Mr. Aswin Rajan Varghese

Aswin Rajan Varghese is a  PhD candidate at the School of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University, situated in Kottayam, Kerala, India. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Politics and International Relations from the same esteemed university between 2015 and 2017. Prior to that, Aswin completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Madras Christian College, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, spanning the years 2011 to 2014.
Aswin’s current research is centred on a critical and pertinent topic: climate refugees in South Asia and the array of human rights issues and policy complexities they encounter. Guided by the expertise and mentorship of Dr. Lirar Pulikkalakath, Assistant Professor at the School of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University. Aswin’s research delves into the intersections of climate change, displacement, human rights, and public policy making in the region.

Evidencing his strong commitment to social engagement, Aswin actively engages in a range of academic and civic pursuits. His leadership roles are notable; he currently serves as the State Joint Convener of the All Kerala Research Scholars Association (AKRSA), along with being a dedicated member of the Mahatma Gandhi University Senate and Student Council. As of the academic year 2020-21, he has contributed as a guest faculty member in the Department of Political Science at Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla, Kerala.
Aswin’s accomplishments extend to impactful research as well. In 2020, he provided valuable assistance to the Kerala State Finance Commission on a research initiative focused on the utilization of funds for SC/ST welfare by local self-governments in Kerala. His efforts in the aftermath of the 2018 Kerala floods, particularly in the Aranmula Constituency, showcased his commitment to aiding the community’s rehabilitation efforts. He conducted an extensive survey within his village panchayat during this initiative.

His multifaceted academic interests encompass international relations, refugee studies, statelessness, forced displacement and migration, co-operative movements in Kerala, labour studies, counter-globalization studies, global south studies, political theory, and Marxist and socialist theory.