Our Team (Members, Authors and Associates)
Animesh ROUL
Animesh Roul is the Executive Director of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi. He is involved with independent think tanks, media houses, and policy organizations in India and abroad. He holds a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has a master's degree in Modern Indian History and specializes in counterterrorism, radical Islam, terror financing, armed conflict and issues relating to arms control and proliferation in South Asia. He has written extensively on these subject areas in journals, policy magazines, and the press, including Jamestown Foundation’s Terrorism Monitor and Militant Leadership Monitor, the CTC Sentinel, Jane’s Intelligence Review, ISN Security Watch, Non-Proliferation Review, NBR Analysis (The National Bureau of Asian Research), and CBW Magazine (Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), among others. He co-authored a book on India’s indigenous terror group (‘Indian Mujahideen: Computational Analysis and Public Policy, Springer, New York, 2013).
His views appeared in Rediff.com, Economics Times, the Hindu, My Nation, and International Business Times, among others. He also edits the ‘South Asia Conflict Monitor’ (SACM), a monthly online bulletin on armed conflicts and terrorist violence in South Asia. Roul is the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation’s Asia Security Initiative Blogger award for 2009 and 2010. He was a core member of the Counterterrorism Foundation’s blog on South Asian terrorism issues between 2006-2011. In his earlier stint, he worked as a Research Associate at New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management (The South Asia Terrorism Portal). He is responsible for setting the research agenda, commissioning papers, and overall management of website and print publications, coordinating with the SSPC network of writers and scholars, fundraising and overall promotion of SSPC research activities. [Emails: animeshroul@sspconline.org/ animeshroul@gmail.com]
Vijay SAKHUJA
Vijay Sakhuja (PhD) is one of the founding members of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi. Dr Sakhuja 
is the former Director of the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi. He is now Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, and Visiting Senior Fellow at the Maritime Security Programme of the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Dr Sakhuja has been on the research faculty of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore; Director (Research) of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA); Senior Fellow of the Centre for Airpower Studies (CAPS) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF); Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), and United Service Institution of India (USI). Dr Sakhuja received M.Phil and PhD degrees from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He has published over 40 books, edited volumes and monographs on international relations, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, Southeast Asia and South Asian security, maritime security, maritime history, and the Arctic and Blue Economy. His current research focus is maritime connectivity and infrastructure and disruptive and neo-digital technologies. He is the author of ‘Asian Maritime Power in the 21st Century: Strategic Transactions - China, India, Southeast Asia’; ‘Confidence Building from the Sea: An Indian Initiative’; co-author of ‘Climate Change and the Bay of Bengal: Evolving Geographies of Fear and Hope’; His recent academic works are Asia and the Arctic: Narratives, Perspectives and Policies (2016), Perspectives on Blue Economy (2017), The Blue Economy: Concept, Constituents and Development (2017), and South Asia Defence & Strategic Perspective (2018). He is a member of the international editorial board of the Journal of Indian Ocean Region (Taylor & Francis).
Deba R MOHANTY
Deba R Mohanty is one of the founding members of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict. He also presently heads Indicia research and advisory, a New Delhi-based defence research firm. His research interests include arms trade, military industry, higher military management, national security, international security and foreign policy. A prominent commentator on international security in India, he has over 17 years of professional experience in security affairs. He holds an M Phil Degree in Disarmament Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was a Senior Fellow at Observer Research Foundation (2006 – 2012), Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (1997 – 2006), and British Chevening Research Fellow at King’s College London (1995 – 1997). He has been a Ford Foundation Visiting Fellow at Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC: 2002-03); Senior Visiting Fellow at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford (2005); Senior Visiting Fellow at European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS: 2009). Mohanty has lectured extensively on Indian security affairs in India and abroad. He has also been a columnist for Military Technology (Germany) and Financial Express (India) for many years, with more than thirty research papers in national and international journals to his credit. His widely acclaimed book “Arming the Indian Arsenal” was published by Rupa publishers in 2009.[Emails: debamohanty@sspconline.org/ deba205@gmail.com]
Ajey Viswanath LELE
Ajey V. Lele (Ph. D), Visting Fellow, Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi. He worked as a Senior Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. He specializes in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) issues with a focus on Chemical and Biological Weapons, Space and Strategic Technologies. He has authored and edited several books, including “Bio-Weapons: The Genie in the Bottle” (Lancers, 2004), “Strategic Technologies for the Military” (Sage, 2009), “Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?” (Springer, 2012) and “Disruptive Technologies for the Militaries and Security” (Springer, 2019). He is a recipient of the K. Subrahmanyam Award (2013), which is conferred for outstanding contributions in the area of strategic and security studies. He has written for Strategic Analysis, Indian Defence Review, Space Policy and Astropolitics. He was the founding Editor of the journal CBW Magazine. He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict since its inception. [Emails: ajey.lele@gmail.com]
Avilash ROUL
Avilash Roul (PhD) is presently engaged in PERI-CENE (Peri-urbanisation and Climate-environment change) at IIT-Madras (Chennai) as a Principal Scientist and also teaches at the Department of Humanities and Social Science, IIT-Madras as a guest professor. He was a visiting scientist (March-May 2017) at the Institute of Geography, University of Freiburg, Germany. Dr Roul has been involved in the development and environmental discourse in Asia. Leading several policy developments in intergovernmental as well as national institutions in Asia. He worked as executive director of the Manila-based “NGO Forum on ADB”. He has undertaken extensive travel across Asia to work closely with communities and civil societies to better understand the interface of environmental governance and developmental conflict. He has been engaged in policy research on various areas of interest in the Mekong, Central Asia and Mongolia. Earlier, he worked with Down to Earth (a magazine published fortnightly by the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi, India) and worked as the Assistant South Asia Regional Coordinator for the Washington-based Bank Information Center (BIC-USA). Avilash received his doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University on the subject of ‘Negotiating Water Security. His interest areas include development finance governance, international organisations, environmental negotiations, climate change and resilience, water governance and conflict, forest and conflict, rights of indigenous peoples, the democratization of development, urban and peri-urban sustainability and urban forestry. He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict (SSPC) since its inception and currently exploring a broader understanding of urban security concerning climate change as a senior fellow at SSPC. [Emails:avilashroul@gmail.com]
S. S.TABRAZ
S S Tabraz is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Humanities & Social Sciences at IIT Madras. He had a stint as a lecturer at Pondicherry University after completing a Doctoral programme at the School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has written for Islam and the Modern Age, Economic & Political Weekly and Peace & Conflict Monitor (PCM). He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict since its inception.
