RESEARCH INTEREST

(Disaster Mental Health, Health Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Qualitative Research in Social Science, Research Methods)

My research interest lies in the psychology of social suffering and healing processes. Health psychologists and mental health professionals have realized the importance of locating human suffering caused by environmental, social and political forces in its cultural and socio-historical context. Such a domain of research not only utilizes mainstream psychological concepts and methodology but also requires an understanding of alternative paradigms in psychology (social constructionism, cultural psychology, critical or feminist perspective etc.) which are open to multi-disciplinary approaches. I have studied the suffering and healing processes of the survivors of an earthquake (that hit Kachchh in 2001) from a cultural psychological perspective in which I used the ethnographic and constructivist grounded theory methodologies. I have also been learning and applying methodological innovations to address research problems on social suffering. My current research focus includes suffering and healing processes in the aftermath of human-made and developmental disasters in India.

Psychological research on human suffering due to environmental and social and political forces is quite relevant to the society. My understanding of suffering and healing has been shaped by the writings of Arthur Kleinman, Eric J. Cassell, Veena Das, Kathy Charmaz, Alan Radley and Anand C. Paranjpe. Qualitative studies of suffering and healing not only document human suffering and pave the way for some meaningful socio-psychological interventions, but may also aid to creation of humanizing experiential space for researchers and participants that may be therapeutic in nature. I want to learn to contribute more to the domain of research on social suffering by engaging in such a research work.

II. Book

1. Priya, K. R. & Dalal, A. K. (Eds.). (2015). Qualitative research on illness, well-being and self-growth: Contemporary Indian Perspectives. New Delhi: Routledge.

III. Papers in Journals & Encyclopedia

1. Yadav, S., Priya, K. R., & Sinha, A. K. (2025, in press). Mental health problems among migrants' communities in India. Social Change.

2. Yadav, S., & Priya, K. R. (2024). Healing among Indian poor faced with distress of forced internal migration: A qualitative study. Qualitative Psychology, 11(1), 75–94. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000282

3. Priya, K. R. & Kukreja, S. (2024). On the legacy of internal indigenization pioneered by Durganand Sinha: Examples from post-disaster spiritual healing in India. Psychological Studies, 69(1), 74–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-023-00778-8

4. Khanna, A., & Priya, K. R. (2024). Rethinking “transfer” in the transgenerational transmission of trauma: A qualitative study of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Theory & Psychology, 34(1), 18–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593543231204576

5. Priya, K. R. (2021, November 27). Psychologist as survivor: Empathizing with Covid-19 trauma. Economic and Political Weekly, 56(48), 64-66. [weblink]

6. Bhatia, S. & Priya, K. R. (2021). Coloniality and psychology: From silencing to re-centering marginalized voices in postcolonial times. Review of General Psychology, 25(4), 422–436. https://doi.org/10.1177/10892680211046507

7. Bhattacharya P. & Priya, K. R. (2022). Stakeholders facilitating hope and empowerment amidst social suffering: A qualitative documentary analysis exploring lives of homeless women with mental illness. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(4), 908-918. doi:10.1177/00207640211011186 

8. Bhumika, Priya, K. R., & Sinha, A. K. (2021). Underpinnings of social contributions: Conceptualizing behavioral patterns among socially contributive leaders in India. Social Responsibility Journal, 18(2), 221-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-09-2019-0311

9. Yadav, S., & Priya, K. R. (2021). Migrant workers and COVID-19: Listening to the unheard voices of invisible India. Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, 70(1), 62-71. https://doi.org/10.1177/2277436X20968984

10. Pandey, R., Kukreja, S., & Priya, K. R. (2020, August 1). Covid-19: Mental health care without social justice? Economic and Political Weekly, 55(31), 16-20. [weblink]

11. Sharma, D. & Priya, K. R. (2020, March 28). Excluded in Rehabilitation: Disability in the neo-liberal era? Economic and Political Weekly, 55(13), 12-15. [weblink]

12. Priya, K. R. (2020). Whither psychology for marginalized voices in postcolonial times: New answers [Review of the book Decolonizing psychology: Globalization, social justice and indian youth identities, by S. Bhatia]. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 40(2), 127–133. https://doi.org/10.1037/teo0000143

13. Pandey, R., Khanna, A., Sharma, D., Gupta, A., Bhattacharya, P., Kukreja, S., & Priya, K. R. (2019). Getting close to the context and experience of illness: Critically reflexive fieldwork in qualitative health research. Journal of Health Studies, 1(1), 96-127. [PDF]

14. Gupta, A., Bhattacharya, P., & Priya, K. R. (2019). Revisiting the paradigm shift in trauma studies: Twenty five years of Veena Das' 'Our Work to Cry: Your Work to Listen'. The Journal of Anthropological Survey of India, 68(1), 70-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/2277436X19844898

15. Bhatia, S., & Priya, K. R. (2018). Decolonizing culture: Euro-American psychology and the shaping of neoliberal selves in India. Theory & Psychology, 28(5), 645-668. doi: 0.1177/0959354318791315

16. Viswambharan, A. P., & Priya, K. R. (2016). Documentary analysis as a qualitative methodology to explore disaster mental health: Insights from analyzing a documentary on communal riots. Qualitative Research, 16(1), 43-59. doi: 10.1177/1468794114567494

