COVER LETTER

Nishith Mehta

Block No 234, ‘Aishwarya,

Gokuldham Society Street No 6,

Gondal Road, Rajkot- 360004

Gujarat

nishithmehta09@gmail.com

July 20, 2021

Samreen Mushtaq

The Centre for Studies in Gender and Sexuality

Ashoka University

Plot No 2, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Kundli, NCR

New Delhi

Dear Samreen

I am writing to apply for the position of a research assistant as a part of the Centre For Studies in
Gender and Sexuality as advertised on the Ashoka University website. Ashoka University has
always been among the premier institutions of the country which provide the best opportunities
where one can optimize their research faculties at the fullest, and the Centre For Studies in
Gender and Sexuality has been at the heart of it. I was really intrigued when I read about this
Project and I am really looking forward to be a part of it. Gender Studies is an ever evolving and
rapidly expanding subject which requires an updated resource directory which would enable a
better perspective, especially in the Indian Context.

With this letter and the attached CV, I would like to therefore express my sincere interest in the
Research Asssistant position you have available.
 Gender Studies as a subject has always fascinated me and I took upon reading more about it
during my graduation in English Literature. Over the course of time, my fascination increased
and I was fortunate enough to take upon Feminist Theory Literature and Women Studies as some
of the subjects I specialized in in my Post Graduation. This not only piqued my interest further
but also helped me get a better and well informed perspective about the subject. I completed my
Masters in English Literature recently, where by studying Gender Studies as part of different
subjects not only widened my horizons but also sensitivised my approach towards the subject.

Over a course of time I realized that one of the major issues plaguing the developmental
awareness regarding the subject is the lack of proper classroom conversations about gender and
bodies that don’t reassert a biological understanding of gender or equate certain body parts and
functions with particular genders. While the discourse around these issues is constantly shifting,
we need to suitably sensitivise the students right from their formative years in order to shape
their informed perspective regarding the subject in the years to come. Fortunately being a part of
the English Department I was offered an intimate home to think critically, ask questions, and
build on my ideas. Rather than simply responding to given questions, the department challenged
me to interrogate the very logics attached to the questions themselves. The various seminars and
literature workshops and the conversations we had as a part of them mattered because we were
concerned with what was at stake. These conversations pushed me to deconstruct concepts of
power and dominant hierarchies that I had initially taken for granted. In addition to reading
highly sophisticated theoretical texts and asking me to think rigorously, the department provided
immense support and resources in my pursuit of graduate study.

During the 1970s and increasingly in the 1980s, literary critics began to take on board revisionist
theories about language, culture, society, and literature. Scholarly approaches to eighteenth-
century texts by and about women, along with much else, changed. Many literary critics began to
practice new methods of analysis: structuralist criticism, poststructuralist criticism,
psychoanalytic, Marxist, and most importantly feminist criticism. ‘Feminist criticism’ tended to
be more oriented toward the past than women’s studies, and offered theoretically engaged
scholars a coherent, interdisciplinary discourse. While studying this during my Post Graduation I
also started reading more about the evolution of Gender Studies as a subject in the cultural
discourse. Texts like A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, Second
Sex by Simone de Beauvoir and Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by Bell Hooks shaped
my notion and understanding with regards to Gender Studies and its importance and also made
me realize how a majority of us have been blindly missing out on such an important topic which
instead required various public discussions and also Public Policy Formulations at an emergent
basis. As an ever evolving world grapples to accustom and accommodate changing gender
identities and notions, a rather jarring issue is the lack of materials, both academic and otherwise
regarding Non Binary Gender Identities. Its become a regular phenomenon where an increasing
number of students and parents are searching for information about nonbinary gender identities,
which often is not visible or appropriately researched in LGBT resources. Charlie McNabb’s
reference guide to nonbinary gender identities- ‘Non-Binary Gender Identities’ the first of its
kind, will fill this gap hopefully. This highlights the lack of resources regarding the same and
also puts an emphasis on the urgent need for a resource directory which maps the growth and the
present status of Gender and Sexuality Studies across the geographical expanse of India.

If given an opportunity to work as a research assistant in your esteemed organization, I would

utilize my knowledge about the subject and my research skills at the optimal level in order to
work towards the effective fulfillment of the project ideals. The creation of a Pan-India resource
directory will provide a much needed impetus to the promotion of Gender Studies as an essential
element of the Indian Psyche.

Looking Forward, to working with you and your team.

Sincerely,

Nishith Mehta

July 20, 2021

 AIM, GOALS AND PLAN OF ACTION

AIM: - Creation of a Resource Directory that maps the state of Gender and Sexuality Studies in
India as an ever expanding field of academic and political engagement.

