila Institute and Chennai Centre for China Studies. He had several publications across these platforms including a monograph titled ‘China’s Growing Stature and Inherent Conflict: Tracing Chinese Strategic Thoughts and its Contemporary Behaviour’. He completed his graduation from Hansraj College, Delhi University and MA in Politics (Specialisation in International Studies) from Jawaharlal Nehru University. He can be reached out at @soni_abhi2018
Ada Dyndo is a President of WICCI’s India-EU Business Council, a platform for businesswomen, female entrepreneurs and change-makers. She works at the European Business and Technology Centre in New Delhi; before ETBC, Ada was heading the Polish Investment and Trade Agency in India. In 2021, Ada was chosen by EICBI as one of the top under 40 leaders who shape the future of EU-India relations. Ada regularly speaks about Europe-India business opportunities at many international events including: Vibrant Gujarat, Bengaluru Tech Summit, Europe India Leaders Conference at the European Parliament. She is an Indologist living in Asia for seven years. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Adhya Menon is a third-year undergraduate student at FLAME University. She majors in International Studies and is doing a minor in Digital Marketing and Communications. Apart from academics, she is also passionate about music and dance, and I love to read, mostly about Indian history and its ancient events.She did her FLAME Summer Internship Program (SIP) at ORCA.
Mr. Agust Börjesson is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy’s Asia Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chinese language and a master’s degree in Asian Studies from Lund University in Sweden. He has also studied Chinese language at Beijing Foreign Studies University as well as International Relations at Tsinghua University in China. Mr. Börjesson has previously worked with communications at Taipei Mission in Sweden. He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Ahana Roy is Research Associate and Chief Operations Officer at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). She is a postgraduate in Political Science with International Relations from Jadavpur University. Her areas of interest include security studies, international relations and geopolitics. She can be reached on Twitter @ahanaworks and her email ahana.1604@gmail.com
Akshat Singh is a research associate with the Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In this role, he works on promoting U.S.-India commercial and economic engagement. In addition to handling publications and external relations for the program, Akshat provides support on projects relating to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), clean energy, and defense. Akshat previously interned with the Chair. Prior to joining CSIS, Akshat served as the policy & communications associate at the Governance Lab (GOV/LAB) of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he supported the lab's work on promoting innovative governance policies in the Global South. Akshat has also served as an expansion consultant for a New York-based fintech startup, where he worked on improving financial literacy and access to financial institutions for women and other underrepresented groups in South Asia. He also served as a media consultant for a New Delhi-based think tank. Additionally, Akshat has worked on health policy at the Cato Institute and on U.S.-India commercial relations at McLarty Associates. Akshat graduated with a dual BA degree from Columbia University in New York, where he specialized in economics, and Sciences Po in Paris, where he specialized in politics and government. Akshat has native proficiency in Hindi and working proficiency in French. Listen to Akshat Singh's episode of The ORCA Files here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Akshita Pant is a post-graduate research scholar with a degree in Masters in International Relations from Amity University. Her expertise lies in the field of geopolitics, particularly focusing on China and East Asia. With a keen interest in India's foreign policy, national security, and culture, with a deep passion for understanding the complexities of international relations.
Alan Paul Varghese is a student of M.A. Political Science from the School of Open Learning at the University of Delhi. (DU) He was a recipient of Smithu Kothari Fellowship For Young Researchers by the Centre For Financial Accountability (CFA) for his research article on Public Sector and the Pandemic. His writings focus on political economy, theories, and international relations. He has authored several articles on international relations, economic and social issues in prominent online news platforms and web portals in Kerala. He can be contacted through email id; surabhi.alanvp@gmail.com and alanpaulvarghese007@gmail.com
Albin Thomas is a research scholar at the Centre for East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India. He is doing research on “Economic Diplomacy of China under Xi Jinping”. He has published an article for Australian Institute of International Affairs. He is having keen interest in Chinese foreign policy, foreign policy of Xi Jinping, economic diplomacy, cross-strait relations. He can be contacted at albinjth@gmail.com, albin61_isb@jnu.ac.in and reached @albinthomas_ on Twitter.
Alok has recently finished his M. A. In Politics with International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is currently a China Studies fellow at Takshashila Institution.
Aman Bora is currently a research scholar in the Department of Political Science of Soban Singh Jeena University Almora, Uttarakhand (India). He received his master’s degree in Political Science (Silver Medalist) form Kumaun University Nainital in Uttarakhand (India). He is an ardent researcher and an inquisitive learner avidly interested in International Relations, Defense Studies, Geo-politics and topic related to National Interests.
Anakha S Thampy is currently pursuing her dual Masters degree - an MA in International Studies from Symbiosis International University, Pune, and an MA in Sustainability Science from IGNOU. Having completed her Bachelor's in Political Science, she aspires to make a significant impact in society by becoming a Civil Servant. Her research focus revolves around the captivating realms of Asian area studies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Anandita Bhada is a Research Analyst at the Europe and Eurasia Centre of Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. She is an alumnus of the Political Science department of Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi (DU) and holds a Master’s Degree in Political Studies from the Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has qualified in the UGC-NET and is presently pursuing her PhD in International Relations from the Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Ms Bhada has reported in the Education Beat of the Times of India. She was with ‘Chahal’, a non-governmental organization that takes the initiative to teach underprivileged children. Her area of interest includes geopolitics, foreign relations, security dynamics, energy studies and policy matters. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Ananya Jogalekar is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. She is a graduate in Economics skilled in data analytics and public policy. She is currently learning Mandarin Chinese at the Intermediate (HSK 04) level and has basic proficiency in Korean. Her areas of interest include international relations with a focus on East Asia, data-driven policy making and computational social science. An avid reader, creative writer and singer, Ananya is passionate about exploring various cultures through language-learning and traveling.
Ananya Singh is a student of International Studies and Public Policy at FLAME University. She is actively involved in research pursuits such as taking on corporate risk analysis internships, publishing articles on the conflict and politics in Asia; undertaking research on economic policy; engaging in various national-level youth G20/policy-making/leadership conferences and debates; and creating webinars/media on sociopolitical issues. Her research interests in the field currently include political risk analysis, defence studies, maritime security and international law with a regional focus on West Asia. She has also supplemented her portfolio with proficiency in French and an understanding of German and Persian.
