Mrinalini Venkateswaran

Mrinalini Venkateswaran is a Research Fellow in the Department of History at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her work focuses on museums, postcolonial identity, and the historical legacies of partition in South Asia. She has contributed to projects funded by the Leverhulme Trust, including Princely Patronage and the National Imaginary in Independent India (2022–2025). Her research explores how museums shape national narratives in postcolonial contexts, particularly in India and Pakistan.

Her recent publications include studies on decolonizing museum practices through collaborative online learning, the role of museums in post-partition India’s nation-building, and the construction of national history in postcolonial Pakistan. These works highlight the intersection of cultural policy and identity formation in postcolonial societies.

Notably, Venkateswaran’s research emphasizes the socio-political dimensions of cultural institutions, offering critical insights into how historical narratives are curated and contested in South Asia. Her work is characterized by interdisciplinary approaches, blending history with cultural studies and education.