17. Priya, K. R. (2015). On the social constructionist approach to traumatized selves in post-disaster settings: State-induced violence in Nandigram, India. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 39(3), 428-448. doi: 10.1007/s11013-014-9423-6

18. Priya, K. R. (2013). Disaster Mental Health. In Kenneth D. Keith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Psychology (pp. 421-423). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

19. Priya, K. R. (2013). Ethnography. In Kenneth D. Keith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Psychology (pp. 509-514). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

20. Priya, K. R. (2013). Grounded Theory Methodology. In Kenneth D. Keith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Psychology (pp. 626-630). Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

21. Priya, K. R. (2013). Suffering and Healing. In Kenneth D. Keith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Psychology (pp. 1248-1251). Malden, MA:  Wiley-Blackwell.

22. Priya, K. R. (2012). Trauma reactions, suffering and healing among riot-affected internally displaced children of Gujarat: A qualitative inquiry. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 9, 189-209.

23. Priya, K. R. (2012). Social constructionist approach to suffering and healing: Juxtaposing Cassell, Gergen and Kleinman. Psychological Studies, 57, 211-223.

24. Priya K. R. (2010). Research relationship as a facilitator of remoralization and self-growth: Postearthquake suffering and healing. Qualitative Health Research, 20, 479-495 .

25. Priya, K. R. (2008). Ethnography for socially relevant psychology: An illustrative overview. The Social Engineer, 11(2), 54-66.

26. Priya, K. R. (2007). Healing as facilitated by socio-centric health beliefs: An ethnographic account of the survivors in post-earthquake rural Kachchh. Eastern Anthropologist, 60(2), 217-232.

27. Priya, K. R., Singh, S. K., Dorabjee, J., Varma, S., & Samson, L. (2005). How effective are harm reduction programme for drug users? Insights from evaluation of the programme at SHARAN, Delhi. Journal of Health Mangement, 7(2), 219-236.

28. Priya, K. R. (2004). Survivors’ suffering and healing amidst changing socio-economic forces in two years of post-earthquake Kachchh. Psychology and Developing Societies, 16(1), 41-60.

29.  Priya, K. R. (2004, 18 September). Post-quake recovery in urban Kachchh. Economic and Political Weekly, 39(38), 4229-4231. [PDF]

30. Priya, K. R. (2002). Suffering and healing among the survivors of Bhuj earthquake. Psychological Studies, 47, 106-112. [PDF]

IV. Chapters in Edited Volumes

1. Gupta, A. & Priya, K. R. (2025, in press). What is lost? A Qualitative Inquiry into Narratives around Severe Mental Illness. In Stranger in the city: On the healing power of human reconnection. Routledge.

2. Priya, K. R., Kukreja, S., Pandey, R., Khanna, A., & Verma, S. (2024). Emotions as metaphors: Critically reconstructing psychiatric and cultural discourses for trauma and healing. In G. Misra & I. Misra (Eds.), Emotions in cultural context (pp. 259-284). New Delhi: Springer.

3. Priya, K. R. (2023). Humanizing and decolonizing grounded theory: A journey lived by Kathy Charmaz. In Antony Bryant & Adele Clark (Eds.), Festschrift in honor of Kathy C. Charmaz (Studies in symbolic interaction, Vol. 56) (pp. 97-116). Emerald.

4. Priya. K. R. (2019). The quest for promoting health and healing: The need for socio-historical contextualization of health psychology and community psychology in India. In G. Misra (Ed.), 6^th ICSSR Review of Psychology. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

5. Priya, K. R. (2019). Using constructivist grounded theory methodology: Studying suffering and healing as a case example. In A. Bryant, & K. Charmaz (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Current Developments in Grounded Theory (pp. 392-412). London: Sage.

6. Bhatia, S., & Priya. K. R. (2018). From representing culture to fostering 'voice': toward a crtical indigenous psychology. In Kuang-Hui Yeh (Ed.), Asian Indigenous Psychologies in the Global Context (pp. 19-46). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

7. Priya, K. R. (2018). Well-being and Mental Health in the aftermath of Disasters: A Social Constructionist Approach. In G. Misra (Ed.), Psychosocial Interventions for Health and Wellbeing (pp. 355-368). New Delhi: Springer.

8. Tewari S., & Priya K. R. (2017). People, Chair, and Value(S): A Qualitative Inquiry into the Material Lives. In A. Chakrabarti, & D. Chakrabarti (Eds.), Research into Design for Communities, Volume 1. ICoRD 2017. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 65 (pp. 25-36). Singapore: Springer.

9. Dalal, A. K. & Priya, K. R. (2015). Introduction to qualitative research. In K. R. Priya, & A. K. Dalal (Eds.), Qualitative research on illness, well-being and self-growth: Contemporary Indian Perspectives (pp. 1-22). New Delhi: Routledge.

10. Priya, K. R. & Prakash, A. (2015). Analyzing qualitative data: A grounded theory approach. In K. R. Priya, & A. K. Dalal (Eds.), Qualitative research on illness, well-being and self-growth: Contemporary Indian Perspectives (pp. 59-73). New Delhi: Routledge.