Anita Shukla, founder and CEO of India-EU Training & Consulting is a senior strategy consultant, executive coach, advisor, speaker and moderator based in Hamburg, Germany. As specialist on global collaboration and business development, international tech recruitment and cross-cultural management in technology with India - EU focus and more than 25 years of experience she together with her network has been consulting various European corporations operating globally, from MNCs to technology startups, especially those with India in focus and likewise supported major Indian/Asian technology corporations in their successful operations in Europe preparing teams and (male and female) leaders for global business in tech. She earned a humanity degree after studying at the Universities of Münster and Hamburg, Germany (Magistra Artium; M.A. in 2005) and has since then studied numerous fields of technology like AI, management and entrepreneurship. Anita is currently a strategic partner of Expandeers Global Network, Global Business Development made in Germany, Global Ambassador of WomenTech Network and Honorary Life Member All Ladies League. Her memberships include Women in AI, Women in AI and Robotics and Hanseatic India Forum, among others. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Ankita Tyagi is Head, IP and Public Projects at the European Business and Technology Centre. At EBTC, Ankita is responsible for promoting innovation, bilateral cooperation and market access in the India-Europe business corridor by identifying and liaising with relevant stakeholders through collaborations. She has 13+ years of experience in IP, startup and innovation ecosystems as an expert. She promotes public awareness, education and policy on issues related to using IP in the promotion of science and innovation. She also leads public projects with government engagement. She contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Anubhav S Goswami is a Research Associate at Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi. Additionally, Anubhav is a Doctoral Scholar at Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P Jindal Global University. His doctoral research is based on the comparative analysis of American Grand strategy in the context of changing world system from Unipolarity to Multipolarity. His research interests include U.S Grand Strategy, Sino-American strategic competition, Taiwan’s sovereignty, Indo-US Strategic relationship, Indian Foreign Policy, Indian grand strategic thought and Japanese Foreign Policy.
Anudeep Gujjeti is a PhD candidate from the Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad. He is currently working on India and Japan relations in the Post-Cold War period. His research interests include Indian Foreign Policy, Japanese Foreign Policy, Indo-Japan relations, Soft Power, and Non-traditional security. He can be reached on Twitter @anudeepgujjeti.
Anushka Saxena is working as a Research Intern with the Institute of Chinese Studies. She has completed her first Masters degree in International Relations from the O.P Jindal Global University, and is an incoming student for the Masters in Global Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. She pursued her Bachelors in History from the Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. Her research interests include China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Relations, Chinese domestic and foreign policies, Asia-Pacific and maritime geopolitics. She has previously worked with various Indian, Nepalese and Australian think tanks in a research capacity, and has also spearheaded diverse youth-led research and editorial projects. Her e-mail ID is anushkasaxenalsr@gmail.com. She also contributed to our podcast, The ORCA Files. Listen to the episode here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Artyom Garin is a Research Assistant of the Center for Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He is interested in multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific, as well as in Australia-China relations. His research interests also include defence and aid policies of Australia, as well as politics and history of the Pacific Island countries.
Bablu Kumar Singh is a research scholar at the Centre for Chinese and South East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India. His current research focuses on “Perceptions and Images of India in Chinese Discourse: A Study of Select Contemporary Chinese Writings”. His research interests include perceptions and images of China’s Indologists on Contemporary India, India-China civilizational interactions and India-China relations under Xi Jinping.
Baogang He (Ph.D, ANU 1994) is Alfred Deakin Professor at Deakin University, and the Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Professor He is widely known for his work in Chinese politics, in particular the deliberative politics in China as well as in regionalism, international relations, federalism, and multiculturalism in Asia. His publications are found in top journals including Science, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Peace Research, Political Theory, Political Studies, and Perspectives on Politics. His two papers (“Authoritarian Deliberation: The Deliberative Turn in Chinese Political Development,” co-authored with Mark Warren, and “The Domestic Politics of the Belt and Road Initiative and its Implications”) are on the top 1% of the highly cited research papers in the Web of Sciences as of 11 Feb 2021. His published books include The Democratisation of China, The Democratic Implications of Civil Society in China, Rural Democracy in China, and Governing Taiwan and Tibet. His recent co-edited books include Deliberative Democracy in Asia, (with Michael Breen and James Fishkin), Routledge in 2021, and China and North Korea’s Human Rights (with David Hundt, Chengxin Pan), Routledge, 2021. His forthcoming books include The Galaxy Empire of China (with John Keane to be published by Oxford University Press in 2023) and Comparative Federalism in Asia (with Michael Breen and Laura Reumann to be published by Routledge, 2023). He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Baran Ayguven is a War Studies student at King’s College London. His research focuses on global security issues with a particular interest in the developments of military capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region. You can contact him via email at baran.ayguven99@gmail.com
Bhavdeep Modi is former Senior Research Associate at ORCA and he is also a Visiting Researcher at Red Lantern Analytica (RLA), a New-Delhi based think-tank and has previously worked with Mr. Ninong Ering (former MP & currently MLA, Arunachal Pradesh). Mr Modi is also a former Teach for India Fellow and has worked as a political consultant in the past. He has interned at CLAWS, Chase India, and office of Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur (Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Minister for Information & Broadcasting). A lawyer by degree, he has also done an MA in Diplomacy, Law & Business with a specialization in Defense & National Security studies.
Bhupendra Kumar completed his M. Phil and PhD from the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies Jawaharlal Nehru Interests. His research interests are foreign policy behaviour, diplomatic relations of Pakistan with India and the United States, personality and diplomacy, China, Global Governance, and climate change politics.
Bindiya Kamboj has completed her Masters in Politics with specialisation in International Relations from the School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in the field of Mass Communication and Journalism. Her Research Interests include China- India Relations, theories of International Relations and Security Studies.
Brijeshwar Dahiya did his Masters in International Relations and Area Studies with a focus on China from School of International Relations (SIS), JNU. He has written on Chinese Communist Party’s politics and on People’s Liberation Army’s role in Chinese foreign policy. He can be reached @BrijeshwarDahi2 on Twitter. did his Masters in International Relations and Area Studies with a focus on China from School of International Relations (SIS), JNU. He has written on Chinese Communist Party’s politics and on People’s Liberation Army’s role in Chinese foreign policy. He can be reached @BrijeshwarDahi2 on Twitter.
Claude Arpi is an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) born in 1949 in Angoulême, France. He settled in India 49 years ago. He is a Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Claude Arpi earlier held the Field Marshal KM Cariappa Chair of Excellence from the United Service Institution of India (USI) for his research on the Indian Presence in Tibet 1947-1962 (in 4 volumes – Vij Publisher). He is the author of many books on Tibet, China, India and the Indo-French relations. He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Commodore C. Uday Bhaskar is director of the Society for Policy Studies (SPS), an independent think tank based in New Delhi. He was formerly head of two other major Indian institutions: the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and the National Maritime Foundation (NMF). He also contributed to our podcast, The ORCA Files. Listen to the episode here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Dara Cheick is a student at the Faculty of Administrative and Political Sciences of Bamako (Mali) and a research assistant at the Timbuktu Center for Strategic Studies for the Sahel. He can be reached on Twitter @DaraCheick
David Stahl (born in 1949) has studied Comparative Religion with particular focus on Indian religions at the University of Lund, and Indology at the University of Stockholm. He is a MA (Lund) with Comparative Religion as major and MA (Stockholm) with Indology as major. He worked as assistant at Dep. of Indology, University of Stockholm, 1977-1984, and has since worked as a India Analyst in his own company, Empatum, and is often engaged by the corporate sector, mass media companies and organizations. He has been President of the Swedish-Indian Society 2004-2010. He has also been involved in relief work among refugees in India and is the editor of "India Newsletter'' which is published five times a year. He has also been President of the Swedish Tibet Committe during the years 1974 - 1988. He has also been engaged as tour guide for cultural trips to India. He has done extensive travel in large parts of India, has lived in India during different periods and is now partially based in Cochin. He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Debendra Sanyal graduated with a BA (Hons.) degree in Political Science from Ashoka University in Sonepat, and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Political Science with International Relations at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. His main research interest is in the field of Sino-Indian relations, and he has professional experience in doing research on China.
