Ruchika Rai
Assistant Professor

Ruchika Rai is faculty of Sociology, School of Liberal Arts at IILM, Gurugram. She’s a PhD scholar at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, studying ‘Language, Ritual and Identity in Kumaon- A Study of Jagar and Kumaoni Ramleela of Uttarakhand’. She has over 15 years of experience in Media and Communications, wherein she has worked through diverse stints- from a travel show anchor for DD India (2007-2010), to a journalist for Times of India (Editorial), and finally a communications consultant for the World Bank (Uttarakhand Decentralized Watershed Development Project- Phase 2).
She’s also a professional theatre practitioner, with stage experience of over 19 years, and she often utilizes her location as an artist-researcher to understand the dying performative arts of the Central Himalayan region.

Qualification

  • NET Sociology, 2019. UGC
  • PhD Candidate, 2019- Present. Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. New Delhi.
  • MPhil Sociology, 2017. Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. New Delhi.
    – Dissertation tilted ‘Endangerment of Language- Mechanisms and Role of Extra-Linguistic Factors’, completed under the guidance of Prof. Renuka Singh.
  • MA (Sociology), 2015. Indira Gandhi National Open University. New Delhi.
  • BA (Hons) English, 2008. University of Delhi. New Delhi.

Ruchika-Rai

Research and Scholarly Publication

(Academic- Book Reviews)

  • Published book review of The Hippie Trail: A History by Sharif Gemie and Brian Ireland. The Book Review, Volume XLIV.
  • Published Graphic Tales for Political Women (Review of the book The Elephant In The Room: Women Draw Their World. Edited by The Spring Collective. The Book Review, Volume XLII, Number 8.
  • Published Communicative Capitalism’ (Review of the book 1-800-Worlds: The Making of the Indian Call Centre Economy. By Mathangi Krishnamurthy. The Book Review, Volume XLII, Number 5.

Seminar

(Academic Paper Presentation)

  • 2016, Oct (24-26). Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Work in Progress Seminar for MPhil batch 2015-2017. Presented the paper ‘Extinction of Language and its Impact on Women’s Participation in Economic Development’.

International Conferences

(Academic Paper Presentation)

  • 2018, July 25. International Political Science Association’s World Congress on Political Science, held in Brisbane, Australia.
    Presented the paper ‘Ramlila as a Tool for Establishing the Hegemony of the Hindu Right Wing Politics in India’, in the panel RC 43.08 The Political Use of Religion.
  • 2018, July 25. International Political Science Association’s World Congress on Political Science, held in Brisbane, Australia.
    Presented the paper ‘The Bhotias of Uttarakhand- Himalayan trans-migrants who areforced to abandon their culture in the wake of nationalism’, in the panel RC 40.03 Governance and Democracy.
  • 2020, Nov 28. University of Karnataka’s (and others) International Conference on Identity: Myths, Memories, Communication and Cultural Narratives, held virtually. Presented the paper ‘Being Kumaoni on Social Media’.

Publications in Magazines/ Newspapers

  • Article on Migrants’ Disillusionment with Urban Life in Uttarakhand, published in The Times of India (newspaper). July 9, 2016.
  • Article on Public Health and Celebrity Endorsements, published in Daily O magazine. Sept 14, 2017.
  • Article on Food Packets for Mid-Day Meals, published in Daily O magazine. Sept 20, 2017.
  • Article on Combatting Pollution through Health Food, published in Daily O magazine. Nov 20, 2017.
  • Article on A Newcomer from India Surveys American Yoga: A three part series, published in the Pittsburgh City Paper. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (U.S). Jan 30, Feb 6, Feb 12th, 2013.
  • Article on the Increasing Consumption of Art Products in Delhi-NCR, published in The Times of India. Sept 26, 2011.
  • Article on How Children Devise their Barter Systems, published in The Times of India. Aug 1, 2011.
  • Article on Use of Theatre for Better Communication and Emotional Management for Corporate Workforce, published in The Times of India. June 28, 2011.
  • Article on Political Cultures in National Capital Region- Armchair Citizenship, published in The Times of India. June 24, 2011.
  • Article on Urban Children Developing Mountaineering Skills and Discipline, published in The Times of India. June 13, 2011.
  • Article on Travel as an Educational Pedagogy, published in The Times of India. June 12, 2011.
  • Report on the Demographics of Vintage Car Technicians in Gurgaon, Haryana, published in The Times of India. May 30, 2011.
  • Article on Decline of Performing Arts in Popular Culture- The Case of Bandwallahs, published in The Times of India. May 30, 2011.
  • Article on Restoration of Vintage Cars- Salvaging History from Scrap Metal, published in The Times of India. May 22, 2011.
  • Report on Improvement of Medical Facilities for Animals, published in The Times of India. May 21, 2011.
  • Article on Need to Redraft Estate Laws in Gurgaon, published in The Times of India. May 19, 2011.
  • Article on Monetization of Carbon Credits by Indian Corporates, published in The Times of India. May 9, 2011.
  • Article on The Role of Culture in the Economics of Gold Consumption, published in The Times of India, May 8, 2011.
  • Article on the Role of NGOs in Political Participation- Delhi/NCR, published in The Times of India, April 28, 2011.
  • Article on Community Music in Urban Areas, published in The Times of India, April 18, 2011.
  • Article on Mobile Schools for Children of Migrant Workers, published in The Times of India. April 14, 2011.
  • Report on Development of Integrity Pact to Combat Corruption (Workshop attended by 40 Public Service Units from across India), published in The Times of India. April 11, 2011.
  • Article on Transformation of Surat post 1994- Lessons in Local Governance, published in The Times of India. March 17 2011.
  • Article on Revival of Theatre by Women in Gurgaon, published in The Times of India. March 3, 2011.
  • Article on Influence of Japanese Horticulture in Rural Haryana, published in The Times of India. Feb 28, 2011.
  • Article on The Rise of the Underdogs – Caddies turn Golfers Challenge Elitism in Sports, published in The Times of India. Feb 24, 2011.
  • Article on Real Estate Market Supporting Commercial Art, published in The Times of India. Feb 17, 2011.
  • Article on Role of Theatre in Revival of Puppetry – A Case from Gurgaon, published in The Times of India. Feb 11, 2011.
  • Article on Microfinance in Urban Villages, published in The Times of India. Feb 8, 2011.
  • Article on Effect of Junk Food on the Variety in Indian Palette, published in The Times of India. Feb 6, 2011.
  • Article on Urban Social Movements- India Against Corruption, published in The Times of India. Feb 3, 2011.
  • Article on Rise of the Corporate Culture- Convention Centre Boom in Gurgaon, published in The Times of India. Jan 31, 2011.
  • Article on The Proliferation of Indian Schools and the Making of Global Citizens, published in The Times of India. Jan 26, 2011.
  • Article on Superdialling for Medical Emergency – Use of Technology for Better Governance, published in The Times of India. Jan 25, 2011.
  • Article on Efficacy of Safety Measures for Women– The Pink Auto, published in The Times of India. Jan 22, 2011.
  • Article on Gender Bender in Kherla: Women of Small Village in Haryana Make Big Strides in Business, published in The Times of India.

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