Author Archives: Administrator

Research Collaboration with NUS Institute of South Asian Studies

May 5, 2024

Completed Research Collaboration between The Sundar Singh Institute and the NUS Institute of South Asian Studies

Sundar Singh Institute is in research collaboration with the NUS Institute of South Asian Studies, which is a collaborative effort toward an academic projected growth in this area’s growth. This collaboration hopes to assess changing patterns of socio-economic growth in and outside of South Asia using a cross-disciplinary approach of each academic institution’s strengths over the years.

Thus, the collaborative efforts comprised academic researchers and policy researchers who sought to establish a body of research through an empirical endeavor to promote both academic creation and reality-driven policymaking. The interplay of microeconomic investigation within established macroeconomic boundaries, demographic changes and the emerging aging population phenomena, as well as global political science legal activities and regulations, will merge ultimate universal ideas with specific trends to create focused yet universal efforts across the entire spectrum.

Policy Brief on Digital Economy in South Asia

April 15, 2024

Policy Brief on the Digital Economy in South Asia

Yet before the eventual completion of the policy project, the preliminary findings were published in a policy brief by the Sundar Singh Institute examining the current digital economy and future prospects for South Asia. The policy brief, through its research on the rapidly expanding digital infrastructure, increasingly complicated regulatory environment, and socio-economic effects of digitization throughout South Asia, found via empirical data collection, regional policy review, and comparative institutional evaluations that the condition of digital development was promising yet problematic in organization. Ultimately, it found a digital divide on socio-economic levels, regulatory inconsistencies on international levels, and disparity in national intentions yet championed the need for uniform efforts toward digital literacy initiatives for underrepresented populations. The brief ended with policy suggestions that would foster sustainable development efforts championed by regional cooperation and adaptive governance.

Seminar on Gender and Social Justice

March 20, 2024

Seminar on Gender and Social Justice

This occurred after the Sundar Singh Institute’s seminar on Gender and Social Justice in South Asia. Academics, practitioners, and civil society members convened to closely study quasi-stable gender injustices throughout South Asia. The keynotes and panels reviewed governmental policies and legal initiatives as well as ground-level engagement (activism) to address ongoing gendered violence. Participants could assess contemporary scholarship from intersectionality to caste and gender to socioeconomic disbandment and its relationship with marginalized populations. The Institute seeks this kind of conversation for an inclusive social justice project and social change in South Asia.

Reflecting on 40 Years of Research Excellence: An Interview with Dr. Isaac S. Sato

Originally Published: April 2, 2024

Fortieth Anniversary of The Sundar Singh Institute. As Acting Director, Dr. Isaac S. Sato assessed the last forty years of the Institute and its devotion to and impact on the burgeoning South Asian studies field and beyond. Dr. Sato’s thoughts during this hindsight interview came from such an authoritative perspective, and such calm, level-headed articulation regarding the political and institutional challenges the Institute had to face to ensure its autonomy made it clear that interdisciplinary study kept the Institute not only afloat but also a worthwhile addition to various polities, ethics and resultant social change.

Additionally, he let slip the philosophical foundation for which The Sundar Singh Institute approached its research endeavors—method loyalty, inclusive scholarship and engagement, engagement printed with an ethical drum—all derived from a moral imperative to the larger South Asian community. Therefore, The Sundar Singh Institute has not merely been an academic institution of sorts but a transitioning force of good in the public sphere debate of South Asia as well as the learned field.

Publication: Cultural Heritage and Modern Governance (March 10, 2025)

**Publication: Cultural Heritage and Modern Governance (March 10, 2025)**

The Sundar Singh Institute was pleased to share the recent release of Cultural Heritage and Modern Governance by Professor Helena von Strauss, a UNESCO published report. This far-reaching endeavor was a step in the development of an interdisciplinary connection between cultural heritage research and the governance realities of the state. Professor von Strauss determined that cultural heritage conservation activities served as both a retrospective endeavor of memory and a proactive pursuit for regional/international identity, political cohesion, and immediate and long-term sustainable development goals—all the more necessary in an increasingly contentious South Asian political climate.

Using comparative case studies from the subcontinent and beyond, ethnographic fieldwork, and a comprehensive governance evaluation research agenda, the report makes theoretical contributions and pragmatic applications for various participants from the micro municipality to the macro international development agency. By denoting cultural heritage as a component of modern governance—urbanization, war and peacebuilding, citizen engagement, disaster relief, etc.—the report is timely to inform those with the power to change the world that cultural heritage is not merely a secondary need of humanity; rather, in the 21st century, it must be taken seriously as one of the most essential aspects of an innovative governance arsenal.

The Dynamics of Social Justice in South Asia

Date: April 10–12, 2025

The upcoming international conference “The Dynamics of Social Justice in South Asia” will critically examine the evolving landscape of justice in one of the world’s most complex and diverse regions. Over three days, scholars, policy-makers, activists, and students will gather to explore how historical legacies—such as colonial governance, caste hierarchies, and gendered power structures—continue to shape the lived experiences of marginalized populations.

Keynote lectures will be delivered by Dr. Priya Deshmukh, an internationally respected scholar in gender and postcolonial studies, and Professor Ibrahim Farooq, a leading expert on legal pluralism and institutional reform in South Asia. Their insights will frame the conference’s broader inquiry into how systemic injustice intersects with contemporary movements for human rights, equity, and democratic participation.