11. Priya, K. R. & Dalal, A. K. (2015). Future of qualitative research on well-being and self-growth: The critical role of fostering reflexivity. In K. R. Priya, & A. K. Dalal (Eds.), Qualitative research on illness, well-being and self-growth: Contemporary Indian Perspectives (pp. 296-325). New Delhi: Routledge.

12. Sharma, A. K. & Priya, K. R. (2013). Tracing the ‘psychosocial’ in the definition of health: Its aims and implications. In U. V. Somayajulu, S. Siva Raju, T. V. Sekher, & C. P. Prakasam (Eds.), Regional disparities and social development: Perspectives and issues (pp. 34-51). New Delhi: Serials.

13. Priya, K. R. & Misra, G. (2011). Ethnographic inquiry in Psychology. In G. Misra (Ed.), Handbook of psychology in India (pp. 99-110). New Delhi: Oxford. [PDF of pre-publication draft]

14. Priya, K. R. (2011). Broadening of consciousness: A healing process among the survivors of Kachchh earthquake. In R. M. M. Cornelissen, G. Misra, & S. Varma (Eds.), Foundations of Indian Psychology, Vol. II: Practical applications (pp. 209-224). New Delhi: Pearson.

15. Priya, K. R. (2010). Why a cultural psychology of trauma reaction and healing: The case of Kachchh earthquake. In K. K. Singh & A. K. Singh (Eds.), Natural and man made disasters: Vulnerability, preparedness and mitigation (Vol. 2, pp. 577-596). New Delhi: MD Publications.

16. Priya, K. R., & Misra, G. (2005). Suffering and healing: Need for cultural psychological conceptualisation and applications. In R. Singh, A. Yadava, & N. R. Sharma (Eds.), Health Psychology (pp. 53-69). New Delhi: Global Vision.

V. Newspaper Articles

1. Priya, K. R. (2023, 13 September). A lesson from IIT. Indian Express.

2. Das, J., & Priya, K. R. (June 3, 2007). Beyond blaming the victim. The Hindu. [PDF]

3. Priya, K. R. (2002, 30 January), Kachchhna bhukamp pidit lokoni vedna ane tena nivaran ni prakriya. Kutchmitra, p.4. (in Gujarati language)

VI. Book Reviews

1. Priya, K. R. (2003). Book Review: Sinha, U. K. (2001). Adolescent Mental Health: Current Status and Challenges. Delhi: Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences. Psychological Studies, 48, 67-68.

2. Priya, K. R. (2004). Book Review: Sahoo, F. M. (2002). Dynamics of human helplessness. New Delhi: Concept Publishing company. Psychological Studies, 49(2-3), 206-207.

3. Priya, K. R. (2004). Book Review: Rammohan, V. Gowri (2002). A festschrift for K. Ramakrishna Rao: New frontiers of human science. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. Psychological Studies, 49(4), 290.

VII. Other Research Papers:

1. Priya, K. R. (2003). Mean Sum of Squares: Derivation and Application to Test Null Hypothesis in the Experimental Designs of Fisher’s Tradition. Unpublished Manuscript, University of Delhi, Delhi.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

International Conferences:

1. "Post-Disaster Healing through Socio-Centric Beliefs in India: Ethnographic Insights" in symposium on Evolving Cutlurally Grounded Perspectives in Psychology: Viewpoints from the South Asian Region at the 26th Congress of the International Association for Corss Cultural Psychology (IACCP)  on 12-16 July, 2022. [online]

2. "Mental Health of Milennials Facing Communal Violence in India: A Life Story Approach" at the 32nd International Congress of Psychology, Prague on 18-23 July, 2021. [online]

3. "Listening to the Marginalized Vocies of Global South: The Pathway of Critical Reflexivity" at the 6th SQIP Annual Conference on Qualitative Research Methods at Simmons University, Boston, MA, USA on 10-11 June, 2019.

4. "Neoliberalism and Mental Health in Global South: Indian Villagers’ Suffering due to Special Economic Zones" at the 5th SQIP Annual Conference on Qualitative Research Methods at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA on 21-22 May, 2018.

5. “Lived Experience and Expressions of Suffering: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Approach” at the Thirteenth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA on 17-20 May, 2017.

6. "Karma as the Transcendental Path towards Growth and Healing: Conceptual History and Applications" in an invited symposium on 'A Conceptual History of Indian Psychology' at the 31st International Congress of Psychology at Yokohama, Japan on 24-29 July, 2016.

7. "Situating Trauma and Healing within Cultural and Sociopolitical Contexts: A Social Constructionist Approach" in an invited symposium on 'Disaster Trauma, Risk, and Resilience' at the 31st International Congress of Psychology at Yokohama, Japan on 24-29 July, 2016.

8. “Humanizing Grounded Theory: A Journey Lived by Kathy Charmaz” at the Eleventh International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA on 20-23 May, 2015 .

9. “The Challenge of Mitigating Suffering Caused by Inter-Group Conflicts: Insights from qualitative studies in India” at the Eleventh International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA on 20-23 May, 2015.

10. “Ethnographer as a survivors: Empathizing with fear and community solidarity among the survivors of a political violence in India” at the Tenth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA on 21-24 May, 2014 .