Having recently graduated with a degree in Computer Applications, Dhananjay Shinde is keenly interested in topics related to Politics, Foreign Policy and Security and has written several articles on these subjects. His curiosity lies in the workings of the International Relations domain and what goes into formulating policies. In his spare time, Dhananjay can be found revelling in literature and philosophy.
Dibyesh Anand is the Head of the School of Social Sciences and professor of international relations at the University of Westminster, London. He is the author of monographs "Geopolitical Exotica: Tibet in Western Imagination” and “Hindu Nationalism in India and the Politics of Fear” and has spoken about, and published extensively on, varied topics including postcolonial politics and international relations, Tibet, China-India border dispute, Hindu nationalism, and Islamophobia. He is on Twitter @dibyeshanand. He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Divyanshu Jindal is a Doctoral Student at OP Jindal Global University, India and a Research Intern at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyse, New Delhi, India. He is a postgraduate in International Relations with a specialization in economics and foreign policy. He has worked at Fidelity Investments as an Associate Systems Engineer after completing B. Tech in Computer Science from SRM University, India. His writings have appeared at The Lowy institute, BRICS Information Portal, The Quint, 9Dashline, Eurasian Review, Modern Diplomacy, The Geopolitics, among other online platforms. His areas of interests include India-Russia relations, India’s foreign policy, cyber diplomacy, and cyber politics.
Donald Leung is a modern world Historian and creator of newsography.com, a global headline news aggregator and database. He is an investor in natural resource exploration across Africa, and South America. He completed his Bachelors of Social Work at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Dr Aleksandra Jaskólska is a CEO of Cross-Cultural Intelligence and lecturer at the University of Warsaw. Aleksandra has many years of experience as a trainer in cultural differences, intercultural management, intercultural communication, & expatriate management. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences and works at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, where she teaches and conducts research on the impact of culture on national domestic and foreign policy, with particular emphasis on Asian countries. Aleksandra is the author of training programs and articles on cultural differences in business, she specialises in Polish and Indian business culture. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
B. R. Deepak is Professor and Chair at the Centre for Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was trained in Chinese history and India-China relations at the Peking University and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and University of Edinburgh, UK. He has been the Nehru and Asia Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing. Dr. Deepak‘s publications include India’s China dilemma: The lost equilibrium and widening asymmetries (2021), India and China: Beyond the binary of friendship and enmity (2020), China’s Global Rebalancing and the New Silk Road (2018), My Tryst with China (2017), India and China 1904-2004: A Century of Peace and Conflict (2005), India-China Relations in the first half of Twentieth Century (2001), India-China Relations: Future Perspectives (co ed. 2012), India-China Relations: Civilizational Perspective (co ed. 2012) China: Agriculture, Countryside and Peasants (2010). Some of his translations from Chinese to Hindi and English include: China and India: Dialogues of Civilisations (2021) Parva (2020), Ji Xianlin: A Critical Biography (2019) The Four Books (2018); Core Values of Chinese Civilization (2018), The Analects of Confucius (2016), Mencius (2017), My Life with Kotnis (2010) Chinese Poetry: 1100 BC to 1400 AD (2011), a translation of 85 selected classical poems for which he was awarded the 2011 “Special Book Prize of China.” He writes “Eye on China” column for Sunday Guardian https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/user/b-r-deepak
Dr. Divya Balan is Assistant Professor in International Studies at FLAME University, Pune, India. She holds a doctorate degree in European Studies from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Divya served as an international visiting fellow of the Institute for European Global Studies at the University of Basel, Switzerland in 2018. Recipient of several scholarships and research grants, she has published monographs, research papers in edited books and journals, and thought pieces in international and Indian newspapers and magazines. Divya is an active public speaker and has also served as a migration policy consultant for government and civil society organisations. She can be reached at: divya.balan@flame.edu.in. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Dr. Jagannath Panda is a Senior Fellow at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). Currently, Dr. Panda is based in Stockholm, and is the Head of Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), Sweden. In addition to his primary appointment at ISDP, Dr. Panda is also the Director for Europe-Asia Research Cooperation at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS); International Research Fellow at the Cannon Institute for Global Studies (CIGS) in Japan; a Senior Fellow at East Asian Security Centre at Bond University, Australia; and a Senior Research Fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies (JFSS), Tokyo. He was a fellow at India’s premier think-tank, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (now, Manohar Parrikar-IDSA) for one and half-decade [2006-2022]. Dr. Panda co-edited the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Dr. Krzysztof M. Zalewski serves as the President of the Board of the Boym Institute (Warsaw, Poland). He writes about European foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific as well as digital and energy transformations in the region. Krzysztof previously worked at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in Vienna (2014-2016), at the Foreign Relations Office of the Chancellery of the President of Poland (2010-2014), at the Polish Parliament (2009-2010) and at the Centre for Eastern Studies in Warsaw (2009).
Dr Madhukar Shyam is a ‘Research Assistant’ at Centre for Strategic Studies and Stimulation (CS3), United Service Intuition of India, (USI) New Delhi. He is also a co-editor of Sinometer: The China Strategic Monitor by USI. He tweets @Msjha16
Dr Manpreet Sethi, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi, heads its programme on nuclear issues. Recipient of K Subrahmanyam award (2014), Commendation by Chief of Air Staff (2020) and Commendation by Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command (2022). Since receiving her doctorate in 1997, she has worked on nuclear energy, strategy, arms control & disarmament. She is author/co-author/editor of nine books and over 120 papers. Sethi lectures at National Defence College and other establishments of Indian Armed Forces, Police, Foreign Services, and Universities. She is also regular participant at policy conferences, Track II initiatives and UNIDIR. In 2021, she was invited to present her views before the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters of UN Secretary General. She was Member, Prime Minister’s Informal Group on Disarmament in 2012. She is on Board of Directors of Asia Pacific Leadership Network (APLN), and Co-chair, Women in Nuclear–India. She is also Co-chair of the Working Group on Reducing Pathways to Nuclear Use at Belfer Center, Harvard University. She contributed to our podcast, The ORCA Files. Listen to the episode here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Dr. Rajorshi Roy (Ph.D) is Associate Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). His areas of research and analysis cover the foreign, defence, security and domestic policies of Russia and the Central Asian countries.
Dr. Sampa Kundu is currently working as a Consultant at ASEAN-India Centre (AIC) at Research and Information System for Develping Countries (RIS), New Delhi. Prior to this, she has taught at Amity University, Noida and Symbiosis International University, Pune. Dr. Kundu has worked with New Delhi based think-tank, MP-Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses as well. She has research interests in Southeast Asian geopolitics, Indo-Pacific and ASEAN-India relations. She can be reached at sampa.sun@gmail.com.
