SSPC Team (Members, Authors and Associates)
Animesh ROUL
Animesh Roul serves as the Executive Director of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC) in New Delhi. He is actively engaged with independent think tanks, media outlets, and policy organizations both within India and internationally. Roul holds an M.Phil. from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and a master's degree in Modern Indian History. His expertise spans counterterrorism, radical Islam, terror financing, armed conflict, and arms control and proliferation in South Asia.
Roul has contributed extensively to these fields through his writings in various journals, policy magazines, and media outlets. His work has appeared in publications such as the Jamestown Foundation’s Terrorism Monitor and Militant Leadership Monitor, the CTC Sentinel, Think Global Health, Jane’s Intelligence Review, ISN Security Watch, Non-proliferation Review, NBR Analysis (The National Bureau of Asian Research), Firstpost, Geopolitical Monitor and CBW Magazine (Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses), among others. He has also co-authored, co-edited significant works on counterterrorism, including the Handbook of Terrorist and Insurgent Groups: A Global Survey of Threats, Tactics, and Characteristics (Routledge/CRC Press, 2024), Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing through Hawala Money Transfer Operators (Palgrave, 2025 (Forthcoming), and Indian Mujahideen: Computational Analysis and Public Policy (Springer, New York, 2013). Roul has also contributed chapters in several edited books. In addition to his published works, Roul's views have been featured in Rediff.com, Financial Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Diplomat, The Economic Times and My Nation, among others. He also serves as the editor of the South Asia Conflict Monitor (SACM), a monthly online bulletin focused on armed conflicts and terrorist violence in South Asia.
Roul received the MacArthur Foundation’s Asia Security Initiative Blogger Award for 2009 and 2010. From 2006 to 2011, he was a core member of the Counterterrorism Foundation’s blog, focusing on South Asian terrorism issues. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Research Associate at the Institute for Conflict Management (South Asia Terrorism Portal) in New Delhi.
In his current role at SSPC, Roul is responsible for setting the research agenda, commissioning papers, managing website and print publications, coordinating with SSPC’s network of writers and scholars, fundraising, and promoting SSPC's research activities. He can be reached via email at animeshroul@sspconline.org or animeshroul@gmail.com.
Vijay SAKHUJA
Dr. Vijay Sakhuja (PhD) is one of the founding members of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi. Dr Sakhuja 
is the former Director of the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi. He is now Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, and Visiting Senior Fellow at the Maritime Security Programme of the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Dr Sakhuja has been on the research faculty of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore; Director (Research) of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA); Senior Fellow of the Centre for Airpower Studies (CAPS) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF); Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), and United Service Institution of India (USI). Dr Sakhuja received an M.Phil and PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He has published over 40 books, edited volumes and monographs on international relations, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, Southeast Asia and South Asian security, maritime security, maritime history, and the Arctic and Blue Economy. His current research focuses on maritime connectivity, infrastructure, and disruptive and neo-digital technologies. He is the author of ‘Asian Maritime Power in the 21st Century: Strategic Transactions - China, India, Southeast Asia’; ‘Confidence Building from the Sea: An Indian Initiative’; co-author of ‘Climate Change and the Bay of Bengal: Evolving Geographies of Fear and Hope’; His recent academic works are Asia and the Arctic: Narratives, Perspectives and Policies (2016), Perspectives on Blue Economy (2017), The Blue Economy: Concept, Constituents and Development (2017), and South Asia Defence & Strategic Perspective (2018). He is a member of the international editorial board of the Journal of Indian Ocean Region (Taylor & Francis).