11. “Divided Community and Betrayed Self: Social Suffering Caused by Outsourcing of State in West Bengal, India” in the international conference, “Conflict, Revolt and Democracy in the Neoliberal World” held at the University of Brighton, U.K. from 7 to 8 November, 2013.

12. “Transcendental Self and Notions of Justice: Implications for Healing among Disaster Survivors in India” at the International Conference on Social Justice and Human Development at the University of Allahabad, Allahabad on 18 – 20 December, 2011.

13. “The Use of Reflexivity in Teaching Qualitative Research” the Seventh International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA on 18-22 May, 2011 .

14. “Political Violence, Internal Displacement and Children: Insights into Trauma Reactions, Suffering and Healing in Gujarat, India” at the conference on ‘Intercultural Aspects of Mental Disorders’ at University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany on 11-13 November, 2010.

15. “Experiencing Our True and Transcendental Self: Participatory Qualitative Research as a Potential Medium” in a symposium on “Perspectives on Indian Psychology” at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology in New Delhi from December 11-14, 2009.

16. “Social construction of human-environment relationship facilitating disaster management and healing: Insights from natural disasters in India” at the 8th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology in New Delhi from December 11-14, 2009.

17. “Strengths and Challenges of Using Ethnography in Studying Trauma Reactions and Healing after a Human-Made Disaster: Insights from a Study on Communal Riots in 2002 in Gujarat, India" at the 10th International Interdisciplinary Conference – Advances in Qualitative Methods (AQM) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from October 7-10, 2009.

18. “Healing from Trauma Reactions through Indigenous Health Beliefs: A Cultural Psychological Inquiry among the Survivors of Kachchh Earthquake” at the XXIX International Congress of Psychology at Berlin on 20-25 July, 2008.

19. “Self growth along with the surviviors of trauma: My experiences of constructing grounded theory of post-earthquake suffering and healing” at the 8th Advances in Qualitative Methods Conference held at Banff, Alberta, Canada from September 21-24, 2007.

20. “Why a cultural psychology of trauma reactions and healing: The case of Kachchh earthquake” at the International Conference on Psychology in Mental Health to be held at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India on 26-28 July, 2007.

21. “Evaluation of Harm Reduction Programme in India” at the 12^th International Conference on Reduction of Drug Related Harm on 4^th April’ 2001 at New Delhi.

National Conferences:

1. "A Postcolonial Perspective on Psychology for Diversity and Equality: The Pivotal Role of Critical Reflexivity" at the 28^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the University of Delhi on 19-21 December, 2018.

2. "Mental Health of Milennials: Communal Violence in India" at the 27^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the IIT Kharagpur on 22-24 December, 2017.

3. "Teaching Qualitative Research: The Critical Role of Reflexivity" at the 26^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the IIT Madras, Chennai on 29-31 December, 2016.

4. "Socio-Centric Selfhood: Role in Post-Disaster Healing" at the 26^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the IIT Madras, Chennai on 29-31 December, 2016.

5. “Towards rigour in qualitative data analysis” in the symposium on ‘Qualitative Health Research: Process and Rigour’ at the 25^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the University of Allahabad on 2-5 February, 2016.

6. “Surviving Dangerous Fieldwork: Empathizing with Fear and Community Solidarity among the Survivors of a Political Violence in India” at the 25^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the University of Allahabad on 2-5 February, 2016.

7. “Twenty Five Years of “Our Work to Cry: Your Work to Listen”: Veena Das’ Contribution in the Paradigm Shift in Trauma Studies” at the 25^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the University of Allahabad on 2-5 February, 2016. (co-authored by Arpita Gupta and Prama Bhattacharya)

8. “Qualitative Research Process as a Facilitator of Healing among the Survivors of Disasters” in the symposium on ‘Toward a Culturally Contextualized Understanding of Mental Health: The Significance of Exploring Human Suffering and Healing’ at the 24^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IIFM Bhopal on 12-14 December, 2014.
9. “Betrayed by Government and Own Village Community: Trauma and Social Suffering among the survivors of Nandigram Violence” at the 23rd Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at NIT Rourkela on 13-15 December, 2013
10. “Karma: The Transcendental Path towards Growth and Healing” Participated in the retreat on “Indian Cultural Concepts” at the University of Allahabad, 17-19 August, 2012.

11. “The critical importance of ethnography in research on disaster mental health” at the 20th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IRMA, Anand, Gujarat on 12-14 December, 2011.

12. “Can we reach out to human suffering: Revisiting the promise of social constructionist psychology” in a symposium on ‘Psychology and the Human Future’ at the 20th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IRMA, Anand, Gujarat on 12-14 December, 2011.

