University of Hyderabad Scholars Present at ICA Regional Hub Conference, 2026

Deepika presented her paper titled “Communication Infrastructures as Anchors in Community Building and the Production of Space: An Ethnographic Study of the Working-Class Odia Migrant Community in Katedan IDA, Hyderabad“ in the technical session “Cultural Proliferation, Politics of Identity and Migration in the Digital Age.” Her paper examined how communication infrastructures, such as temples, commercial establishments, community organisations, and everyday social interactions, contribute to community building and the production of urban space among working-class Odia migrants in Hyderabad. Deepika is a PhD scholar working with Prof. Vinod Pavarala.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adrita presented her paper titled “Invisible Behind the Lens: Women Cinematographers, Gendered Labour, and the Indian Screen Media Industry“ in the technical session “Media, Marginality and the Politics of Representation in Contemporary India.” Her paper draws on feminist media studies, labour sociology, and the political economy of screen production, and examines the structural exclusion of women from the camera department despite cinema’s global dominance.

 

 

 

 

 

Jumana presented her paper titled “Digital Misogyny towards Political Leadership: Algorithmic Bias and Gendered Harassment of Women in Kerala’s Political Sphere“ in the technical session “Influencer Culture, Digital Misogyny and the Politics of Platform Credibility.” Her presentation examined how social media algorithms amplify misogynistic political discourse and gendered harassment against women leaders in Kerala’s digital public sphere. Adrita and Jumana are PhD scholars working with Prof. Kanchan K. Malik.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The conference was coordinated by Prof. (Dr.) Minal Pareek, Dean, School of Arts, Media and Design, under the patronage of the Vice Chancellor, SNU, Kolkata and with the support of the International Communication Association (ICA) India Chapter. It brought together media professionals, academicians, policymakers, and research scholars from across the country and beyond for critical discussions on contemporary communication issues, and featured technical sessions, panel discussions, plenary sessions, hybrid research panels, and interactive workshops for early-career PhD scholars.