Aravind R, an SIAS PhD scholar in Sociology, presented a paper titled ‘Digital Queer Intimacies in the City: Pleasure, Labour and Ghettoisation’ at the international conference ‘Digitality, Marginality and Plural Subjectivities,’ hosted by the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), University of Edinburgh.
Dr Sabah Siddiqui, Assistant Professor, Psychology, SIAS was part of a book discussion held in Pune on her book, A People’s History of the Farmers’ Movement, 2020-2021. The event was organised by Shankar Brahme Samajvidnyan Granthalay and the Pune Collective. Professor Prashant Bhansode (Ghokhale Institute of Politics and Economics) was the discussant, in addition to the book editors Dr Shamsher Singh and Dr Siddiqui.
Dr Swarnamalya Ganesh, Associate Professor of Practice, Literature and Global Arts, SIAS directed and choreographed a showcase by Ranga Mandira Sadir Melam presented on 2 February 2026 as part of the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, International Theatre Festival celebrated by The National School of Drama.
Dr Venugopal Maddipati, Associate Professor, History, SIAS taught a course for masters level design students centered around the medical humanities and architectural design in Ahmedabad at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, titled Ontologies of Stillness: Gandhi, Passivity, Pensivity and Illness.
Dr Madhavilatha Maganti, Associate Professor, Psychology, SIAS conducted an online session on ‘Critical Thinking and Research Methods’ for faculty from CMR university, Bangalore as part of their FDP on ‘Teaching and Research in Liberal Studies’ :Interdisciplinary Pedagogies on 23 December 2025.
Dr Jyoti Prasad Mukhopadhyay, Associate Professor, Economics, IFMR GSB, presented a paper, co-authored with Dr Narbadeshwar Mishra, IFMR GSB PhD alum, titled ‘Banning the Alcohol: Unintended Effects of Alcohol Prohibition on Children’s Learning Outcomes’ at the 2026 CSW Asia Meeting (AMES-CSW) of the Econometric Society held at New York University, Abu Dhabi from 23-25 January 2026.
Marking a celebratory beginning to the new year, Krea Kalotsavam 2026, Krea University’s annual cultural festival, unfolded at the SriCity campus for the second consecutive year as a week-long celebration from 27 to 31st January. Bringing together musicians, dancers, and artists from across the globe who are masters of their craft, the festival offered the Krea community a pause, a space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect through art. Students, faculty, and staff immersed themselves in an atmosphere that felt both tranquil and energising, a welcome respite from the pace of everyday academic life. Beyond showcasing artistic brilliance, the performances highlighted the cultural depth and diversity embedded within each art form, spanning classical and contemporary traditions, folk music, and movement-based storytelling. At its heart, Kalotsavam celebrated not just performance, but the stories, histories, and lived experiences that give art its meaning, resonating with a wide and varied audience.
The festival opened on January 27 with an evocative performance by Chennai-based musician Vedanth Bharadwaj. Trained in Indian classical music under Sri Ramamoorthy Rao, Vedanth is known for his ability to move fluidly across genres. His set wove together Indian classical elements with Bhakti and Sufi poetry, folk influences, blues, and Western classical textures, creating a soundscape that was both rooted and experimental. The performance struck a deep chord with listeners, setting the tone for the days to follow
On January 28, dancers Eveline Noth and Michel Casanovas presented Dream of an Elsewhere, a nuanced duet that explored themes of slowness, travel, and rediscovering childlike wonder. Through restrained movement and quiet intensity, the performance invited the audience to engage with stillness and introspection.
This was followed on January 29 by a Carnatic vocal concert organised by SPIC MACAY at Krea, led by Vidushi Amritha Murali. Accompanied by Sangita Kalanidhi Vidwan R K Shriramkumar on the violin, Vidwan Manoj Siva on the mridangam, and Vidwan Anirudh Atreya on the kanjira, the evening was marked by technical brilliance, emotional depth, and a deep reverence for tradition.
The celebrations continued on January 30 with an evening of folk music by Funkybodhi, featuring S. Rani’s Irular Ensemble. S. Rani, lead singer and social activist highlighted the oral traditions and the lived experiences of the Irular community, an indigenous Dravidian group from Tamil Nadu, in the performance to amplifiy voices that have long remained on the margins, blending music with storytelling and social memory.
Krea Kalotsavam 2026 culminated on January 31 with a Kalamkari workshop led by master craftsmen from Machilipatnam, alongside a vibrant Kalotsavam fair that transformed the campus into a lively gathering space. The fair featured caricature and live sketching, palm weaving, textile and craft stalls, interactive games, and a wide range of food offerings. The evening concluded with spirited student-led performances by Band BBB, Raag Band, Band Wildcard, and the TBD Dance Crew, reflecting the creativity and collaborative spirit of the Krea student community.
As Krea looks ahead, Kalotsavam continues to reaffirm the university’s commitment to fostering spaces where art, culture, and community intersect. With each edition, the festival strengthens its role as a platform for dialogue, discovery, and shared celebration, setting the stage for many more moments of creative exchange in the years to come.
Aarthi Venkatesh, a third-year Psychology student at SIAS, has been awarded the highly selective Founding Generation Fellowship by the International Congress of Infant Studies (ICIS). As part of the fellowship, she will spend the summer at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, conducting research at the Centre for Infant Cognition under the supervision of Dr Kiley Hamlin.
Her research will focus on investigating the early developmental foundations of moral cognition in infants. Through this work, she aims to develop both conceptual and methodological skills in developmental cognitive neuroscience. The fellowship marks an important milestone in her academic journey, deepening her long-standing interest in early cognitive development and the philosophical questions surrounding the nature of mind, knowledge, and morality.
Dr Rakesh Sengupta, Assistant Professor, Psychology, SIAS delivered an online talk at IIIT Hyderabad in their Cognitive Science Seminar series on 28 January 2026. The talk was titled ‘Graph Surgery: Tuning the Connectome to Predict Distinct Neural Dynamics of Enumeration’.
Krea students recorded a strong showing at FLAME University’s Kurukshetra Fest 2026.
TBD Crew, Krea University’s official UG Western Competing Dance Team, secured first position in the Step-Off category. Led by Ananyaa Premanand, the team included Aarushi Chowdhury, Aashna Bhartiya, Ananya Sarath, Avani Bipinkumar, Diya Saravanan, Drishti Satpal, Ishita Vohra, Pranaya Khatri, Sanika Ostwal, and Trisha Bhar. The Women’s Football Team secured second position, and we also congratulate Aavya Kedia (Basketball) and Shilpi Rani (Football) for being recognised as Best Defensive Players.
