curriculum vitae

06 October 2024 - 6 April 2029

University of Oxford

DPhil in Theology and Religion

I work in the field of ritual studies, and for my DPhil, I explore rituals as sites of cultural memory and as machinery generating meaning and shaping social values within cultures. My research is fully funded by the Felix Scholarship.

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11 November 2020 - 25 June 2025

The English and Foreign Languages University

MA in English Literature

I studied English Literature and explored related areas of study alongside it, due to being enrolled in the cafeteria program. Thus, I have worked early on in an environment that is research-based as opposed to the conventional syllabus-based curriculum.

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September 2017 - September 2020

Khallikote Autonomous College

BA in English

I studied a BA in English, with a syllabus following guidelines from the Odisha Ministry of Higher Education. 

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February 2025 - January 2026

St. Antony's College, University of Oxford 

Vice-President for Academic Affairs 

Elected as the VP for Academic Affairs in my initial months at St. Antony's College by popular vote. I lead the Academic Team alongside another Academic VP to help our student community make the most out of the academic resources that the college has to provide by liaising with relevant authorities.

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April 2024 - Present 

The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle

Freelance Contributor

Regularly contribute book reviews to the legacy Indian national daily on a freelance basis.

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2024

Editor (Notes on the Play)

J.P. Das [Absurd Play (critical edition); forthcoming]

Prepared and edited the "Notes on the Play" for the forthcoming critical edition of Absurd Play by J. P. Das. The volume, featuring an introduction by Mahesh Dattani, has been accepted for publication by Sahitya Akademi.

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2023 - 2024 

Translator and Editor 

Subhasree Lenka [The Enchanted Stream: Poems (2024, AuthorsPress)] 

Translator and editor for literary and academic projects, including editorial work on notable Odia poet Dr Subhashree Lenka's poetry publication, The Enchanted Stream: Poems (2024, AuthorsPress). Responsibilities include translation, language editing, copy-editing, manuscript preparation, and publication support. 

Publication

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July 2017 - Present 

The Biblioraptor - Blog 

Founder, Writer and Editor 

Founded and manage Ankit Rath (The Biblioraptor), an independent literary platform publishing essays, criticism, book reviews, interviews, and reflections on literature, religion, philosophy, and culture.

Blog

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July 2022

Certification of Digital Pedagogy

CSIR NCERT and UNESCO MGIEP

Certified digital educator with a qualification combinedly awarded by two of India's most premier institutions for educational research.

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May 2024

The Felix Scholarship (Full Funding for DPhil in Oxford) 

University of Oxford and The Felix Scholarship Funds 

I was awarded the highly prestigious Felix Scholarship, which fully funds my DPhil in Theology and Religion course, after a rigorous application and interview process. The Felix Scholarship awards one DPhil scholarship per year for Oxford.

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August 2024

Notable Alumnus and Young Achiever 

Khallikote Unitary University, Berhampur (IN)

Felicitated by the Education Minister of Odisha, Sj. Suryavanshi Suraj, and Vice-Chancellor of Khallikote Unitary University, Prof. Gitanjali Dash, for having secured a place at the University of Oxford for a DPhil in Theology and Religion, funded by the Felix Scholarship Fund.

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June 2026

Bursary Awards

Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies 

Awarded the following bursaries to attend the Summer University Programme at Kathmandu (Nepal) from 10th-22nd August, 2026 on "Tantra in Hinduism and Buddhism":

• The Parvathi Foundation Bursary

• Professor Charu Chandra Dasgupta Memorial Bursary

• Hansraj & Kanchanben Popat Bursary

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June 2025

Fieldwork Award

The Felix Scholarship Fund 

Awarded the scholarship to be put towards my proposed 14-month-long fieldwork in Odisha (IN) to be carried out from 20th February, 2026 - 27th April, 2027. This is in addition to my fully funded scholarship.

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June 2025

Bursary Award 

Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies 

Awarded the following bursary to carry out preliminary fieldwork at Raijhola, Odisha (IN), which now serves as my primary ethnographic field site for my doctoral research project:

• Sri Swami Haridasa Giri Scholarship

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August 2024

Notable Alumnus and Young Achiever 

Khallikote Unitary University, Berhampur (IN)

Felicitated by the Education Minister of Odisha, Sj. Suryavanshi Suraj, and Vice-Chancellor of Khallikote Unitary University, Prof. Gitanjali Dash, for having secured a place at the University of Oxford for a DPhil in Theology and Religion, funded by the Felix Scholarship Fund.

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May 2024

The Felix Scholarship (Full Funding for DPhil in Oxford) 

University of Oxford and The Felix Scholarship Funds 

I was awarded the highly prestigious Felix Scholarship, which fully funds my DPhil in Theology and Religion course, after a rigorous application and interview process. The Felix Scholarship awards one DPhil scholarship per year for Oxford.

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2021

Merit com Means Scholarship 

The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad  

Received the Merit-cum-Means scholarship for 1 year.

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2017

Medhabruti Senior Merit Scholarship 

The Government of Odisha (IN)

Received the Medhabruti scholarship for meritorious students (Senior Merit) for 3 years during the period of graduation (2017-2020).

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2015

Medhabruti Junior Merit Scholarship 

The Government of Odisha (IN)

Received the Medhabruti scholarship for meritorious students (Junior Merit) for 2 years in Intermediate (2015-2017).

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2015

Matriculation Topper  

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

Received a letter from Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani, then part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, for being meritorious in matriculation (CGPA 10 out of 10) along with a cash prize of INR 5,000.