Yamin Chowdhary (He/Him)
Thesis Title: Imaginations of Sexual Citizenship: Homonationalist Narratives in India and Kashmir
The decriminalisation of homosexuality in India through the Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India (2018) judgement has been described as a watershed moment, opening up various avenues for the LGBTQIA+ community to pursue equal citizenship. However, this legal progress towards LGBTQIA+ recognition has been accompanied by attempts to appropriate sexual discourse by the ethno-nationalists. Investigating this growing interaction between ethno-nationalism and LGBTQIA+ politics, my research is directed by the following question: how does homonationalist appropriation of the LGBTQIA+ communities by ethno-nationalists transpire in India, with a novel focus on the sexual politics in the region of Indian-administered Kashmir? By doing so, my research investigates how ethno-nationalism shapes and informs the imagination of India’s LGBTQIA+ citizens; how Islamophobia is central to this nationalist project; and the implications of such discourse for the future of LGBTQIA+ politics in India. In raising these questions, my research seeks to develop a critical lens that explores new forms of power configurations amongst India’s LGBTQIA+ community, as well as its implications for progressive politics, minority representation, and democratic values in the context of India and Kashmir.
Biography
I hold a Master of Arts degree in Sexual Dissidence from the University of Sussex, where I extensively explored the realms of queer theory, postcolonial studies, and Foucauldian studies. Prior to my MA, I completed a Bachelor's degree with honours in Political Science from the University of Delhi. My research interests revolve around the intersection of academia and activism. I am particularly fascinated by queer theory and its implications within postcolonial societies. My MA Sexual Dissidence dissertation focused on conducting a genealogical analysis of queer activism in India. I delved into their struggles for recognition and the intricate relationship between activism and the judicial registry.
Beyond my academic pursuits, I finds great solace in photography and travelling.
Publications
Chowdhary, Yamin. (2022). A Case for Transgender Inclusive WASH Practices. New Delhi, India: Social and Political Research Foundation (SPRF) and Living Waters Museum (LVM).
Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Delhi, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. (2019). Village Immersion and Rural Sanitation in India. Geneva, Switzerland: IDS, University of Delhi and WSSCC.
Other Research Interests
Queer theory, postcolonial studies, critical theory, feminist epistemologies,
Sociology
University of Warwick
2022 Cohort, 1+3
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yamin-chowdhary/
Supervisory Team
Dr Claire Blencowe
Prof. Goldie Osuri