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Academic Writing Workshop
Everyday Practices and Meaning's of food in India
Second Edition
Why This Workshop?
Food is more than what we eat – it’s a story, a memory, a tradition, a resistance, and a deep part of who we are. In India, food speaks of caste, class, gender, region, ecology, migration, and more. Yet, scholarly attention to food and its cultural meanings often remains on the margins.
This month-long academic writing workshop is for those who want to bring these rich food stories into academic and research-based writing. Whether you’re a Master’s student, early-stage researcher, or an independent scholar, this is your opportunity to engage deeply with the politics, poetics, and practice of writing about food.
Workshop Objectives
By participating in this workshop, you will:
- Develop an interdisciplinary understanding of food and food cultures in India through sociology, anthropology, history, political economy, and media studies
- Learn how to craft academically rigorous papers, blending narrative and analytical writing
- Gain hands-on experience with methodologies like oral histories, ethnography, archival research, and food documentation
- Work on your own writing project with guidance from mentors and feedback from peers
- Build a network of scholars, writers, and food researchers across disciplines
What Will You Learn?
Each session will include:
- A thematic seminar led by an expert academic (e.g. on oral histories, media, environment, food and identity)
- A writing practicum, where you will actively develop your paper with guidance
You will also receive:
- Curated reading materials and writing tools
- One-on-one feedback from mentors
- A resource packet including style guides, references, and publishing forums
Workshop
Schedule and Format
Duration:
7th to 29th November 2025
Sessions:
8 sessions | Every Friday evening (05:00 to 07:00 pm) and Saturday morning (11:00 to 01:00 pm)
Modality:
Online via Zoom
Timing:
2 hours per session (1 hr thematic + 1 hr writing practicum)
Total Fee:
₹ 1,999 (covers all sessions, mentor feedback, and resource material)
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, you will have:
- A working draft of an academic paper or extended essay (3,000–5,000 words)
- Improved proficiency in academic writing, structuring arguments, and using evidence
- Feedback from experts to help revise and submit your work for publication or conferences
- A deeper understanding of food as a cultural and political subject
- Membership in a community of scholars interested in food and culture
Our Mentors & Speakers
Prof. Sunil Santha
Professor, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Prof. Sunil Santha
He is a distinguished academic and social work educator with over a decade of experience at TISS. His research primarily focuses on climate change adaptation, sustainable livelihoods, social innovation, and the sociology of knowledge
Prof. V. Sujatha
Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Dr. V. Sujatha
Is one of India’s foremost sociologists working at the intersections of knowledge, science, health, and culture. With a PhD in Sociology, she currently serves as Professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her extensive scholarship spans the sociology of medicine, science and technology studies, and Indian knowledge systems.
Dr. Richa Kumar
Associate Professor of Sociology and Science and Technology at IIT Delhi
Dr. Richa Kumar
Is Associate Professor of Sociology and Science and Technology Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and holds a position as Associate Faculty, School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi. Her research and teaching interests are in the Sociology of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Science and Technology Studies, and Rural and Agrarian Policy.
Dr. Ishita Dey
Faculty Sociology department of South Asian University
Dr. Ishita Dey
Is currently a faculty in the Sociology department of South Asian University. Prior to this she has taught in Ambedkar University Delhi. I have designed and taught courses on Sociological Theories, Social Stratification, Food and Society for undergraduate programme in Sociology at Ambedkar University Delhi and a course on Politics of Food and Foodways for the MA Programme in Sociology.
Dr. Sanchita Das
Founder Bihun Collective
Dr. Sanchita Das
Is a social scientist whose work spans the intersections of climate vulnerability, local knowledge systems and food cultures. She holds a PhD from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, where her research examined the livelihood practices and vulnerability contexts of the Santal community in the drought-prone Purulia district of West Bengal. Her ethnographic inquiry illuminated the significance of situated knowledge in adapting to climate uncertainties, especially recurrent droughts.
Dr. Rituparna Patgiri
Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati
Dr. Rituparna Patgiri
Is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati. She has been a recipient of the Krishna Raj Fellowship, the Zubaan-Sasakawa Peace Foundation Grant for Young Researchers from the Northeast, the Wenner-Gren Foundation Grant, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati Start-Up Grant and the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Grant. Her research interests lie in exploring questions of culture, food, media, gender and pedagogy.
Dr. Ranjini Basu
Assistant Professor at the School of Economics and Public Policy, RV University, Bengaluru
Dr. Ranjini Basu
Is an agrarian studies scholar and political economist whose research bridges the fields of rural transformation, ecological transitions, and food governance. She currently serves as Assistant Professor at the School of Economics and Public Policy, RV University, Bengaluru.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Suthar
Assistant Professor at the Centre for Political Studies, JNU Delhi
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Suthar
Is a political scientist and public policy scholar whose research explores the intersections of rural development, agrarian distress, and state–society relations in contemporary India. Currently an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Political Studies, JNU, he brings over a decade of teaching and research experience in political economy, comparative public policy, and international relations.
Eligibility
This workshop is ideal for:
- Master's students and PhD researchers in social sciences, humanities, and allied fields
- Writers and cultural documenters exploring food themes
- Early-career academics and independent researchers
- Anyone deeply interested in studying food as a lens into society and culture
How to Apply
Applications are now open. Limited seats available.
To register:
- Click here to fill the application form and proceed with payment
- Shortlisted participants will be notified via email/WhatsApp
- Your seat is confirmed only after payment of the workshop fee (INR 1999)
- For any queries, please email us at: bihuncollective@gmail.com
Registration Open
Bihun-we tell a food tale is committed to creating meaningful impact through food. We are on a mission to tell stories of our regional food and ecological diversity, our native wisdom and champion local produce by highlighting women and communities, their cultural practices and indigenous knowledge.