13. “Contextualizing trauma and healing of children affected by human-made disasters: Theoretical, methodological and policy implications” in the National Seminar on ‘Human Emotions and Well-Being: Emerging Perspectives’ at the D. D. U. Gorakhpur University on 21-22 March, 2010.
14. “Posttraumatic Stress, Suffering and Healing among Riot-Affected Internally Displaced Children of Gujarat: A Qualitative Inquiry” at the 18^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at Bangalore University, Bengaluru on 6-9 March, 2010.
15. “Contextualizing Social Psychological Research on Trauma and Healing in India: Promises and Challenges” in the National Seminar on ‘Social Psychology in India : Perspective & Potential’ at the D. D. U. Gorakhpur University on 21-22 March, 2009.
16. “Trauma Reactions and Healing after a Human-Made Disaster: A Cultural Psychological Inquiry among the Survivors of Post-Godhara Riots in Gujarat” at the 18^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IIT Guwahati on 14-17 December, 2008.
17. “Drawing Parallels between Course Contents and Contemporary Research Practices and Paradigms: A Critical Review of the Syllabi of Psychology Programmes in Some North Indian Universities” in a symposium on ‘Teaching of Psychology in India: Mapping the Terrain’ at the 18^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IIT Guwahati on 14-17 December, 2008.
18. “Experiencing Our True and Transcendental Self: What Recent Developments in Qualitative Research has to Offer to Researchers and Participants” at the National Seminar on Indian Psychology: Theories and Models at SVAYASA, Bangalore on 26-28 December, 2007.
19. “Reflexivity as a Process for Enhancing the Authenticity of Qualitative Health Research” in a symposium on Qualitative Health Research at the 17^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IIT Kanpur, Kanpur from 17 to 19 December, 2007.
20. “Trauma reactions and healing: A cultural psychological inquiry among the survivors of earthquake-affected rural Kachchh” at the National Seminar on Disaster Mental Health: Canadian and Indian Perspectives held at the Department of Psychology, Utkal University from 19-21 March, 2007.
21. “Healing through ‘transcending ego’ among the survivors of Kachchh earthquake” at the National Seminar on Approaches To Mind Sciences Emanating From Indian Culture from 27 to 28 January, 2007 organized by the Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi.
22. “On the potential of reflexive qualitative methods to unravel transcendental self” at the National Seminar on Knowledge and Consciousness held at Indian Psychology Institute, Pondicherry from 13 to 20 January, 2007.
23. Participated in the National Workshop for “Training of Trainer” for Psychosocial Help in Disaster Management held at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai from 17 to 19 December, 2006.
24. “Broadening of consciousness”: A healing process among the survivors of Kachchh Earthquake” at the 16^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IIT Bombay, Mumbai from 14 to 16 December, 2006.
25. “Healing as facilitated by socio-centric health beliefs: An ethnographic account of the survivors in post-earthquake rural Kachchh” at the National Workshop on Cultural Psychology: Theories and Methods at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in October, 2006.
26. “Understanding Disaster Trauma in a Culture-Sensitive Mode: Theoretical and Methodological Issues” at the National Seminar on “Environment and Human Behaviour” held at the Department of Psychology, D.D.U. Gorakhpur University on 21-22 March, 2006.
27. “Ethnography: A Critical Overview” at the National Seminar on “Holistic Paradigms in Psychology” held at the Department of Psychology, Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi on 10-11 March, 2006.
28. “Suffering and Healing: Need for Cultural Psychological Perspective” at the National Seminar on “Health Psychology: Retrospect and Prospects held at he Department of Psychology, M. D. University, Rohtak on 29-30 March, 2005.
29. “Going beyond Stress Paradigm: Cultural Psychology of Suffering and Healing” in the symposium on the topic, “Cultural Perspective on Health Psychology” at the 15^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology held at K. S. Saket P. G. College, Faizabad on 4-6 March, 2005.
30. “Improving Health and Quality of Life of Drug Users through Harm Reduction Programmes: Some Insights from an Evaluation of the Programme at SHARAN (an NGO)” at the 15^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology held at K. S. Saket P. G. College, Faizabad on 4-6 March, 2005.
31. “On Becoming purush: Excursions in Gandhi’ pursuit of seva” at the National Conference on “Indian Psychology, Yoga and Consciousness” held at Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry on 10-13 December 2004.
32. “Overcoming Threats to Well-Being: A Cultural Psychological Enquiry into Post-Earthquake Community Life in Kachchh” at the National Seminar on “Psychology and Environmental Change” held at D. D. U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur on 20 – 21 March 2004.
33. “Psycho-Cultural Perspective on Suffering and Healing among the survivors of Earthquake” at the 14^th Conference of National Academy of Psychology on 27^th February’ 2004 at IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal.

INVITED LECTURES & WORKSHOPS

1. Conducted a workshop on "Grounded theory and ethnography" at Gargi College, University of Delhi on 27 September, 2024.

2. Delivered the inaugural address, "Evolution of qualitative research as critical and reflexive engagement: Colonial ethnography to modern day mixed-method" at the National Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods at the Department of Sociology, Banaras Hindu University on 21 August, 2023.

3. Delivered a talk on "Revisiting Nandigram: Some ethnographic reflections" at the National Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods at the Department of Sociology, Banaras Hindu University on 21 August, 2023.

