Kunal Kishore Hansdah

Kunal Kishore Hansdah is a PhD candidate at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (ANU). A member of the Santhal community in India, he contributes Indigenous perspectives to research on natural resource governance, focusing on mineral extraction, energy transitions, and climate justice in South Asia.

Education:

• Master of Arts in Rural Development and Governance, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad, India
• Master of Philosophy in Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India

Research Interests center on the political ecology of extractive industries, Indigenous rights, sustainable development, and the socio-environmental impacts of energy transitions in postcolonial contexts. His work examines the intersections of mineral extraction, climate change, and social justice.

Current Role: As an ANU Officer Gr4 (Research), he collaborates with mining-affected Indigenous communities, grassroots activists, and civil society organizations to analyze justice implications in India’s energy transition. He is also affiliated with the ANU South Asia Research Institute.