Thematic sessions will address a range of pressing issues, including gender justice and intersectionality, the rights of indigenous and tribal communities, and the transformative potential of civil society organizations. Special attention will be given to the dynamics of state power, religious identity, and economic restructuring in shaping access to justice.

Participants will have access to all keynote addresses and panel discussions in recorded format, along with downloadable scholarly materials and policy briefs. Through these resources, the conference aims not only to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, but also to generate actionable knowledge that will support local and regional efforts toward sustainable and inclusive social transformation.

Launch of the ‘South Asia Economic Monitor’ Report

February 10, 2024

Launch of the South Asia Economic Monitor Report

Quarterly South Asia Economic Monitor and the World Bank’s South Asia Development Update. This was an article that looked at the prior fiscal year in South Asia and took a data-driven, all-encompassing approach. It took the information from subsequent year’s changes and predictions, policy changes and shifts that occurred from April to March in all disciplines to assess macro and microeconomic efforts that had been undertaken in the region in the prior year.

It assessed the changes in fiscal and monetary policy of regional governments and took projectable, assessable policy changes into consideration for future actions to better develop the understanding of the situation based on insights for researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners. The intention of the assessment was to look back on such actions and give a quasi-temporary assessment for better projection of how to manage the region moving forward.

Inauguration of the Sundar Singh Lecture Series

January 5, 2024

Inauguration of the Sundar Singh Lecture Series

The Sundar Singh Institute is proud to announce the establishment of the Sundar Singh Lecture Series in honor of the enduring legacy of Sadhu Sundar Singh, who was one of the most prominent figures of early twentieth-century South Asian Christianity, as well as his presence of intellectual thought and spiritual leadership. The Sundar Singh Lecture Series seeks to create such a forum for critical scholastic engagement and interdisciplinary exploration by bringing in guest lecturers from esteemed scholars and seasoned practitioners in the field relative to increasingly complicated issues important to the South Asian region.

For further information and future updates, please check our website or contact the Institute’s communications office.

South Asia Policy Fellowship 2026

The South Asia Policy Fellowship will be a prestigious, one-year fellowship for emerging scholars and practitioners dedicated to generating and sustaining high-impact, policy-relevant research in the South Asian realm. As a fellow, the candidate would become part of the Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies’ vibrant research community and collaborate directly with our current faculty members on the pillars of our endeavors: democratic governance, inclusive economic development, regional security, and climate adaptation.

Fellows will conduct independent and collaborative research related to policy projects and attend high-level academic and policy conversations and briefings. They will co-author policy briefs and research articles that the Institute will consider for publication as part of our research agenda focused on policy relevance.

Fellows will gain exposure to the Sundar Singh Institute’s advanced research resources and interdisciplinary collaborative opportunities, compounded by directed guidance by preeminent thinkers in South Asian studies, public policy, ethics, and international relations. The ideal fellow would not only provide a solid ethical foundation but also be driven by policy and academic excellence.

Due Date: March 15, 2026

Eligibility: Must possess a completed Master’s/terminal degree (or relevant life experience) in a related field; preferred candidates will have experience in previous South Asian policy development and research.

Compensation: Monthly stipend, access to the Institute’s in-person libraries and online databases, attendance at lectures and workshops held internationally for potential public recognition in conjunction with professional development.

Why Collaborate with the Sundar Singh Institute?

Those who wish to enter this prestigious, year-long fellowship will join other established scholars and practitioners in bringing intellectually and practically developed skills to a globally connected policy think tank. The Institute creates an integrative atmosphere where action, dialogue, and research flow seamlessly.

Potential Research Impact: Research with a policy focus can resonate with those who experience the politics and implications of South Asia daily; development is conducted with internationally renowned leaders in the field.

Access to International Communities: For those seekers with long-term academic and professional pursuits in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, or the Maldives, the Sundar Singh Institute will significantly enhance current opportunities.

Publication Potential: Co-author articles for peer-reviewed journals and strategic briefs for local and international organizations. Writing links can create a basis for better decision-making in South Asia and beyond.

Mentorship Within Continuous Delegation: Once assigned to a fellow mentor, continuous matching of interests will connect with leaders in applications reflective of the potential of research findings based on fellow passion.

Whether one is looking to establish oneself as a new leader or grow their excellence, the vibrant approach of the Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies guarantees growth in their academic discipline, access to professional engagement opportunities, and meaningful contributions to South Asia’s future.

Governance in a Globalized World: South Asia’s Role

Date: December 5–7, 2025

This conference aims to explore South Asia’s early yet increasingly geopolitical position in shaping the global governance order. As an interdisciplinary gathering of the disciplines of political science, practitioners, policy-makers, and regional studies, proposed proceedings will benefit anyone eager to understand how South Asia is active in the face of supranational challenges, bringing about institutional changes at the global level.

For example, within the themed sessions, a governance reform panel led by Dr. Rajiv K. Menon and a cross-disciplinary workshop on cross-border policymaking led by Dr. Andrew Hyunwoo Kim will foster engagement in democratic backsliding, multilateral engagement, digital governance, and remapping norms based on developmental realities.

By the end, South Asia will not be positioned as a mere recipient of global governance dictates but rather as an active agent and champion of change for new pathways. The proceedings will be transcribed for virtual publication within an international academic and policy community for ongoing practical and scholarly use.