Sociologist Nominated for Award

A Lancaster University Sociologist has been selected as a finalist in the Lloyds TSB Asian Awards (Northern Region) 2005.

Dr. Nayanika Mookherjee, who has carried out fieldwork in Bangladesh to examine the public memories of sexual violence of the Bangladesh War of 1971, has been shortlisted for the Healthcare and Education Excellence Award. Dr Mookherjee was educated at Presidency College, Calcutta University (BA political science), Jawaharlal Nehru University (MA sociology and anthropology) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (PhD in anthropology).

Her current research project ethnographically examines the relationship between nationhood and genetics through the prism of 'War-Babies' in Bangladesh. She now lectures in sociology at Lancaster University where she teaches courses on social anthropology and contemporary feminist debates. Her research interests are: anthropology of politics, memory and human rights; sexual violence during wars; political kinship, race and genetics; and diasporic communities and South Asia.

The Asian Awards, now in their third year and held in three regions of the UK each year, celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals from the UK’s South Asian communities in all walks of life. Last year’s Awards received over 300,000 nominations from organizations nationally.

The Northern Region Awards ceremony will take place in Manchester on the evening of Saturday 12 February.