B.A. (Hons.) (NUS), M.Phil., Ph.D. (Cambridge)

Specialisations: Tamil studies; Addiction studies; Food studies; Social reform; Colonialism and nationalism

I am a historian of social reform movements, their circulation, and impact in South and Southeast Asia. My teaching and research interests straddle colonialism, nationalism and social change. My current book project examines the history of alcohol prohibition in India, locating prohibition’s introduction in the Madras Presidency at the intersection of provincial and national politics as well as global temperance reform. My research has been published in leading area studies and historical peer-reviewed journals, including Modern Asian Studies and The Indian Economic and Social History Review.

Teaching Areas:

GEH1009/GEX1000 Framing Bollywood: Unpacking the Magic
SN2275 What's Cooking: Food and Drink in South Asian Cultures
SN2275 Wicked Words: Contemporary Tamil Literature
SN3275 Subtle Tamil Traits? Tamil Cultural and Society

Thesis Supervision

I welcome queries pertaining to research projects in the following areas:
- History of colonialism and nationalism
- Transnational history
- Social, cultural history