Ankush Pal

Ankush Pal is a sociologist trained at the London School of Economics, researching urban spatiality, caste epistemology and social movements.

The BJP’s victory in West Bengal belies Bengali exceptionalism and bhadralok liberalism

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s unprecedented electoral victory in West Bengal exposes the deep Bengali roots of Hindu nationalism and shatters the myth of secular bhadralok liberalism

By Ankush Pal

/ 19 May 2026

The Indian prime minister Narendra Modi bows with folded hands before a large garlanded portrait of Rabindranath Tagore, surrounded by flowers at a commemorative event.

India’s giant step backwards on transgender rights

India’s hastily passed Transgender Amendment Bill dismantles self-identification rights and walks back on constitutional promises

By Ankush Pal and Muskan Tibrewala

/ 30 Mar 2026

India’s giant step backwards on transgender rights

The making of Shabdakalpa, a pioneering historical dictionary of Bengali

The ambitious Shabdakalpa project, launching in 2028, aims to map the history of every Bengali word in digital form, preserving cultural memory and inspiring future Southasian language initiatives

By Ankush Pal

/ 22 Aug 2025

A yellow taxi drives along a street in Kolkata decorated with colourful Bengali messages painted on the asphalt for Internati

The persistent risks of love across social norms in India

Couples in inter-caste and inter-faith relationships continue to battle discriminatory societal attitudes and legislation – and the Uniform Civil Code could make things worse

By Ankush Pal and Alfiya Azeem Khan

/ 2 Apr 2024