Kunal Nath Shahdeo is a researcher specializing in Sociology, with a strong emphasis on ethnographic research. He has completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, respectively. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Sociology at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, his research focuses on understanding the dynamics of socio-political change in Jharkhand, a state with a substantial Scheduled Tribe population. His project specifically explores the growth of Hindu nationalist politics in the region. He has presented his research at national and international conferences and has been actively involved in public sociology through his contributions to online platforms and magazines, including The New Leam, Focus Magazine, The Wire, Quint, and Outlook.
Areas of Interest: His research interests encompass various sociological themes such as indigeneity in India, ethnography of state, majoritarian politics, and migration studies.
Focus area at NLSIU: He will be assisting in the delivery of academic courses taught on campus while concurrently engaging in projects related to the intersection of law and society. Specifically, delving into the idea of constitutionalism within Adivasi mobilizations.
Apart from his academic pursuits, he has been a state-level cricket player and finds enjoyment in Urdu and Hindi poetry.