© Yashka Chavan

Yashka Chavan

English Department
Universität Münster
Johannisstr. 12-20
48143 Münster
Germany

Room: ES308
Phone: +49-(0)251-83-25620
E-mail: yashkachavan@wwu.de

yashka received her M.A. (Honours and Research) in English Literature from the University of Mumbai. Her M.A. thesis was titled – “Exploring Non-Heteronormative Sexualities through New Queer Cinema: Brokeback Mountain and Boys Don’t Cry”. She was a former Research Associate at the Diasporic Constructions of Home and Belonging Indian Diaspora Centre, University of Mumbai. yashka makes rhizomes and machinic assemblages of literature, academic research, embodied experience, emancipatory politics, experiential philosophy, photography, video art performance, and… (n – 1) possibilities which subvert and question the dominant notions of knowledge production which buttresses the construct of "objectivity". Through her research, she tries to shatter this supposed "objectivity" which rests upon the colonial matrix of power relations which silences the coloured queer bodies. When not busy with academic work, yashka likes to write poems, walk through cities, and watch world cinema. Besides that, she shatters patriarchy on daily basis.

  • Research Interests

    • Autotheory
    • Continental Philosophy
    • Critical Caste Theory
    • Critical Race Theory
    • Decolonial Studies
    • Gender Studies
    • Intersectional Feminist Philosophy
    • Postcolonial Studies
    • Queer Theory
    • Transmedia Studies

  • CV

    Education

    10.2018–present: Ph.D. student, Graduate School Practices of Literature, University of Münster

    08.2014–05.2016: M.A. (Honours & Research) English Literature, University of Mumbai

    04–07.2015: Semester Abroad, University of Düsseldorf

    08.2011–07.2014: B.A. English Literature, Ramnarain Ruia College, University of Mumbai

    Work Experience

    02.2021–Present: Reader & Social Media Manager, nether Quarterly

    11.2019–02.2020: Editor, Textpraxis: Digital Journal for Philology, University of Münster

    07.2017–08.2018: Research Associate, Diasporic Constructions of Home and Belonging Indian Diaspora Centre (CoHaB IDC), University of Mumbai

    12.2013–06.2014: Editorial Intern, nether Quarterly

  • Academic Projects

    24.07.2022: Organizer and Moderator, Münster Lectures: “Breaking the Silence” (“Activism and Documentation as Tools of Resistance” by Jennifer Kamau and “A Question of Silence” by Urvashi Butalia), University of Münster

    24.07–29.07.2022: Organizer, International Summer School “Tacet ad Libitum! Towards a Poetics and Politics of Silence”, University of Münster

    23.05.2022: Moderator, “Engaged Pedagogy and Digital Activism” by Deborah Nyangulu, Lecture Series “Activism and Academia”, Graduate School Practices of Literature, University of Münster

    29.10.2021: Organizer and Moderator, “Queer(ing) Belongings in the Indian Nation-State. In/ Visibilities in digital and physical Spaces”, An Online Series of LISTENING, TALKING and VIEWING ROOMS on Post/Decolonial Theories and Concerns, Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung, University of Oldenburg

    13.01.2020: Moderator, “Literary Modelling and Energy Transition – Modelle als ‘Travelling Concepts’” by Matthias Erdbeer, Ringvorlesung “Travelling Concepts: Literary Theory Beyond the Scope of Literary Studies”, Graduate Practices of Literature, University of Münster

    13.01.2018: Moderator, “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Portrait of the Artist as a Feminist Fashion Icon” by Daria Tunca, Ringvorlesung “Why Literary Studies Matter Now?”, Graduate Practices of Literature, University of Münster

    26–27.06.2018: Coordinated the International Joint Symposium titled “Afrasian Interactions: Current Dynamics, Future Perspectives” organized by the CoHaB IDC (University of Mumbai) with AFRASO (University of Frankfurt) and Dr. BMN College (Mumbai)

    07.2017–08.2018: Was actively involved in the editorial work of critical anthologies on Diaspora Studies published by the CoHaB IDC, University of Mumbai

    2016: Conducted a workshop on English grammar and storytelling for middle school students in a Zilla Parishad (district level local authorities) School in Nikamwadi (a small village in the Satara district of Maharashtra)

  • Paper Presentations & Lectures

    27.07.2022: “Narrating the Brown Queer Self and Corporeality”, International Summer School “Tacet ad Libitum! Towards a Poetics and Politics of Silence”, University of Münster

    23.07.2022: Lecture: “Narrating the Brown Queer Self and Body: Autotheory as a Decolonial Practice of Knowledge Production”, part of lecture series “Lange Nacht der Bildung” organized by Institute of Political Science and Sociology, University of Münster

    29-30.10.2019: Paper Presentation: “A Practice in Listening for Savarna Feminists: (Re)-Reading Sharmila Rege's “Dalit Women Talk Differently””, “(Re-)Reading – (Re-)Writing: Postcolonial Theories in Critical Transnational Gender Perspectives (Indian-German Autumn School)”, Centre for Interdisciplinary Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Oldenburg

  • Grants and Awards

    04.2019 – 03.2023: Recipient of DAAD’s Graduate School Scholarship Programme fellowship

    04.2015 – 07.2015: Recipient of DAAD scholarship for international students for semester abroad, University of Düsseldorf

    03.2015: Recipient of Sir Dorabjee Tata Trust’s Travel Grant