4. Invited by the International Association for Corss Cultural Psychology (IACCP) to conduct a one-day workshop on "Critical Explorations of Culture: A Qualitative Approach" at thier 26th Annual Congress on 11 July, 2022. [online]

5. Delivered a lecture on "Post-Natural Disaster Healing" for the DST sponsored MDP on Environment Leadership and Life Skills - Women Component at the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal on 9 March, 2022. [online]

6. Delivered two lectures on "Qualitative Research for Critical Social Science"  under a Short Term Course on Reseaerch Methodology organized by the Centre for Professional Development in Higher Education (CPDHE), UGC-HRDC, University of Delhi on 18 January, 2022. [online]

7. Delivered a lecture on "Critical Incident Stress Management" at the Training of Trainers (TOT) In Disaster Psychosocial Intervention Course organized by the National Disaster Relief Force, Nagpur on 2 December, 2021. [online]

8. Conducted a One-Day Workshop on "Ethnographic Methodology" with fellow panelists (Drs. Roli Pandey, Deepika Sharma, and Prama Bhattacharya) in a series of workshop on qualitative research organized by the National Academy of Psychology (NAoP) on 1 November, 2021. [online]

9. Taught a course on qualitative research thourgh four interactive sessions at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, M. S. University of Baroda on 20-28 October, 2021. [online]

10. Delivered an invited lecture on "Karma Yoga and Self-Growth: Insights from Qualitative Social Science" at Sri Sri University,  Cuttack, on 01 October, 2021. [online]

11. Delivered an invited lecture on "Qualitative Approaches to Psychology: Revisiting the Foundation with undergraduates" at Department of Psychology, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi on 29 September, 2021. [online]

12. Invited to be on a Panel Discussion on "Teaching across Continents: A Conversation with Fulbright Fellows" organized by Gitam School of Gandhian Studies, Vishakhapattnam on 5 September, 2021. [online]

13. Delivered an invited lecture titled "Grounded Theory Methodology: A Critical Overview" in a Refresher Course at Ramanujan College, University of Delhi on 21 April, 2021. [online]

14. Delivered an invited lecture titled,  "Qualitative Research Analysis: Grounded Theory approach" in a Webinar Lecture Series on Social Sciences Research Methodology at Christ Church College, Kanpur on 14 April, 2021. [online]

15. Delivered an invited lecture on "Triangulation in Social Science Reseaerch: A Critical Appraisal" at the Department of Liberal Arts, IIT Hyderabad on 10 March, 2021. [online]

16. Delivered four lectures at the Training of Trainers (TOT) In Disaster Psychosocial Intervention Course organized by the National Disaster Relief Force, Nagpur on 22-26 February, 2021. [online]

17. Conducted a workshop on "Grounded Theory Methodology" at the Department of Sociology, University of Rajasthan on 20 January, 2021. [online]

18. Delivered an invited talk titled, "Using Qualitative Methodology in Triangulation and Mixed-Method Research" at IIM Ranchi on 31 December, 2020. [online]

19.  Delivered an invited lecture titled, "Mixing Methods and Triangulating in Social Science: For Whom and for What?" at the Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on 'Enhancing Psychological Skills for teaching and Practice' at the Department of Psychology, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi on 24 September, 2020. [online]

20. Condcuted a two-day workshop on "The Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methdology at Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth University, Veliyanad, Ernakulum, Kerala on 14-15 December, 2019.

21. Delivered a plenary talk titled, "Ethnography: Understanding Culture" at the Symposium on Qualitative Research Methods organized to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of M.Sc Nursing Programme and Silver Jubilee of Ph.D Nursing Programme at Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu on 21 November, 2019.

22. Delivered the key note address, "The Lure of Narratives: Paradigms and Purpose" at the Symposium on Qualitative Research Methods organized to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of M.Sc Nursing Programme and Silver Jubilee of Ph.D Nursing Programme at Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu on 21 November, 2019.

23. Invited as the Chief Guest of the Inauguratoin Ceremony at the Symposium on Qualitative Research Methods organized to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of M.Sc Nursing Programme and Silver Jubilee of Ph.D Nursing Programme at Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu on 21 November, 2019.

24. Conducted a workshop on qualitative research in the ICSSR Sponsored Reseaerch Methodology Course (RMC) at the Department of Psychology, Tripura University on 28 April, 2019.

25. Conducted a two-day pre-conference workshop on “Fundamental of Qualitative Reserach in Psychology” at the 28^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the Department of Psychology, University of Delhi  on 17-18 December, 2018.

26. Conducted a three-day workshop on "Methods, Techniques, and Analysis of Qualitative Data" at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida on 6-8 September, 2018.

27. Conducted a one-day pre-conference workshop on “Grounded Theory Method in Psychology” at the 27^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the IIT Kharagpur on 21 December, 2017.

28. Delivered an invited lecture on "Healing vs. Curing" at Dr. Reddy's Foundation of Health Education, Hyderabad on 3 December, 2017.

29. Delivered an invited lecture on "Post-Natural Disaster Community Action and Healing: The Challenges of Synergizing Cultural and Structural Resources" at Holleran Center, Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA on 2 November, 2017.

30. Conducted a one-day workshop on "Fundamental of Qualitative Research" at the Department of Psychology, M. S. University of Baroda on 15 July, 2017.

31. Conducted a one-day pre-conference workshop on “Grounded Theory Method” at the 26^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at the IIT Madras, Chennai on 28 December, 2016.

32. Conducted a workshop on “Qualitative Research Methods” at NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai on 19-22 November, 2016.

