Asia’s Maritime History and Identity at Cultural Crossroads

Maritime Asia, collectively bordered by the Pacific, Indian and Arctic Ocean, sources Asia’s food reserve, goods and ideas yet figures relatively lesser in global cultural production. Asia’s ’great highways’ and ’wide common’ of the sea function as routes for trade and commerce that underpins globalization. Due to unprecedented human trafficking at sea, the ocean has largely become a repository for plastic pollution, waste and effluents. Complex oceanic-ecosystems make it inconceivable for human beings to take stock of the interdependence of seas, earth and atmosphere, ’missing in context’ for redressal.

Dr. Sreedevi Santhosh

has been teaching for the last 19 years and currently works in the Department of English, Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. She holds a PhD in English Studies and a PG Diploma in Translation Studies and Creative Writing. She has supervised PhD dissertations on Swedish Crime Fiction, Diasporic Studies in the Malayalam context, Gender and Sexuality studies, Graphic Novels, Travel Writings in the Malayalam Context, Food Writing and Collaborative City Spaces. Her areas of interest include Regional Studies and Cultural Studies. Her writings are featured on Zabaan-e-am podcast as South Asian Writers speak. She also serves in an advisory capacity on Doctoral Research Committees and Board of Studies.

Dr. Samjaila

TH currently works as Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. She has worked as Teaching cum Research Assistant for 4 years at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) Vellore. Dr. Samjaila has done her PhD in First Nations Theatre and her pre-doctoral degree in Emerging Literature from the North East India. To her credits, she has published articles in reputed International journals and contributed articles in edited books on Native theatre, Ecosophy, Diaspora studies, Trauma Studies and Subaltern studies. Her area of interest include- Folktales and folklore, narrative non- fiction and oceanic studies.

Preethi S

is a faculty at the Department of English, Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. She is a PhD candidate in the School of Liberal Studies at CMR University, Bengaluru. Her primary area of research examines the collectivization of National Memory in archiving and documenting Japanese imperialism and its impact on Asian narratives of war. Her area of interests includes dystopian fiction, Gender Studies and Film Studies.

Dr Steffi Santhana Mary

is an Assistant Professor of English at Kristu Jayanti Deemed to be University, Bengaluru, where she excels as a dedicated researcher and theatre practitioner. Her academic and creative pursuits centre on Historiography, Memory Studies, and Indigenous Theatre Studies, with a growing focus on Film Studies. Steffi’s research explores the intersections of historical narratives, collective memory, and cultural identity in indigenous theatrical traditions, examining how these art forms preserve and reinterpret the past. Her work in Film Studies complements this, analysing cinematic representations of history and identity through a critical lens. With a strong foundation in literary and cultural theories, she brings nuanced perspectives to her teaching and performances, enriching both academic discourse and artistic practice in these fields.

Dr. Uma Maheswary

is a distinguished academician with over 16 years of extensive experience spanning teaching, training, academic administration, and student mentorship. She currently serves as the faculty of the Department of English at Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. Her scholarly interests encompass Literary Theory and Criticism, African Literature, Indian Writing in English, Postcolonial Studies, and English Language Teaching. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in English Literature (Fiction) from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. A prolific contributor to the field, she has published extensively in journals indexed in Scopus, WoS, UGC Care, and other peer-reviewed platforms, reflecting her robust research orientation. She has served as a resource person for faculty development programs and workshops and has played a pivotal role in curriculum design and academic governance across various institutions in India.

Dr. L. Santhosh Kumar

is currently an Assistant Professor of English at Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be) University, Bengaluru, India. He has received three Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the reputed Universities and Institutes. He has presented 51 papers at State, National, International Conferences around the globe. He has published 45 research articles in National and International Journals, which are peer-reviewed, indexed in Scopus and also in books with ISBNs. He has also edited numerous books. He is in the Editorial Board of Literary Journals, which are peer-reviewed and Indexed in Scopus. He has delivered 185 talks at Workshops, Webinars and National and International Conferences around the globe.