Nihar NAYAK
Nihar Nayak is presently working as Research Fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. Before joining the IDSA, he worked as Research Associate at the Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi. He earned his PhD and M.Phil degrees from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) and Post Graduation from Delhi University (New Delhi). He has been associated with Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict since its inception. His area of expertise is Nepal, Maoist/Left-wing extremism in South Asia, small Arms, conflict management, peace-building, and cooperative security in South Asia. Dr Nayak has been writing and publishing in both national and international journals. His latest edited work is “Cooperative Security Framework for South Asia”, IDSA/Pentagon Security International, New Delhi, 2013. He is also the author of “Strategic Himalayas: Republican Nepal and External Powers,” IDSA/Pentagon Security International, New Delhi (Forthcoming). He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict since its inception.
Akanshya SAHA
Akanshya Shah is a Senior Nepali Journalist with more than ten years of research and reportage experience. She has been associated with the New Delhi-based public policy think-tank Observer Research Foundation. Her research interests are Nepalese Politics & Foreign Policy issues and India-China relations. Shah has also been actively associated with Nepalese print and web media such as Republica, Nagarik, Newsfront, Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post. She has been associated with SSPC as consulting editor.
RESEARCHERS & INTERNS
SHIVANI VAZE (Research Assistant) Shivani Vaze is presently researching and documenting CBW Disinformation and Non-proliferation Issues. She finished a three-month Internship (December 2021-February 2022), focussing on Military Psychology, Refugee Crisis and Violent Conflict.
SIDDHARTH KAULGUD (Research Intern: December 2022- January 2023) is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts & Humanities from O.P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. His research interests are Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) technology, war ethics, and counterterrorism operations. He is working on two papers: "Role of UAVs in Russia-Ukraine War" and "Ethical Implications of Drones in 21st Century Conflicts".
SPANDANA BHURA (Research Intern: December 2022- January 2023) is pursuing a bachelor's degree at the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities (OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. Her areas of interest are South Asian politics, human rights, conflict and public policy. She is working on two reports titled: "State of Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: An Account of Crime, Calamities and Coercion" and "Sectarian Violence and Marginalization of Hazara Shia Community in Afghanistan".
VIDYA GONUGUNTLA (Research Intern: December 2022- January 2023) is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts & Humanities from O.P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. She is doing her major course in Political Science and International Relations. Her areas of interest include South Asian security, public policy research and analysis. She is researching the Group of 20 (G-20) and its role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on international economic issues.
AYUSHI NAYAK is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Xavier's University, Kolkata. She is passionate about content writing, dramatics, public relations, communications and social media. She regularly writes and researches for the Society for the Study of Peace & Conflict (SSPC), New Delhi.
ASHITA SINGH (Research Intern: July- August 2021) is a final year international relations major at the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities (OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana). Her areas of interest are South Asia and Middle-East politics, human rights, peace and public policy. She aspires to pursue journalism as a career in future. She is working on a report titled: "Threats, Intimidation, and Violence against Members of the Media in Conflict Zones: Case Study of Afghanistan and Pakistan."
PRATIBHA SINGH (Research Intern: July- August 2021) is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts & Humanities from O.P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. She is doing her major course in Political Science and International Relations. Her areas of interest include South Asian security, public policy research and analysis. She is working on a timeline for the "Rohingya Migration and Refugee Crisis in India".
AYAN H. BARMAN (Research Intern: July- August 2021) is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations at O.P Jindal Global University. He is enrolled in the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities. His areas of interest include analyzing US Hegemony, Nuclear footprint and deterrence, Post-Cold War relations, Non-Aligned Movement, and contemporary Indian Politics. He is engaged in a fact file compilation on "Chemical Weapon, Terrorism/Crime/Assassination".
SIMRAN KOTHARI was part of the research team at SSPC between September- November 2020. She has previously worked as a policy intern at Society for Development Studies, New Delhi. She holds a master's degree in International Studies from Symbiosis International University, Pune. She has done triple majors in Media, Economics, and Political Science from Christ University, Bangalore. Her areas of interest are West Asia, Gender Studies, and Traditional and Non-Traditional Security threats in the region.
PRETY PRIYA was a Research Intern at the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi (July - August 2020). Presently, She is doing BBA-LLB (2nd year-Law) at OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat. Her areas of interest include Human Rights Law and International Refugee Law and Protection. She also works as a junior editor at ‘The Law Culture’ blog. She has published an Issue Brief on "Rohingya Crisis: The Political and Humanitarian Discourse" (August 14, 2020).
SAMAR SJB RANA: Samar was associated as a research intern (September –November 2019). He is a Graduate in Political Science from Hindu College, Delhi University. He previously worked with Samriddhi Foundation (A non-profit think tank) and Lead International, both based in Nepal. Samar just completed a three-week summer course at the University of Hong Kong on Political Economy in July 2019.