GOALS: -

• Identify the people, the spaces, organizations and outlets that have shaped the discourses
on Gender and Sexuality in our country over the last five decades.( Collection of
Quantifiable Data)

• Conduct Interviews with people who have an integral role to play in this field and have
shaped the discourse around the subject.( Collection of Qualitative Data)

• Review the Literature about the subject and trace the history of discipline formation in
our country

• To understand the diversity of women’s and sexual minority's lives in the past and
present, in local, national and global contexts

• To recognize the intersection of race, class, sexuality, gender, and the structural sources
of privilege

• To understand how gender and sexuality operate in institutions, systems, organizations

and the public sphere

PLAN OF ACTION:-

• Identify the stakeholders involved and tabulate existing resources accordingly.

• Identify existing/future challenges and envision an effective and accommodative way

forward

• Collate data based on resources based on personal interactions(interviews), collaborations

with NGOs working towards the same ideal, official government sources and any related
exisiting literature.
• Emphasis on creation of an easily accessible Directory with an easy to use interface.

• Review existing literature and trace how the discussion around the subject has been
shaped over the course of time. Not limiting to just the textual medium but also
expanding it to its depiction in Cinema and other related Performing arts.

• Having discussions regarding the subject with popular Content Creators, having podcasts
regarding the same to boost awareness and catalyze the process of Data Collection.

I hope I can work in tandem with your team in my capacity as a research assistant and
complete the Project keeping in mind the ideals and aims of the organization and he
Department.

Looking Forward for a Favorable Revert from your side.

Yours Sincerely

Nishith Mehta
 CURRICULUM VITAE

NISHITH MEHTA

Block No 234, ‘Aishwary’,

Gokuldham Street No 6,

Gondal Road, RAJKOT- 360004

nishithmehta09@gmail.com

8401486802

CAREER OBJECTIVE –

To seek an opportunity to work in a challenging and interactive environment, where I can get a
chance to educate and shape the Leaders of Tomorrow.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS –

Sr. No Qualification Institution Marks Year Of

Obtained/ Passing Out
G.P.A
1.) MASTER OF GUJARAT 74.8 2020
ARTS (ENGLISH UNIVERSITY
LITERATURE)

2.) BACHELOR OF ST XAVIERS 76 2017

ARTS (ENGLISH COLLEGE-
LITERATURE) AHMEDABAD
3.) A.I.S.S.C.E DELHI PUBLIC 86 2014
SCHOOL -
RAJKOT
 4.) S.S.C DELHI PUBLIC 89.4 2012
SCHOOL -
RAJKOT

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION -

• Cleared the NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY TEST conducted by NTA in December 2019.

SOFT SKILLS -

• Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Team Work
• Adaptability
• Conflict Resolution
• Time Management
• Strong Critical and Analytical Skills
• Passion for connecting students to learning modalities that incite their interest in the
Humanities.
• Ability to connect with the learners

TECHNICAL SKILLS –

• Web Navigation Skills

• WebCT/ Blackboard Teaching Skills
• Electronic Presentation Skills
• Video Conferencing Skills
• Knowledge of ICT Pedagogy Services

HOBBIES –

• Blogging
• Travelling
• Playing Analytical/Problem Solving Games
• Reading (Fiction/ Non- Fiction Books, Editorials)
• Playing Music (Vocalizing)
• Quizzing
• Public Speaking
PERSONAL INTERESTS –

• Community Service
• Attending Seminars/Conferences
• Writing responses to the Newspaper Editorial Team

AWARDS/ ACHIEVEMENTS –

• Stood First in the Debate competition organized as part of Gujarat University Youth
Festival 2018.
• Stood First in the Inter Collegiate Debate Competition organized as part of the Gujarat
University Youth Festival 2017.
• Stood First in the Creative Writing and Declamation Events as part of the Youth Festival
organized by Xcellon Institute.
• Stood First in the Inter Collegiate Quiz Competition organized as part of Gujarat
University Youth Festival 2016.
• Came Fourth in the Standup Comedy Event organized as part of the National Level
Talent Competition by Channel V.

PERSONAL PROFILE –

➢ Father’s Name – Pravinchandra Mehta

➢ Date of Birth – 12/06/1996
➢ Gender – Male
➢ Marital Status – Unmarried
➢ Nationality - Indian
➢ Languages Known – English, Hindi and Gujarati

REFERENCES –

1. Dr Saurabh Vaishnav
Head of the English Department
St Xavier’s College – Ahmedabad
+91- 9429027670
saurabh.vaishnav@sxca.edu.in
 2. Dr Nutan Kotak
Professor – English Department
School of Languages
Gujarat University
+91- 9376114262
nutankotak@gujaratuniversity.ac.in

3. Dr Dushyant Nimavat
Associate Professor – English Department
School of Languages
Gujarat University
+91- 9825478612
dushyantnimavat76@gmail.com

DECLARATION –

I hereby declare that all the details mentioned above are in accordance with the truth and fact as
per my knowledge, and I hold the responsibility for the correctness of the above-mentioned
particulars.

October 20th 2020 ________________________

Ahmedabad Nishith Mehta