About Gitika (Aki) Sanjay
Hey everyone - I'm Gitika, but I go by Aki, and I'm a 2024 Laidlaw Scholar based at the University of St Andrews. I'm originally from California, but moved to Scotland to pursue my undergraduate studies in history and economics. My Laidlaw research focuses on the colonial and postcolonial histories of sexuality and gender in Asia, and particularly how it has impacted the current lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals based in India and Japan.
I'm eager to meet you all, so do reach out if you want to chat about research or just connect over a shared interest! Apart from my work in gender and sexuality history, I'm also keenly interested in archival history, colonial/postcolonial studies, and language / linguistics. Outside of academics, I'm often playing music, walking along the Fife coast with a hot cup of tea, writing, or watching Doctor Who with my friends.
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Investigating the Archive: Translation, Identity, and Culture
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Experts Like Gitika (Aki) Sanjay
Recent Comments
I’m the Laidlaw Program Manager at Brown (and a gender historian by training). I just wanted to thank you for sharing this reflection, which I came across in the weekly digest. It was moving to read how your Laidlaw experience has been both personally and professionally transformative. I especially appreciated the way you, as a future historian, reflected on conscientiousness versus influence in your leadership development journey. History is such an influential field, yet historians often wrestle with their role within it. Your writing raises meaningful questions about witnessing/living/doing history, leadership, and care-taking future generations.
Thank you so much for your comment - I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece! I'm really glad my thoughts on history were relevant; Laidlaw has definitely been a fantastic opportunity not just to complete research but to think about the why, what, and how of research, which I think is extremely important in the humanities overall.
Hi my friend :) although I've already read this a couple times, it was an absolute pleasure to read it again and hear your voice shine through each word. You've done absolutely brilliantly through the programme through far and it's been such a joyful experience to see you go through it as your friend, and to hear about all your thoughts and deep-dives and textual adventures. You are a fantastic researcher and scholar and I have no doubt the outcome of this project is going to be fantastic. Can't wait to hear more from you!!
suchhh a cool project, and fascinating to see it from your eyes (and of course, through the eyes of a brilliant writer). so excited to hear more as you keep working!!!
This was something I came across somewhat in my research last year - published academia often contradicts what you may find in other written or oral sources. Academia is often itself a form of political control - the fact that you've found this contradiction between your sources and academic writing is itself an interesting point of discussion!
Really enjoying the blog posts, excited to hear more as you work!
I can't wait to keep reading these as you are able to publish them, Aki! You really have a great talent for writing.
Thanks so much Finley - that's so kind of you to say! I hope you enjoy the new ones!
This is so beautifully written Gitika, it has a stunning cinematic quality to it. I can picture you there so clearly in the amazing sights, sounds and sensory overload that is Chennai. Your experience reminds me irresistibly of the last time I was in India - I had five accidents in four days, including with a water buffalo, and loved every moment. I look forward to reading what comes next.
This comment absolutely made my day - thank you so very much for taking the time, and I'm so glad you enjoyed reading! Five accidents in four days sounds about right for India, though I'm now very curious about the water buffalo...?
I will be posting these daily (given I stick to my daily writing) so hopefully you continue to find them fun!
Amazing essay - how fascinating!
So cool! Can't wait to dive into it!