Deba R MOHANTY
Deba R Mohanty is one of the founding members of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict. His research interests include arms trade, military industry, higher military management, national security, international security and foreign policy. A prominent commentator on international security in India, he has over 17 years of professional experience in security affairs. He holds an M Phil in Disarmament Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was a Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (2006 – 2012), Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (1997 – 2006), and British Chevening Research Fellow at King’s College London (1995 – 1997). He has been a Ford Foundation Visiting Fellow at Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC: 2002-03); Senior Visiting Fellow at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford (2005); Senior Visiting Fellow at European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS: 2009). Mohanty has lectured extensively on Indian security affairs in India and abroad. He has also been a columnist for Military Technology (Germany) and Financial Express (India) for many years, with more than thirty research papers in national and international journals to his credit. His widely acclaimed book “Arming the Indian Arsenal” was published by Rupa Publishers in 2009.[Emails: debamohanty@sspconline.org/ deba205@gmail.com]
Ajey Viswanath LELE
Group Captain (Dr) Ajey Lele (Retd.) is the Deputy Director General of Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). He was a senior fellow at the MP-IDSA and had headed its Centre on Strategic Technologies earlier. He specializes in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) issues with a focus on Chemical and Biological Weapons, Space and Strategic Technologies. He has authored and edited several books, including “Bio-Weapons: The Genie in the Bottle” (Lancers, 2004), “Strategic Technologies for the Military” (Sage, 2009), “Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?” (Springer, 2012) and “Disruptive Technologies for the Militaries and Security” (Springer, 2019). He received the K. Subrahmanyam Award (2013), conferred for outstanding contributions to strategic and security studies. He has written for Strategic Analysis, Indian Defence Review, Space Policy and Astropolitics. He was the founding Editor of the journal CBW Magazine. He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict since its inception. [Emails: ajey.lele@gmail.com]
Mahesh Ranjan DEBATA
Dr. Mahesh Ranjan Debata, a faculty member at the Centre for Inner Asian Studies (CIAS), School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, has been teaching since December 31, 2007. He also serves as Concurrent Faculty at the Special Centre for E-Learning (SCEL), JNU, since March 12, 2019. With over 13 years of administrative experience, Dr Debata has held key positions, including Director of the UGC Area Studies Programme (2017–2019), Warden of Narmada Hostel (2013–2020), and Proctor of JNU (2016–2020). His research focuses on China, Xinjiang, Inner Asia, Eurasia, Central Asia, and Research Methodology. His academic contributions include four authored or edited books, such as India and Inner Asia: Commerce, Culture and Connectivity (2024) and China’s Minorities: Ethno-Religious Separatism in Xinjiang (2007). He has published over 24 scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals and 25 book chapters with esteemed publishers like Brill, Sage, Springer, and Routledge, and journals including China and Eurasian Forum Weekly, Himalayan and Central Asian Studies, India Studies Review and International Studies. His active engagement in academic and administrative committees reflects his multifaceted contributions to the academic community.
Avilash ROUL
Dr. Avilash Roul (PhD) is presently engaged in PERI-CENE (Peri-urbanisation and Climate-environment change) at IIT-Madras (Chennai) as a Principal Scientist and also teaches at the Department of Humanities and Social Science, IIT-Madras as a guest professor. He was a visiting scientist (March-May 2017) at the Institute of Geography, University of Freiburg, Germany. Dr Roul has been involved in the development and environmental discourse in Asia. Leading several policy developments in intergovernmental as well as national institutions in Asia. He worked as executive director of the Manila-based “NGO Forum on ADB”. He has undertaken extensive travel across Asia to work closely with communities and civil societies to better understand the interface of environmental governance and developmental conflict. He has been engaged in policy research on various areas of interest in the Mekong, Central Asia and Mongolia. Earlier, he worked with Down to Earth (a magazine published fortnightly by the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi, India) and worked as the Assistant South Asia Regional Coordinator for the Washington-based Bank Information Center (BIC-USA). Avilash received his doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University on the subject of ‘Negotiating Water Security. His interest areas include development finance governance, international organisations, environmental negotiations, climate change and resilience, water governance and conflict, forest and conflict, rights of indigenous peoples, the democratization of development, urban and peri-urban sustainability and urban forestry. He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict (SSPC) since its inception and currently exploring a broader understanding of urban security concerning climate change as a senior fellow at SSPC. [Emails:avilashroul@gmail.com]
S. S.TABRAZ
Dr. S S Tabraz (PhD) is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Humanities & Social Sciences at IIT Madras. He had a stint as a lecturer at Pondicherry University after completing a Doctoral programme at the School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has written for Islam and the Modern Age, Economic & Political Weekly and Peace & Conflict Monitor (PCM). He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict since its inception.
Nihar R. NAYAK
Dr. Nihar Nayak (PhD) is presently working as Research Fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. Before joining the MP-IDSA, he worked as a Research Associate at the Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi. He earned his PhD and M.Phil degrees from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) and post-graduation from Delhi University (New Delhi). He has been associated with the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict since its inception. His areas of expertise are Nepal, Maoist/Left-wing extremism in South Asia, small Arms, conflict management, peace-building, and cooperative security in South Asia. Dr Nayak has been writing and publishing in both national and international journals. His latest edited work is “Cooperative Security Framework for South Asia”, IDSA/Pentagon Security International, New Delhi, 2013. He is also the author of “Strategic Himalayas: Republican Nepal and External Powers,” IDSA/Pentagon Security International, New Delhi. He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict since its inception.
Akanshya SAHA
Akanshya Shah is a Senior Nepali Journalist with more than ten years of research and reportage experience. She has been associated with the New Delhi-based public policy think tank Observer Research Foundation. Her research interests are Nepalese Politics, foreign policy issues, and India-China relations. Shah has also been actively associated with Nepalese print and web media such as Republica, Nagarik, Newsfront, Himalayan Times, and Annapurna Post. She has also been associated with SSPC as a consulting editor.
RESEARCHERS & INTERNS
SWARASHI JAIN (Research Intern: December 01, 2024-January 15, 2025) is a second-year law student at O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. She is passionate about research in International Law, International Relations, and foreign policy. She has interned in esteemed organizations, including the Assam Human Rights Commission [AHRC], and is currently a member of the Jindal ADR Society.
