Teaching

Teaching Statement

 My teaching engagements have proved to be joyous and enriching points on the learning curve of my academic journey. This has enhanced my academic experience not only in terms of sharpening my teaching skills but also towards deepening my own understanding about political science and South Asia. As an area scholar rooted in the discipline of political science, I maintain a judicious balance in my teaching between the ‘area’ and the ‘subject’. This necessitates a pedagogy to be pitched at multiple levels – one, which is focusing on ‘area’, and the other, which engages with the existing and emerging academic discourse. Hence, through my teaching I try to create a common meeting ground between these two levels. My teaching philosophy is to maintain the academic rigor in the classroom and at the same time make learning a fun exercise. I think I have been able to maintain this balance, which is reflected in some of the comments in the student’s feedback provided below. I teach courses on governance, welfare, institutional change, Indian politics and methodology.

Areas of Teaching

Comparative Politics

Politics of Climate Change

Indian Politics

Public Policy

Qualitative Methods

Institutions and Institutional change

Governance

Teaching at the Heidelberg University 2016- till present

Seminar on Politics in India (Winter Semester 2016-17)
Seminar on Governance and Politics of Welfare in South Asia (Summer Semester 2017; Summer Semester 2020)
Seminar on Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in Social Science (Summer Semester 2017) (Co-taught with Dr.Seyed Hossein Zarhani)
Seminar on Politics and Governance in India (Winter Semester 2017-18)
Seminar on Transparency, Accountability, and Corruption in South Asia (Summer Semester 2018; Winter Semester 2019-2020)
Seminar on Public Policies and Institutions in South Asia: Persistence and Change (Winter Semester 2018-19)
Seminar on Politics of Climate Change in South Asia: Perspectives on Global Governance (Winter Semester 2018-19)
Seminar on Politics of Climate Change in South Asia (Summer Semester 2019;Winter Semester 2020-21)
Seminar on Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in Social Science (Summer Semester 2020)

Teaching at the National University of Singapore (NUS),Singapore 2012-2016

 January 2016-June 2016 – Taught a B.A Honors module on Social , Political and Economic Change in India .

January 2012-January 2016- Part of the teaching team for two B.A courses :1. South Asia: People, Culture and Development and 2. South Asians in Singapore.

Received Two Graduate Teaching Award at the NUS for Teaching Undertaken in Semester I 2012-13 and Semester II 2012-13 at the NUS.


Student’s Feedback

 “Friendly, affable” and 
 “Fostered an atmosphere of mutual learning and discussion”

“He provides valuable feedback on our presentations and asks questions that allows me to think of concepts deeply and understand them. He is also able to continuously guide the discussions and usually does a short summary of the topics during the discussion class so that students know what they key take away points for every topic”

“Provides ample discussion opportunities by bringing in all the contradictions of one topic. Provides examples outside the S.Asia region (where possible & necessary) to help foreign students understand the situation in the region”

“Always provides a counter argument/perspective that enables students to appreciate a topic from all perspectives”

“Knowledgeable about his field”

“funny and sarcastic at times – leaves the room of discussion for students and builds on them, lets the students take charge – has great knowledge in the politics sector of the India especially – supportive of student’s thoughts”

“He is very funny and interesting. Makes class less serious and more of a friendly discussion”