Vaivab Das, a final-year Ph.D. student at IIT Delhi, is anything but a conventional academic. Their journey, from a self-described "non-academic" undergraduate in English literature to a Fulbright Scholar in the Anthropology Department at UC Berkeley, reflects a deeply personal and evolving commitment to social justice. Vaivab's work blends anthropology, law, gender, and sexuality—a space where they seek not only to understand the world but to change it.
Vaivab's research focuses on how law functions as an active agent in shaping the lived realities of marginalized communities. They also explore the complex issues of gender and sexuality, bringing an interdisciplinary approach to their work.
"What motivates me to do this research is how I can see research translating into social change while I am doing that research," Vaivab explains. Their work is not confined to the academic sphere; it extends to the streets of South India and Delhi, where they have been a steadfast community organizer for LGBTQ+ rights.
Vaivab's academic pursuits are inextricably linked with their activism. They have played a crucial role in advocating for voting rights and improving identification systems for trans and gender non-conforming individuals in India. Their research is a tool for advocacy, as they demonstrated by engaging with the Election Commission of India to highlight systemic issues in voter inclusion for trans people. "The biggest achievement for me as a researcher has been understanding the language of administrations and institutions," Vaivab notes, emphasizing the importance of communicating research findings effectively to bring about real change.
However, their path has not been without challenges as they faced structural discrimination within academic and social spheres. "You will be reduced to a one-issue person," they say, reflecting on the pigeonholing that often accompanies research in gender and sexuality studies. Despite these obstacles, they remain resolute in their mission to use research as a means of empowerment.
Vaivab plans to utilize their doctoral research to petition the Supreme Court of India, aiming to address the shortcomings in the governance infrastructure surrounding the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act. Their work, spanning across four Indian states, is set to shed light on the gaps in policy that fail to recognize the complexities of the transgender community.
"My research is meant to show those wounds in light," they assert.