33. Delivered an invited lecture on "Suffering and Healing: Situating Health Cognition and Ethics of Care in Socio-Cultural Context" at the ‘National Seminar titled 'Health Psychology: Contributions to Health and Wellbeing' at Department of Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad, from 4-6 August, 2016.

34. Conducted a workshop on “Qualitative Research: Creating Meanings” from 13-03-2016 to 19-03-2016 at the Department of Psychology, University of Lucknow.

35. Conducted a workshop on “Qualitative Research” at NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai on 3-5 October, 2015.

36. Conducted a workshop on "Qualitative Research" at the Department of Psychology, DDU Gorakhpur University on 23-24 February, 2015.

37. Conducted a workshop on “Grounded Theory, Ethnography and Phenomenological Approach” at The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha, Maharashtra on 18 January, 2015.

38. Conducted a workshop on “Qualitative Research” at NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai on 20-23 September, 2014.

39.  Conducted a workshop on “Qualitative Research” at the Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad on 12-13 April, 2014.

40. Delivered an invited lecture on "Violence and Inter-Group Relations: The Challenge of Mitigating Suffering and Fostering Healing" at the Department of Psychology, DDU Gorakhpur University on 25-26 March, 2014.

41. Conducted a Post-Seminar Workshop on “Qualitative Research on Trauma, Suffering and Healing” on 15 March, 2013 at the International Seminar on “Psychology of Trauma: Women and Children in Violent Conflict” held at the Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, 13-14 March, 2013.

42. Conducted a workshop on qualitative research on 23-24 February, 2013 at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

43. Conducted a workshop on "Focus group research and the basic tenets of qualitative research" at Jadavpur University on 18 September, 2012.

44. Conducted a workshop on "Focus group research as reflexive participation" at Jadavpur University on 18 September, 2012.

45. Delivered a lecture on "The need for and the underutilized potential of qualitative methods in disaster mental health research" at a National Symposium on Disaster Mental Health held at the Department of Psychology, Calcutta University on 18 September, 2012.

46. Delivered a lecture on "Ethnographic research on suffering and healing among the survivors of political violence in India: The process and the findings" at a National Symposium on Disaster Mental Health held at the Department of Psychology, Calcutta University on 18 September, 2012.

47. Conducted a two-day workshop on “qualitative research to study a social phenomenon” at the Summer School on Indian Psychology at the Indian Psychology Institute, Pondicherry on 14-15 June, 2012.

48. Conducted one day workshop on “Basic Elements of Qualitative Research” on 19 July, 2011 in a Short Term Course on Business Research Methods at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, 11 – 23 July, 2011.

49. Delivered a lecture on “Suffering and Healing among the Farmers of Nandigram's Struggle against Land Acquisition: An Ethnographic Account” under HUMSS Talk Series 2011 at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 20 April, 2011.

50. Delivered a lecture on “Conducting Ethnography of Nandigram's Struggle against Land Acquisition: Reflections on Methodological Challenges” under HUMSS Talk Series 2011 at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 18 April, 2011.

51. Conducted one day workshop on “Centrality of Reflexivity in Qualitative Research” on 9 December, 2010 in the National Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Calcutta University, 3 – 10 December, 2010.

52. Delivered a lecture on “Suffering and Healing: An Indigenous Perspective” on 1 December, 2010 at the Refresher Course in Psychology entitled, ‘Indian Psychology: Emerging Perspectives’ at the Department of Psychology, University of Delhi from 22 November to 11 December, 2010.

53. Delivered a lecture on “Disaster and Lifestyle: Cultural Considerations of Suffering and Healing” in a symposium on ‘Prevention is Better than Cure: Ways to Keep Lifestyle Diseases at Bay’ at Hindu College, 8-10 September, 2010.

54. Delivered a lecture on “Dynamic post disaster socio-economic and cultural contexts and the challenges of psycho-social rehabilitation and disaster management” in the workshop on ‘Disaster Management and Mitigation’ held at the Department of Civil Engineering, HBTI Kanpur on March 17-21^st, 2009.

55. Delivered a lecture on “Qualitative Research Tools” during the training session for District Situation Analysis of HIV/AIDS amongst the adolescents in Vaishali and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar organized at IIT Kanpur on September 28, 2007.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

1. Teaching as a Professor of Psychology at the Department Humanities and social Science, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India, since November, 05, 2018.

2. Guest Lectures as a Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Fellow in various liberal arts courses at Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA in 2017-18.

3. Taught as an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Department Humanities and social Science, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India, from March 26, 2012 to November, 04, 2018.

4. Taught as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Department Humanities and social Science, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India, from June 05, 2007 to March 25, 2012.

5. Taught as a Visiting Faculty in Psychology at the Department Humanities and social Science, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India, from March 30, 2006 to June 04, 2007.

6. Taught Masters and Pre-Ph.D. courses at the Department of Psychology (North Campus), University of Delhi, Delhi, India, from 26/10/2005 during the session 2005-06 on ad hoc basis.

7. Taught at Department of Psychology, Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India, on ad hoc appointment from 17/08/2005 to 30/09/2005.

8. Taught ‘theories of learning’ at Maharshee Valmiki College of Education, University of Delhi, Delhi, India, from 07/09/2003 to 26/10/2003 on ‘guest lecture’ basis.

