Iniyavan M, PhD Scholar in the Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH) working under the supervision of Dr. R. Thirunavakkarasu has presented a research paper titled ‘Public Performances as Caste Conglomeration: Examining the Phenomenon of Thevar Jayanthi in South Tamil Nadu’ at the annual conference of the British Association for South Asian Studies (BASAS) during September 9-11, 2024 at King’s College, London.

Iniyavan M

The paper was a case study of the annual commemoration of the birth anniversary of caste leader Muthuramalingam in various districts of South Tamil Nadu. Iniyavan’s research examined the reproduction and iteration of caste dominance and conglomeration through such public performances. The paper aligns with Iniyavan’s PhD topic, which examines the genesis of the Thevar caste identity and its systemisation in contemporary Tamil Nadu. Iniyavan is working under the guidance of Dr. R. Thirunavakkarasu.