Dr. Swasti Rao is Associate Fellow at the Europe and Eurasia Center, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. She has a Masters in Politics (spl’n. IR) and an M.Phil in East Asian Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has completed her PhD in Advanced International Politics from Tsukuba University, Japan. She is a recipient of Japanese Education Ministry Fellowship (MEXT) in 2011 and also a recipient of the ‘Okita Memorial Scholarship’ in 2010 from ICCR. She holds an adjunct position at the Tokai University, Japan in the capacity of a foreign collaborator for the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) funded research project on “Civil Society and Urban Governance in Asia,2020-2025”. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Dr Swati Prabhu is Associate Fellow with the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy, Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Her research explores the interlinkages between India’s development partnerships in South Asia and Africa and the Sustainable Development Agenda. Swati’s broader research interests encompass development partnerships, climate change, environment, and sustainability. She completed her MPhil & PhD from the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. Prior to ORF, Swati was Junior Fellow at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Kolkata under Ministry of Culture. She has also authored a children’s book titled “50 FAQs on Climate Change” published by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Eerishika Pankaj is the Director of New Delhi based think-tank, the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), which focuses on decoding domestic Chinese politics and its impact on Beijing’s foreign policymaking. She is also an Editorial and Research Assistant to the Series Editor for Routledge Series on Think Asia; a Young Leader in the 2020 cohort of the Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders Program; a Commissioning Editor with E-International Relations for their Political Economy section; a Member of the Indo-Pacific Circle and a Council Member of the WICCI’s India-EU Business Council. In 2023, she was selected as an Emerging Quad Think Tank Leader, an initiative of the U.S. State Department’s Leaders Lead on Demand program. Primarily a China and East Asia scholar, her research focuses on Chinese elite/party politics, the India-China border, water and power politics in the Himalayas, Tibet, the Indo-Pacific and India’s bilateral ties with Europe and Asia. In 2023, she was selected as an Emerging Quad Think Tank Leader, an initiative of the U.S. State Department’s Leaders Lead on Demand program. She co-edited the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question" and edited the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China." She can be reached on eerishikap@gmail.com
Gray Sergeant is an Associate Fellow in Chinese Geopolitics at the Council on Geostrategy, a London-based foreign affairs think tank. He is also currently completing an MPhil/PhD at the London School of Economics (LSE) on Anglo-American relations towards the People’s Republic of China during the early Cold War. He is the Chair of Hong Kong Watch and spent several years working for Free Tibet/Tibet Watch, conducting research on and advocating for Tibet. He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Harshit Sharma is a student pursuing Master’s in Diplomacy, Law, and Business at the O.P. Jindal Global University. He has completed his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Delhi. He is working as an intern at the Jindal Centre for Israel Studies and Centre for Afghanistan studies. He is also works as a member of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Peace Studies. His research interests include Peace and Conflict Studies, and the philosophy of non-violence.
Mr. Hemkumar Jain formerly worked for the Centre for Contemporary China Studies (CCCS), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as a Distinguished Fellow. Mr. Jain is a freelance China analyst.
Gokireddy Hima Bindu is a postgraduate research scholar pursuing Masters in Geopolitics and International Relations at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. She takes special interest in China Studies with a focus on its History and Strategy, the PLA, and the like.
Jay Maniyar is a Researcher who has most notably associated with the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi, India. His core work lies in the domains of International Relations, the Maritime Domain, and Strategic Studies. His geographical focus areas are the Indian subcontinent, Southeast and East Asia, and the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions. His work with the NMF has involved a three-year research association that has resulted in a number of published articles for the NMF. Jay is presently undertaking two Book Projects for the NMF on Japan and South Korea’s geopolitical, geo-economic, and geostrategic interests for India’s most prominent maritime think-tank. He has also gained considerable acclaim through his published work (close to 70 articles) for several other prominent organisations, as also for innumerable reputed journals and magazines. He is also an independent and freelance researcher. Jay is reachable on jaymaniyar@gmail.com. He also contributed to our podcast, The ORCA Files. Listen to the episode here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Juliane Frömmter is an accomplished Startup Ecosystem Leader and Enabler with 11+ years of experience in the German, European, and global startup ecosystem building support programs around international expansion, client acquisition, venture building, and ecosystem building through program design, planning, and execution. She is your go-to expert for startups interested in crossing markets in the EU-India corridor. In November 2021, she was also recognized as 40 Under 40 Europe-India Leader by EICI - Europe India Center for Business and Industry in the presence of Members of Parliaments in the European, British, and Indian governments. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Julie Yu-Wen Chen is Professor of Chinese Studies at the Department of Cultures at the University of Helsinki, formerly chair of the Nordic Association of China Studies, and formerly editor-in-chief of Asian Ethnicity. She was also co-editor of Borderland Politics in Northern India (2014) and Tibetan Studies in Comparative Perspective (2012). From 2023-2025, she is in the EU-funded project “The EU in the Volatile Indo-Pacific Region”, where she leads the preparatory research and provides supervision and counselling to junior researchers. She also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Kartikeya Pandey is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. He holds a diverse academic background, having obtained a Master's degree in East Asian Studies (majoring in Japan) from the University of Delhi, New Delhi. Additionally, he has pursued a Master's degree in Political Science from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Prior to his postgraduate studies, he successfully completed a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He has a profound interest in China's foreign policy and geopolitics as a whole and has also showcased his expertise through various writings, including an article centred on China's manoeuvres in the Arctic region. Furthermore, beyond written publications, he had also presented his research paper at the esteemed 2nd International Hybrid Conference on Japanology, hosted by the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Khushi Kimothi is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. She pursued her bachelors in Chinese studies from Doon University, Dehradun. During her time as an intern for ORCA, she explored the domestic challenges and happenings in China; examined multi-layered issues to determine how Asian countries like China and India can take advantage of their geopolitical position in terms of security and development of their economy. Khushi is currently working as a Mandarin speaking Consultant at SG Analytics. In her free time she likes to read contemporary Chinese texts that question the presets of society.
Kian Donovan is an American Undergraduate Student at King’s College London. He is currently in the War Studies BA Program while studying Mandarin Chinese. His research focuses on East Asian international politics and security.
