Navtej K Purewal

Navtej K Purewal is a Professor in Political Sociology and Development Studies at SOAS University of London's Department of Development Studies, part of the College of Humanities. She also serves as Research and Knowledge Exchange Convenor. Her interdisciplinary background includes a BA in Political Science from Vassar College, an MA in South Asia Area Studies from SOAS, and a PhD in Development Studies from Lancaster.

Her research focuses on bordering processes, gender and intersecting inequalities, reproductive justice, and the cultural creative economy. She critiques systemic injustices through a lens informed by imperialism, global power imbalances, and structural violence. Current projects include coordinating an AHRC-funded initiative on India's cultural heritage and creative industries.

Her work spans South Asia and the UK, addressing themes like Partition narratives, gender-based violence, and neoliberal impacts on development. Recent publications highlight reproductive justice, UK-India relations, and feminist critiques of criminalization. She has held visiting roles at the University of Sydney and previously taught at the University of Manchester.

• Key Awards: AHRC India Fellowship (current)
• Grants: Leading a large AHRC research programme

Teaching encompasses undergraduate and postgraduate Development Studies modules, alongside South Asia area studies. She supervises PhD students exploring education and development in rural India and gender dynamics.