BANDITARANI BEHERA (August 2024-Ongoing), Research Assistant, Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi. She is pursuing a PhD at the Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar. Her research interests include Foreign Policy, International Politics, and Political Science. Additionally, she engages in interdisciplinary studies through her writing. She also worked as a research staff member at the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).
REYAA AGARWAL (Research Intern: June 01, 2024-July 15, 2024) is pursuing her law degree at O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. She is dedicated and passionate about international law, conflict resolution, and child rights. Reyaa has previously interned at esteemed organizations like the Centre for Study and Research on Consumer Law (CSRCL), NUJS and Child Rights and You (CRY). She is committed to impactful research and policy development in Conflict, Security, and Human Rights.
SONAKSHI GARG (Research Intern: June 01, 2024-July 15, 2024) is pursuing her law degree at O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. She has a profound passion for History, Sociology, Psychology, and Political Science, and she enjoys writing across these interdisciplinary fields. Her research interests include National Security, Political Economies and International Relations, topics she aspires to explore and write about extensively. Publications: Digital Diplomacy and Heatwave Health Risks.
SHIVANI VAZE (Research Assistant) Shivani Vaze is researching and documenting CBW Disinformation and Non-proliferation Issues. She finished a three-month Internship (December 2021-February 2022), focussing on Military Psychology, Refugee Crisis, Mental Health and Violent Conflict.
SIDDHARTH KAULGUD (Research Intern: December 2022- January 2023) is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts & Humanities from O.P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. His research interests are Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) technology, war ethics, and counterterrorism operations. Publications: 1. "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Complex and Significant Aspect of the Russia-Ukraine War" and 2. "Ethico-Political Implications of Drones in 21st Century Conflicts".
SPANDANA BHURA (Research Intern: December 2022- January 2023) is pursuing a bachelor's degree at the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities (OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. Her areas of interest are South Asian politics, human rights, conflict and public policy. Publications: "State of Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: An Account of Crime, Calamities and Coercion" and "Targeted and Forgotten: The Hazara Shia Community's Struggle in Afghanistan."
VIDYA GONUGUNTLA (Research Intern: December 2022- January 2023) is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts & Humanities from O.P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. She is doing her major course in Political Science and International Relations. Her areas of interest include South Asian security, public policy research and analysis. She is researching the Group of 20 (G-20) and its role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on international economic issues.
AYUSHI NAYAK is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Xavier's University, Kolkata. She is passionate about content writing, dramatics, public relations, communications and social media. She has published opinion pieces and commentaries.
ASHITA SINGH (Research Intern: July- August 2021) is a final year international relations major at the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities (OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana). Her areas of interest are South Asia and Middle-East politics, human rights, peace and public policy. She aspires to pursue journalism as a career in future. She is working on a report titled: "Threats, Intimidation, and Violence against Members of the Media in Conflict Zones: Case Study of Afghanistan and Pakistan."
PRATIBHA SINGH (Research Intern: July- August 2021) is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and humanities from O.P Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana. Her major courses are in Political Science and International Relations. Her areas of interest include South Asian security and public policy research and analysis. She is working on a timeline for the "Rohingya Migration and Refugee Crisis in India."
AYAN H. BARMAN (Research Intern: July- August 2021) is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations at O.P Jindal Global University. He is enrolled in the Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities. His areas of interest include analyzing US Hegemony, Nuclear footprint and deterrence, Post-Cold War relations, Non-Aligned Movement, and contemporary Indian Politics. He is engaged in a fact file compilation on "Chemical Weapon, Terrorism/Crime/Assassination".
SIMRAN KOTHARI was part of the research team at SSPC between September- November 2020. She has previously worked as a policy intern at the Society for Development Studies, New Delhi. She holds a master's degree in International Studies from Symbiosis International University, Pune. She has done triple majors in Media, Economics, and Political Science from Christ University, Bangalore. Her areas of interest are West Asia, Gender Studies, and Traditional and Non-Traditional Security threats in the region.
PRETY PRIYA was a Research Intern at the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, New Delhi (July - August 2020). Presently, She is doing BBA-LLB (2nd year) at OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat. Her areas of interest include Human Rights Law and International Refugee Law and Protection. She also works as a junior editor at ‘The Law Culture’ blog. She has published an Issue Brief on "Rohingya Crisis: The Political and Humanitarian Discourse" (August 14, 2020).
SAMAR SJB RANA: Samar was associated as a research intern (September –November 2019). He is a Graduate in Political Science from Hindu College, Delhi University. He previously worked with Samriddhi Foundation (A non-profit think tank) and Lead International, both based in Nepal. Samar completed a three-week summer course on political economy at the University of Hong Kong in July 2019.