Krzysztof Iwanek is the head of the Asia Research Centre (War Studies University, Poland). His main interests revolve around Indian politics and history and he has published a number of academic and non-academic articles on this subject; Krzysztof is a regular contributor to the Diplomat, and aside from this his texts were published, among others, by the Lowy Institute, Observer Research Foundation or the Polish Institute for International Affairs. He has also published a monograph with Oxford University Press (‘Endless Siege. Education and Nationalism in Vidya Bharati school’). In 2004-2005, he stayed in India for an advanced Hindi course on a scholarship awarded by ICCR. From 2014 to 2016 Krzysztof taught Hindi, history of India and Indian foreign policy at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Republic of Korea; he also held courses on Indian politics at Warsaw University and Collegium Civitas. He holds two MA degrees: in History and in South Asian Studies, and a PhD in Cultural Studies. He has also co-authored a history of India in Polish titled Indie. Od kolonii do mocarstwa. 1857-2013 (“India. From a Colony to a Power. 1857-2013″; with Adam Burakowski). He contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Lam Tran is a program coordinator for Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where she focuses on projects involving U.S.-Australia relations and security in the Indo-Pacific region. Prior to joining CSIS, Lam worked at the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and at the Congressional Research Service, where her research revolved around China's political economy, the U.S.-Japan-Vietnam relation, issues related to data governance, and emerging technology policy. She is also a member of the Pacific Forum Young Leaders Program. Lam graduated magna cum laude with a BA in government and China studies and a minor in English literature from Franklin and Marshall College. Listen to Lam Tran's episode of The ORCA Files here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Mahek Marwaha is a Master’s student of OP Jindal University, Jindal School Of International Affairs building an academic background in International Relations with a broad interest in security, trade, and politics of the Asia Region with a specialized focus on China Studies and Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies.
Mahima Duggal is a Research Associate at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) in New Delhi. She is also an Associated Research Fellow at the Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) of the Institute for Security & Development Policy (ISDP), Stockholm, and Editorial Assistant to the Series Editor for Routledge Studies on Think Asia. Ms. Duggal holds a MA (distinction) in International Security from the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS), University of Warwick, UK. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China" and our podcast, The ORCA Files. Listen to the episode here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Maj Gen Mandip Singh, SM, VSM (Retd) is presently a Distinguished Fellow at United Service Institution of India (USI), a leading Military think tank based in New Delhi. He is also a Senior Fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies & Analyses, where he previously headed the East Asia Centre. Maj. Gen. Singh is also a Visiting Fellow at Mercator Institute of China Studies, Berlin, Germany and Visiting Faculty at ITBP Academy Mussoorie, BSF Academy, Tekanpur, DSSC Wellington, Naval War College (Goa), Air War College (Hyderabad), Panjab University and Allahabad University.
Manav Lal is an Economics and Public Policy graduate from FLAME University, currently interning at Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi.
Mandar is pursuing a master's in IR and Strategic Studies at the University of Mumbai. He follows China's policies, both domestic and international, closely. He has also published articles on defence, the global economy, food security, and the outlook of various Indian industries.
Manoj Kewalramani is the chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Research Programme and a China studies fellow at the Takshashila Institution, a leading Indian public policy education center. His research interests include Chinese politics, foreign policy, approaches to new technologies, and addressing questions of how India can work with like-minded partners to deal with the challenges presented by China's rise. Manoj is the author of Smokeless War: China’s Quest for Geopolitical Dominance (Bloomsbury India, 2021), which discusses China’s political, diplomatic, economic, and narrative responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also writes a weekly newsletter, Eye on China, which tracks developments in China from an Indian perspective, and a daily newsletter analyzing news coverage and discourse in the People's Daily. Prior to joining Takshashila, Manoj spent over a decade working as a journalist in India and China, where he also helped set up digital newsrooms and train young journalists. He also contributed to our podcast, The ORCA Files. Listen to the episode here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Maria Sony is currently pursuing my master's in International Studies from Symbiosis International University. She completed her bachelor's in History honours from St. Stephen's College, New Delhi. She has a keen interest in Asian area studies and soft power projections. She also loves learning new languages and she is currently completing a course in Mandarin.
Educated both in Indian philology and ethnology, Martin Hříbek is an assistant professor in Bengali and Indian studies at the Institute of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague. Besides his Alma Mater he was previously affiliated to the Department of Sociology, Calcutta University, India (2001-2004) and to the Monash Asia Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (Fall 2014). His research interests include Bengali language and literature, Anthropology and Sociology of India, Indian nationalism, Czech-Indian relations, Indo-Pacific. He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Mohammed Afnan completed Masters Degree - MA in "Politics:International and Area Studies" from MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He completed Bachelor of Arts ( BA) in Political Science from University of Calicut, Kerala. His main research areas include India's foreign policy, geopolitics of South Asia, peace and conflict.
Mohit Musaddi is an independent political and security risk consultant. He has a master’s degree in international relations from the War Studies Department of King’s College London.
Mrunal Sule works as a Supervisor at the Symbiosis Centre for European Studies. She also facilitates multicultural activities for Indian and international students in Symbiosis E-academies on internationalisation. She has a Master's degree in International Relations and Costing and a decade of experience working in International Higher Education in various roles. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Nafisa Nazin Lutfa is currently, working as a teaching assistant at the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). She is postgraduate student at the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) with a major in International Relations. National politics, international political economy, security studies, and public policy are all areas of research and interested.
Narender Kumar is currently a Doctoral student at Jindal School of International Relations at O.P. Jindal Global University. He previously holds a Masters’s degree in Theological Studies from Mysore University, followed by another Masters in Global Studies from Ambedkar University Delhi. His research interests include international water conflicts, Indo-Bangladesh and China relations, Hydroelectricity projects, Environmental governance, and transnational politics over the common property resources (CPR)
Neeraj Singh MANHAS is a Director, Indo-Pacific, at Raisina House, New Delhi. He has authored three books under his name and has various research interests covering India-China in the Indian Ocean, India’s maritime securities, and Indo-Pacific studies. His writings have appeared in The Guardian, The Diplomatist, Chanakya Forum, World Geo-Strategic Insights, and The Rise, among other online platforms. He has participated in various National and International seminars and conferences, and published over 150 papers
Nehantha Sathesh is third year student at FLAME University, majoring in economics. Her academic interests point towards understanding the economic interaction between countries and how it impacts the development of a country. In her spare time, you can find her unwinding through music and books. She did her FLAME Summer Internship Program (SIP) at ORCA.
Nichole Ballawar is a Senior visiting faculty at Government law College Nagpur. He has also worked with the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) as a Research Associate and Janes as a Defence Analyst. He has also worked with the Ministry of External Affairs as a China Research assistant and United Nations Development Program as an Intern. He worked with organisations like NIICE, The Diplomatist, 9dashline etc. and published various research papers. He is an author of various articles related to China, Nuclear non-proliferation and arms control.
Nidhi Piplani Kapur is a PhD Scholar researching on 'Internationalisation at Home' at the South East Technological University in Ireland. She has recently been awarded the prestigious Irish Research Council, Government of Ireland Scholarship for her research. Nidhi is a renowned speaker and practitioner in internationalisation of higher education and has contributed to developing and shaping internationalisation at home strategies through her role as Head of Symbiosis Centre for European Studies, Symbiosis in India. She was also the recipient of the European Centre for Business and Industry's Award recognizing 40 under 40 leaders that will shape India-EU relations. She contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Niranjan Marjani is a Political Analyst specializing in international relations and geopolitics. His areas of work are India’s foreign policy, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific Region, Europe and Spain. He is also the Consulting Editor of The Kootneeti Español, a New Delhi-based Spanish-language magazine on international relations. He tweets at @NiranjanMarjani
Nisarg Jani is an undergraduate in International Relations, currently seeking a master’s degree in Politics and International Relations. His research interest lies in South Asia studies, Chinese studies with the sub themes on cultural and security studies of the given region. He aims to work as a lingua franca between academia and policy making.
