Syed Abdus Salam Shakir, an MA student at the Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been honored with the Best Paper Award for his paper titled “Locating Hyderabadi-ness: Cultural Identity, Resistance, and Commodification in the Digital Age” at the Young Sociologist Competition (YSC). The competition was organized by Christ University, Bangalore, in collaboration with the Indian Sociological Society on the theme ‘Media, Platforms, and Society’ was conducted on February 28, 2025.
His research explores the sociocultural evolution of the Hyderabadi identity in the digital era, examining how digital spaces mediate resistance, foster cultural belonging, and contribute to the commodification of art. The paper stood out for its theoretical depth, originality, and contemporary relevance, earning him the prestigious recognition.