Hi, I’m
Abhirami Sumam
PhD Candidate, School of Social Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University
Kottayam,KL
Summary
Dynamic doctoral researcher and political scientist with over a decade of expertise in analyzing socio-ecological systems in South Asia. Extensive work critically examines the interplay between global capitalist production and local hierarchies of caste, class, and gender, revealing systemic environmental and public health crises. Currently seeking the Asia House Fellowship to leverage rigorous ethnographic research on agrarian transition in India, transforming findings into actionable policy intelligence that promotes sustainable trade and investment across the region. Committed to driving impactful change through innovative research and collaboration.
Overview
11
years of professional experience
2
Certifications
5
Languages
Work History
Kerala Legislature Secretariat
04.2019
Job overview
- Assisted in organizing and conducting events of ‘Festival on Democracy', yearlong celebration commemorating diamond jubilee of Kerala Legislative Assembly, including National Students' Parliament (NSP 2019).
- Established and maintained contacts with academics, activists, bureaucrats, politicians, journalists, and students.
- Transcribed Hindi speeches delivered during events for official documentation and translated Malayalam study materials into English for Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST).
- Managed administrative logistics of events planning, including fee collection, official web page, and event promotions.
AMPP Communications
Business Development Manager
10.2025 - Current
Job overview
- Develop strategic communication plans for healthcare professionals and researchers working on environment and sustainability.
BBC World Services
Media Consultant
08.2019 - 08.2024
Job overview
- Monitoring socio, economic policies and cultural developments, preparing daily highlights, and contributing to analytical pieces focusing on governance and administration, budget and GST meetings, state and local body elections, developments in health sector.
School of International Relations and Politics, MG University
Assistant Professor (on contract)
02.2021 - 09.2021
Job overview
- Teaching core courses in three masters’ programs, namely 'Politics and International Relations', 'Public Policy and Governance', and 'Politics and Human Rights'.
- Designed syllabus and developed reading list for course titled 'Contemporary debates in Indian Political Theory', focusing on issues of nationalism, religion and secularism, gender and sexuality, caste and humiliation, and political and economic development.
- Mentored culturally diverse student population by holding one-on-one sessions, especially with disabled and international students and initiated steps to improve communication skills of non-native English-speaking students.
- Oversaw MA dissertations and advised on research design, academic writing, and ethical research practices.
American Embassy
Media Specialist
05.2015 - 02.2017
Job overview
- Kept US government officials informed about socio, economic, political and military developments in Indian sub-continent by monitoring traditional media and open sources online platforms in multiple languages.
- Monitoring prominent English and Hindi news channels, especially their prime time debates.
- Collaborated with multiple bureaus, teams, and contractors for analytical writing, producing info-graphics, and software running.
Education
University of HyderabadHyderabad
Master of Philosophy from Political Science
University Overview
Awarded MPhil degree for the dissertation titled "A Critical Appraisal of Subaltern Studies", where the interconnections between social movements and caste, religion, gender, and class identities were looked at.
University of HyderabadHyderabad
Master of Arts from Political Science
05.2013
University Overview
- Studied courses focused on gender relations, religion and communalism, secularism, power relationships, social movements, liberalism and the rights etc.
- GPA: 8.75/10
Madras Christian CollegeChennai
Bachelor of Arts from Political Science
05.2011
University Overview
- Addition to the core papers in the areas of Indian Politics, International Relations, Western and Indian Political thought, formally learned Tamil and Hindi languages as part of the coursework.
- GPA: 5.01/6
Skills
Strong multilingual communication
Team Player - Excellent
Proficient in relationship building
Strong organizational skills
Effective analytical abilities
Technological Adaptability - Very Good
Effective team management
Effective communicator
Proficient in handling multiple tasks
Knowledge sharing
References
- Sachin, Gogoi, Editorial Lead, Sachin.Gogoi@bbc.co.uk, +91 9818037607, BBC News (Asia Pacific)
- Bijulal, M.V., Assistant Professor, bijulal@mgu.ac.in, +91 9400233357, School of International Relations and Politics (SIRP)
- Arun, Kumar Patnaik, Former Professor and Dean, akpss@uohyd.ac.in, +91 9618658353, Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad
Certification
NET in Political Science, July 2018
Interests
Organizing committee member, Young Scholars' Congress held at Trivandrum. (2019), Publication of Book review, “Why India Matters” in Contemporary South Asia. (2015), Organizing committee member, Sukoon, Annual students' cultural festival, University of Hyderabad (UoH). (2014), Research assistant for an international project collaborated between department of sociology UoH and University of Johannesburg on Youth Identities in Higher Education. (2012), Elected as Joint Secretary, ladies hostels, UoH. (2012), Founder member, Glaubar Rosha students' film club, UoH. (2012), Nominated as the first Health and Welfare Councillor the student cabinet of Margaret Hall of Madras Christian College. (2009), Diploma in Bharatanatyam, a classical dance, from Kerala Peoples' Arts' Club. (2010)
Timeline
Business Development Manager
AMPP Communications
10.2025 - Current
Assistant Professor (on contract)
School of International Relations and Politics, MG University
02.2021 - 09.2021
Media Consultant
BBC World Services
08.2019 - 08.2024
Kerala Legislature Secretariat
04.2019
Media Specialist
American Embassy
05.2015 - 02.2017
University of Hyderabad
Master of Arts from Political Science
Madras Christian College
Bachelor of Arts from Political Science
University of Hyderabad
Master of Philosophy from Political Science
Ongoing Research
- 2024-09 - Current
- A Socio-Material Ethnography of Capitalist Cardamom Production in Kallar Pattom, Kerala, India.