Oktay Kucukdegirmenci graduated from Balikesir University, Department of Political Science and Public Administration in 2015 in Turkey. In 2018, he completed his master’s degree at Atilim University, Department of International Relations in Turkey. Kucukdegirmneci is continuing his doctorate studies in the Department of International Politics at Shandong University, China. kucukdegirmenci, who carries out his studies in Chinese Foreign Policy, Japanese Foreign Policy, sino-Japanese Relations, Sino-Russian Relations and Cold War History.
Omkar Bhole is a Research Associate at Organization for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). He is a Chinese language student and completed Masters in China Studies from Somaiya University, Mumbai. He has completed the HSK 4 level of Chinese language proficiency and works as a Chinese language instructor. His research interests are China’s foreign policy in Asia, China’s economic transformation and China’s domestic politics. He has previously done an internship at the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS). He has also presented a paper at the 1st All India Conference of East Asian Studies. He can be reached @bhole_omkar on Twitter and on his email obhole96@gmail.com
Parimal Saraf is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. He is pursuing his Master's in International Studies from Christ University, Bengaluru. He is keenly interested in several conflicts occurring in the Sahel region, East Asia and Latin America and wishes to research their impact on businesses and the economy. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parimal-saraf/
Patryk Szczotka (@p_szczotka) is a MSc student at “China and International Relations” double degree program at Aalborg University and the University of International Relations (国际关系学院) in Beijing. His research interests include political and economic relations between the CEE countries and the PRC.
Pawel Behrendt is a Political Science PhD candidate at the University of Vienna. He is a Member of the Board at the Boym Institute in Warsaw and a regular contributor to konflikty.pl, and Polish edition of Forbes.
Paweł Paszak is PhD Student at War Studies Academy (Warsaw, Poland). Analyst in Institute of New Europe (INE). His research focuses on US-China strategic confrontation in the Indo-Pacific and China-V4 relations.
Prakash Raj is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Hyderabad, India. He is currently working on ‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative.’ (BRI) His research interests are focused on BRI, Geopolitics, Maritime Silk Route. China’s Foreign Policy and China’s Economic Policy. He can be reached at @PrakashRajLanSe
Prejomon Sunny Chummar holds a Master's degree in International and Area Studies from MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from EFLU Shillong. His interests revolve around the intersection of cinema, culture, and politics, including the intricate dynamics of soft power politics. Additionally, his scholarly interests encompass the rich histories and cultures of China, Russia and Central Asia. With a keen passion for cinema and literature, he is an ardent cinephile and devoted reader.
Priyanka Raman is a final-year student at Shiv Nadar University Noida, with a major in international relations and a minor in communications. Through her degree, she has had the opportunity to pursue multiple courses relating to Chinese politics and is deeply interested in politics of the Party media and knowledge dessimination. Her research interests surround topics of propaganda media and politics, gender and international relations and refugee politics.
Radomir Romanov is Current affairs program editor on “Newsography.com” and ,ember of the interregional public organization “China-Russia Friendship Association”. He completed his Bachelors in “Interpretation and Translation Studies” at the Department of Japanese Studies and Masters from Cchool of International Relations at the Department of Japanese, Korean, Indonesian and Mongolian Languages.
Rafayat Ahmed Shanto is currently a research intern at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), a government think tank in Bangladesh. He is perusing his Masters in International Relations from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).
Rahul Karan Reddy is an international relations analyst with a Masters degree from O.P Jindal Global University in Diplomacy, Law and Business. He is the author of ‘Islands on the Rocks’, a monograph detailing the Senkaku/Diaoyu island dispute between China and Japan. His research focus is China and East Asia. He was a research analyst at the Chennai Center for China Studies (C3S) and an intern at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), writing articles and reports on China’s foreign policy and domestic politics. His blog, Asian Drama, follows the rise of India and China as they navigate the Asian Century. He can be reached on rahulkaran.reddy@gmail.com
Rahul Kheswa has recently completed his MA in East Asian Studies with a specialisation in China from the University of Delhi. For his BA, he majored in History and Political Science. During his MA, he learnt elementary Mandarin Chinese through elective course. Rahul’s research interest lies in Chinese society and continental philosophy.
Rakshith Shetty is currently pursuing his Master’s in Diplomacy, Law and Business from the Jindal School of International Affairs. He was a Research Intern at the Vivekananda International Foundation. He is also the centre coordinator for two research centres namely The Centre for North East Asian Studies and The Centre for Analytical Research and Engagement. His interests include Chinese Foreign Policy, Religious minorities in China, South Asian Studies, Corporate Threat Intelligence, Geopolitical Risk Intelligence.
Ramyani Kundu is an Undergraduate student from Shiv Nadar IoE, pursuing a B.A.(Research) English with a Minor in International Relations. Her research interests include understanding the role of narratives in geopolitical relations and foreign policy's of nation-states. She further posits interest in South/East Asian literature and Continental philosophy
Ratish Mehta is a post-graduate in Global Studies from Ambedkar University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science Hons from Delhi University. His research interests include understanding the role of narratives in geopolitical relations and deconstructing narratives in international affairs as well as in domestic politics within India. He was previously associated with the Pranab Mukherjee Foundation as a Research Associate and is currently a Research Associate at the Organization for Research on China and Asia.
Mrs. Rekha Pankaj is a senior Hindi Journalist with over 38 years of experience. Over the course of her career, she has been the Editor-in-Chief of Newstimes and been an Editor at newspapers like Vishwa Varta, Business Link, Shree Times, Lokmat and Infinite News. Early in her career, she worked at Swatantra Bharat of the Pioneer Group and The Times of India's Sandhya Samachar. During 1992-1996, she covered seven sessions of the Lok Sabha as a Principle Correspondent. She maintains a blog, Kaalkhand, on which she publishes her independent takes on domestic and foreign politics from an Indian lens.
Richard A. Bitzinger is an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Military Transformations Program at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), where his work has focused on security and defense issues relating to the Asia-Pacific region, including military-technological innovation and force transformation. He was a Senior Fellow at RSIS from 2006 to 2021, and he headed up the Military Transformations Program from 2012 to 2018. He has written several books, monographs, and book chapters, and his articles have appeared in such journals as International Security, Orbis, China Quarterly, and Survival. He is the author of Arming Asia: Technonationalism and Its Impact on Local Defense Industries (2017), and the editor of Defense Industries in the 21st Century: A Comparative Analysis (2020) and Reshaping the Chinese Military: The PLA’s Roles and Missions in the Xi Jinping Era (2019). His other publications include “Come the Revolution: Transforming the Asia- Pacific’s Militaries” (Naval War College Review, 2005) and “Military-Technological Innovation in Small States: The Cases of Israel and Singapore” (Journal of Strategic Studies, 2021). He has previously worked at the RAND Corporation, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Affairs, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and the US Central Intelligence Agency. He contributed to our podcast, The ORCA Files. Listen to the episode here: https://orcasia.org/pages/orcafiles
Ridipt Singh is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. He is an academic researcher with an M.A. in International Studies from Symbiosis School of International Studies, Pune. His research verticals include International Security, Emerging Technologies, Global Political Economy, and strategic infrastructure development. He has contributed research in multiple think tanks and regularly contributes short-form articles around Asian affairs.
