Welcome to Chenganakkattil
Explore the academic journey and research insights of Muhamed Riyaz Chenganakkattil, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Ghent University. Delve into his work on Indian Ocean Islam, South Asian culture, social and spatial history, and the narratives of Hajj.
About Muhamed Riyaz Chenganakkattil
Muhamed Riyaz Chenganakkattil is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Languages and Cultures at Ghent University. He completed his PhD in Literature in 2024 with a specialisation in South Asian culture and history from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where he was an Early Doc Fellow. His work explores the rich intersections of history, culture, and literature.
His dissertation, "Sailing to the Hijaz: Narrativization of Hajj in the Literary Indian Ocean," investigated the interplay of Indian Ocean mobilities and Hajj literature. Riyaz's research spans historical archives and narratives in multiple languages, documenting long-term processes of migration, transregional Muslim mobilities, and global Muslim networks within the context of the pilgrimage to Mecca from South Asia.
Key research areas
Indian Ocean studies
Mobilities and connections
Exploring the historical movements of people, ideas, and goods across the Indian Ocean and their impact on cultural development.
Cross-cultural exchanges
Investigating the intricate web of interactions between various communities and civilisations in the Indian Ocean region.
Maritime histories
Delving into the rich maritime heritage, trade routes, and seafaring traditions that shaped the region's history.
Literary narratives
Analysing how diverse narratives, including travelogues and religious texts, reflect and shape understandings of Indian Ocean life.
Archival research
Engaging with historical archives in multiple languages to reconstruct past realities and forgotten stories.
Modern connections
Examining the contemporary relevance of Indian Ocean studies in understanding global interconnectedness.
South Asian culture & history
Muslim mobilities
Focusing on transregional Muslim movements and their cultural, social, and political implications across South Asia.
Hajj narratives
Studying the literary and historical accounts of the Hajj pilgrimage from South Asia, particularly in regions like Malabar, Madras, and Hyderabad.
Multilingual textual analysis
Linguistic diversity
Working with texts in Arabic, Malayalam, Arabi-Malayalam, Urdu, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and English to gain comprehensive insights.
Interdisciplinary approach
Combining methodologies from literature, history, and cultural studies to offer nuanced interpretations of complex subjects.
Explore his academic journey
Muhamed Riyaz Chenganakkattil's research contributes significantly to the understanding of global Muslim networks and historical mobilities. Discover his publications, research interests, and academic presentations on the dedicated pages.
Contact & connect
Department of Languages and CulturesGhent University
Ghent, Belgium
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