 Courses Taught at IIT Kanpur:

I. Under-Graduate Courses

1. PSY 152: Application of Psychology to Life
2. PSY 454: Social Psychology
3. PSY 470: Psychology of Well-Being [Video-Lecture Series]

II. Post-Graduate Courses

1. PSY 784: Applied Social Psychology
2. PSY 776: Seminar Course in Psychology
3. PSY 774: Qualitative Research: Theory and Practice
4. PSY 794: Disaster Mental Health

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

I got my Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Delhi in 2007. The title of my thesis is 'Suffering and Healing: A Psycho-Social Study of the Survivors of the Bhuj Earthquake' which I have done under the supervision of Prof. Girishwar Misra (Department of Psychology) and Prof. Vinay K. Srivastava (Department of Anthropology).

I completed B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. in Psychology from Delhi University in 1999 and 2001 respectively. My specialization during Masters course was Applied Social Psychology. I did my Class XII from Sainik School Tilaiya (1988-1995).

AWARD, RECOGNITION AND FELLOWSHIP

1. Special Issue Editor of the journal Qualitative Research in Psychology on the theme, "Reconstructing grounded theory research in psychology: Towards critical and decolonial approaches".

2. Invited to serve as an Associate Editor of the journal, Qualitative Health Research since September, 2022.

3. Invited to serve as a member of the Indigenous Psychology Task Force (http://www.indigenouspsych.org/) of the Division 32, that is, Society for Humanistic Psychology of American Psychological Association in December, 2019.

4. Awarded Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship 2017-18 for doing research in collaboration with Professor Sunil Bhatia at Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA.

5. Awarded Tao Associate Grant (TAG) 2017 for conducting ethnographic reserach on post-violence inter-community relationship for rehabilitation of the survivors in India.

6. Invited to be on the Expert Committee of UGC as a member and Co-coordinator to draft Model Syllabi for the Teaching of Psychology at Bachelors and Masters levels in the country in May-July 2016.

7. Invited to be Associate, Taos Institute, USA since May, 2015.

8. Awarded The Class of 1970 Young Faculty Research Fellowship 2013-2016 by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

9. Invited and sponsored by the International Union of Psychological Sciences to join a Capacity Building Workshop on Disaster Mental Health at Beijing, China, 11-14 October, 2013

10. Invited and sponsored by the International Union of Psychological Sciences to join a Capacity Building Workshop on Disaster Mental Health at Beijing, China, 18-22 February, 2012

11. Received Letters of Commendation from the Director, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur for

           i) Teaching the Course, “PSY 774: Qualitative Research: Theory and Practice” in the Semester I of the academic session 2014-2015.

           ii) Teaching the Course, “PSY 152: Application of Psychology to Life” in the Semester I of the academic session 2014-2015.

           iii) Teaching the Course, “PSY 152: Application of Psychology to Life” in the Semester I of the academic session 2013-2014.

           iv) Teaching the Course, “PSY 454: Social Psychology” in the Semester II of the academic session 2011-2012.

           v) Being a tutor of the Course, “PSY 454: Social Psychology” in the Semester II of the academic session 2011-2012.

           vi) Teaching the Course, “PSY 454: Social Psychology” in the Semester II of the academic session 2010-2011.

           vii) Teaching the Course, “PSY 454: Social Psychology” in the Semester II of the academic session 2008-2009.

           viii) Being a tutor of the Course, “PSY 454: Social Psychology” in the Semester II of the academic session 2008-2009.

10. Received Junior Research Fellowship by the University Grants Commission (UGC) since 28.09.2001 (UGC Ref. No. 63/NET-DEC. 2000). It was enhanced to Senior Research Fellowship from 28.09.2003 to 16.08.2005.

11. Merit Scholarship from Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi for securing highest percentage of marks in M.A.(Pervious/Part I) Psychology.

12. Merit Scholarship from Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi for securing highest percentage of marks in M.A.(Final/Part II) Psychology.

13. Given the 'Aftab Award', a special Colour from the college for consistently excellent academic record and passionate involvement in extra-curricular activities throughout the B.A.(Hons.) Psychology course at Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi.

14. Awarded 'College Crest' for good academic performance and excellent involvement in extra-curricular activities in B.A.(Hons.) Psychology II Year (1997-1998) at Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi on 20 March 1998.

15. Secretary of Psychology Society, Department of Psychology, Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi during B.A.(Hons.) Psychology III Year in the academic year 1998-1999.

16. Student Editor of College Magazine ‘Rambler’ during academic year 1998-1999 in B.A.(Hons.) Psychology III Year at Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

1.  Principal investigator of the project titled, “Suffering and healing in post-disaster socio-cultural context: A comparative study of the survivors of human-made and developmental disasters in India” sponsored by Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur between May 2008 to May 2010.

ORGANIZING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

1. Member, Organizing Committee, 17^th Annual Conference of National Academy of Psychology at IIT Kanpur, Kanpur from 17 to 19 December, 2007.
2. Convener, Organizing Committee, National Workshop on “Qualitative Research Methods: Potential for the Science of Well-Being and Self-Growth” at IIT Kanpur from 24 to 27 February, 2010.

QWWS 2010: National Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods

Aila Destruction

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