Robert Barnett works on nationality issues in China, focusing on modern Tibetan history, politics, and culture. He is a Professor, Research Associate and Senior Research Fellow at SOAS, University of London, and an Affiliate Lecturer at the Lau China Institute, Kings College, London. He founded and directed the Modern Tibetan Studies Program at Columbia University in New York 1999-2017 and has also taught at Princeton, INALCO (Paris), Tibet University (Lhasa) and IACER (Kathmandu). Recent books and edited volumes include Forbidden Memory: Tibet During the Cultural Revolution by Tsering Woeser (Nebraska, 2020) and Conflicting Memories - Tibetan History under Mao Retold with Benno Weiner and Françoise Robin (Brill, 2019). He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Rushali Saha is currently serving as a Research Analyst at the Diplomat Risk Intelligence. Previously she served as a Research Associate at the Center for Air Power Studies, New Delhi. She holds a masters degree in Politics with International Relations from Jadavpur University. She graduated summa cum laude from the same university with an undergraduate degree in political science. Her research interests include the evolving geopolitics of Indo-Pacific, with a special focus on India’s foreign policies in the region.
Sachin Singh is a postgraduate student in the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi. An engineer turned academic, his major research areas include East Asian geopolitics and geo-economics, Indo-Pacific, India-China Relations, Chinese history and politics, Taiwan and cross-strait relations. He can be reached at @IndianguySachin on Twitter.
Saee Vaidya is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. She has completed her graduation in Political Science, and is pursuing her Master's in International Security from Sciences Po, Paris. Her areas of interest include Asia Studies and Counter-Terrorism. Saee also learns Chinese (HSK 4) and French (C1), and aims to pursue a career in Intelligence Gathering and Analysis.
Samikshya Das is a former research intern at Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), New Delhi, India. Samikshya has finished her Master's in International Studies from Symbiosis International University. She has a bachelor's degree in law and she is interested in Indian Foreign Policy and Indian political Research.
Samrat Shrestha is currently working as a secretary and a researcher at Institute for International Relations Nepal (IIRN). He is an undergraduate student at China Three Georges University (CTGU) with a major in International Relations. His interest span across fields of Politics, Economics, International Relations, Foreign Policy and Entrepreneurship.
Sanjay Pulipaka is a Senior Fellow at the Delhi Policy Group, India. He was a Pavate Fellow at the University of Cambridge and a former Fulbright Fellow in the United States. Twitter: @psanjay_in
Saranya Sircar is associated as a Consultant for the East Asia Research Programme at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi. She previously interned with the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. She did her post-graduation in Conflict Analysis and Peace Building from Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. She graduated in Political Science Honours from Gargi College, University of Delhi. Saranya’s areas of research interest include geopolitical and security issues in larger East and South Asian regions, Indian foreign policy, global climate change and environmental issues, gender issues, matters of peace and conflict, regionalism, and other related domains. She can be reached at saranya.ruai@gmail.com
Shalini Singh is currently working as a Junior Researcher and Copyeditor at the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA). Earlier, she has worked with the National Maritime Foundation as a research intern and Political Risk and Threat Intelligence Analyst Intern with Horizon Intelligence. She has also worked with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as a Research Intern and Field Investigator. In addition, she has worked as an editor with Alexis Foundation and Hindustan Publishing Corporation. Her core interests lie in Energy Security, International Institutions, and China’s presence in Africa and the Middle East.
Shivam Shekhawat is a recent graduate from the London School of Economics and Political Science where she was a Commonwealth Scholar. She is interested in studying about India’s neighbourhood, particularly India’s relationship with China and its response to the situation in Afghanistan and Myanmar. Her interests also lie in analyzing contemporary conflicts through a historical lens and the factors which affect a country’s response to humanitarian crises.
Shivam Shukla is currently pursuing (B.A.LLB.) law from RTMNU’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Law at Nagpur, India.
Shivangi Dikshit is Research Assistant at Nehru Memorial Museum and Library and co-currently a Senior Research Analyst at Nehginpoa Kipgen Centre for Southeast Asian Studies. She is particularly interested in Southeast Asian Studies, particularly the role of India and China in the region. She focuses on India’s Act East Policy and relations with countries in Southeast Asia. Shivangi is also interested in traditional and non-traditional security issues in the Indo-Pacific. She can be reached @DikshitShivangi on Twitter.
Shreyas Deshmukh is a Research Associate with the National Security Program at Delhi Policy Group, a think tank in New Delhi, India. Prior to joining DPG, he worked with MitKat Advisory Services as a geopolitical risk analyst and Research Assistant at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS). He holds a master’s degree in defense and strategic studies from the University of Pune. He frequently writes on the geopolitical developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan. His academic focus is socio-political and security issues in South Asia.
Siddhant Nair is a post graduate student in Interdisciplinary Studies and Research, specializing in International Relations. He has previously interned in ORCA, The Gateway House and Chennai Center for China Studies. You can find him on twitter @siddhant__nair
Simran Walia is a Research Scholar, pursuing M.Phil in Japanese Studies under the Centre for East Asian Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Prior to this, she was working as a Research Assistant at ORF, New Delhi. She has published articles and papers in magazines and websites like ‘The diplomat’, ‘the Geopolitics’, ‘Indian Defence Review’, Global Policy Journal and elsewhere. Her research interests include Japanese politics and foreign policy and East Asian foreign policy too. she can be reached at Twitter handle: @simranwalia10
Dr. Sriparna Pathak is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Centre for Northeast Asian Studies at the School of International Affairs at O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana. She teaches courses on Foreign Policy of China and Theories of International Relations. Her previous work experience covers Universities like Gauhati University, Don Bosco University; the Ministry of External Affairs; think tanks like Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi and Kolkata respectively, South Asia Democratic Forum in Brussels where she is a Research Fellow and the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research in New Delhi where she worked as a researcher.
Sruthi Kalyani is a research scholar at the Centre of East Asian Studies (Chinese Studies Division), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Area Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering. Her research interests include China’s Artificial Intelligence strategy, emerging technologies in international affairs, critical security studies, and technology policy.
