Malavika Pushpa Pillai

Thesis Title: Memory and Cosmopolitanism in the Postcolonial Literary Representation of Cochin

Supervisor: Professor Pablo Mukherjee

Research Interest(s):  Memory Studies, Migration Studies, Social Ethnography, Literature in Translation, Film Theory, Identity Studies, Environmental Humanities, Archive Management, South Asian studies, War and Conflict Literatures, Postcolonial and World Literatures

Doctoral Research: My work is an exploration of a curated selection of fictional and non-fictional works, along with archival materials, delving deep into the heart of hybrid communities in Cochin, a port city in the southern part of India. This research project stands at the crossroads of postcolonial and cosmopolitan theories, using a thematic approach to dissect the social and political complexities, mutual tolerance, and shared memories. This research envisions rekindling the points of convergence between cultural memories and postcolonial cosmopolitanism. Moreover, it aims to serve as a record of the uncharted narratives of Cochin's residents, shedding light on their tolerance for cultural pluralism within the context of world-building, a journey parallel to the nation-building efforts in colonial India.