Suki Dusanj-Lenz is a co-founder of Fashion Revolution India and Founder of Once Upon A Media, Switzerland who will write in her article on the problems of sustainability, globalisation and fashion industry in the context of EU-India-China relations. Fashion Revolution is the world’s fastest growing global campaign calling for a sustainable fashion industry, now in over 90 countries campaigning for a more responsible and accountable industry. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Supradip Das is a student of Master’s (Final Year) in Chinese language and China Studies at the Department of Chinese Language and Culture (Cheena-Bhavana), Visva-Bharati University. His focus is to foster in-depth knowledge of China Studies along with the language. He pursued one year of advanced training in the Chinese language from Beijing Language and Culture University, China, under the joint scholarship program of MHRD, Govt. of India, and China Scholarship Council Govt. of PRC. Besides his studies, Supradip is currently engaged as a Chinese language instructor in an NGO named the UMRAN Green Perspective Foundation based in Madhubani, Bihar & Istanbul, Turkey. The main areas of his interest are – Traditional Philosophies of East & South-East Asia, India-China Civilizational Exchanges, Influence of Tagore in China, Evolution of Cultural and Historical Spheres in China.
Tamiliniyaa Rangarajan is a fourth-year undergraduate student of International Relations and Governance Studies, at Shiv Nadar University. Her research interests are geared towards understanding the implications of political economy, and culture and soft power- applying these to the Chinese context. In her spare time, she likes to experiment with photography and pick up foreign languages.
Tanishk Saxena is former Executive Outreach Head with Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA), Social Media Consultant with UNSYNC, Project Associate with Asian Pathfinders and perusing his PGDM with specialisation in International Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations . Mr Saxena was associated with Mitkat Advisory Ltd. – Information Services Department, Mahindra Rise – Mahindra Construction Equipment as a Management Trainee and as a mentor for Teach for India. Had done Masters in International Studies from Symbiosis School of International Studies and BBA-LLB (Hons.) as Bachelors Degree. He practised as a Criminal Advocate in District and Session Court. His research interests span across Chinese Politics, Private Military Contractors, International Relations, Security and Business Continuity Management. He can also be reached on Twitter @tanishk007.
Taru Ahluwalia completed her Post-Graduation in East Asian Studies from the University of Delhi and her Under-Graduation in English from Lady Shri Ram College for Women. She aims to decode the enigma that is East Asia and examine its geopolitical re-positioning in today’s world. She holds a diploma in Korean Language and aspires to learn Chinese one day.
TEG PRATAAP SINGH SANDHU has previously interned at think-tanks such as National Maritime Foundation and Global Peace Foundation. His research interests include Chinese Foreign Policy; Peace and Conflict Studies in West Asia and South Asia. He has published articles related to the spread of political Islam across the Middle East; The failure of democracy in Pakistan, and the Chinese debt trap diplomacy. He is presently working on the project ‘Management of the Indo-Bangladesh border’ with UNESCO, Guwahati.
Tenzin Lhadon is an International Relations scholar, having received her Doctoral Degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is currently a Research Fellow at the Tibetan Policy Institute, Dharamsala and her work focuses on Tibet, China’s relations with the US and EU, and Human Rights. She has published chapters in edited Volumes, and presented papers at various national and international academic conferences. She has also published various commentaries and has frequently been featured as an expert panelist by various news outlets. She contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Torbjörn Lodén is head of the Stockholm China Center at ISDP, professor emeritus of Chinese language and culture at Stockholm University and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities. From 1973 to 1976 he served as Swedish cultural attaché to China, and he has been a visiting professor in Hong Kong and Beijing. He has published numerous works on Chinese thought, literature, history, and politics, for example Rediscovering Confucianism (2006) and Kinas vägval – från himmelskt imperium till global stormakt [China’s choice of road – from celestial empire to global great power, 2012]. He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Toshika Shukla is a 4th year undergraduate student at Shiv Nadar University, majoring in International Relations and Governance Studies. Through the course of her study, she has gained a keen interest in areas such as soft power diplomacy, gender studies, and cultural relations. Her interests also revolve around questions of power, China’s domestic policies combined with theoretical perspectives of analysis.
Trishala S is a third-year undergraduate student at FLAME University, pursuing a major in Sociology and a minor in Public Policy. With a keen interest in the socio-political landscape and policy realm, she is dedicated to unraveling their complexities, while also finding fascination in exploring the intersection of gender studies, activism and the legal aspects. In her leisure time, Trishala enjoys immersing herself in books and indulging in movies, finding inspiration in their charm. She did her FLAME Summer Internship Program (SIP) at ORCA.
Umang Verma was a former intern at ORCA.
Uradyn E. Bulag is Professor of social anthropology at University of Cambridge. Author of Nationalism and Hybridity in Mongolia (1998), The Mongols at China’s Edge (2002), and Collaborative Nationalism (2010), his research interests broadly span East Asia and Inner Asia, especially China and Mongolia, and the Mongolia-Tibet interface. His latest book is A Chinese Rebel beyond the Great Wall: The Cultural Revolution and Ethnic Pogrom in Inner Mongolia (co-authored with TJ Cheng and Mark Selden, University of Chicago Press, 2023). He also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Ute Wallenböck is Assistant Professor of Chinese Studies at Masaryk University, Brno. Trained as a sinologist and Tibetologist, she holds a PhD in Chinese studies from the University of Vienna and a degree in social pedagogy. She is the author of Die Bevölkerung am Sino-Tibetischen Grenzgebiet. Identitätskonstruktion der Tibet-Mongolen (The Population along the Sino-Tibetan Borderland: Identity Construction of the Tibet-Mongols) (2019) and co-editor of The Daur at the Sino-Russian Borderlands (2021). She also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Vedika Tiwari is currently pursuing her BA.LLB from Baba Saheb Ambedkar College of Law at Nagpur, India. She is also an active member in Students’s committee of Moot court association
Viddhi Thakker is currently pursuing her Master’s in International Security at the prestigious Sciences Po in Paris, France. With an enriching research background in Diplomacy, Foreign Policy and Security Studies, Viddhi aims to deconstruct historical and contemporary relations between nations to foster greater avenues for cooperation. She also contributed to the ORCAxWICCI Special Issue "Building the Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership: Between Trade, Technology, Security and China."
Yoko Ishii is the President of Free Tibet Fukuoka. She is known to her fans as “Random Yoko.” She was born in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1985, and graduated from Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka majoring in English. Her YouTube channel on politics and history, randomyoko2, has more than 54,000 subscribers and has been viewed more than 8 million times. She has appeared in numerous print, online, and television outlets, and has published a book. Some of her work is published on Japan Forward and her commentary is seen on Fox News, CNN, BBC, CBS, NHK, South China Morning Post, Breitbart, and many more. She also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy is Affiliated Scholar at the Department of Political Science of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), Associated Research Fellow at the Institute for Security & Development Policy, Head of the Associates Network at 9DASHLINE, Research Fellow at Taiwan NextGen Foundation and Consultant on China, Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula at Human Rights Without Frontiers. Currently Zsuzsa is Assistant Professor at the National Dong Hwa University in Hualien, Taiwan. Zsuzsa’s fields of expertise are EU foreign and security policy, in particular in the Indo-Pacific, European normative power and human rights. Between 2008 and 2020 Zsuzsa worked as a political advisor in the European Parliament. She also contributed to the ORCAxISDP Special Issue "The Dalai Lama's Succession: Strategic Realities of the Tibet Question."
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