Jignyasu (he/him) holds a BA and MA in English Literature from the University of Delhi. Born and raised in Gujarat, his imagination broadened as he internalized New Delhi’s multilingual, multicultural, multiethnic, and multireligious milieu. His extensive training in various kinds of literature, including English, Indian, African, American, Russian, and European, helped Jignyasu understand the interplay of power and religious sentiments operating in both public and private spheres. 

His keen interest in exploring the triangular interaction of religion, culture, and politics, as well as his commitment to contribute to academia in a scholarly capacity, brought him to the graduate program of the Department of Global Studies at UC Santa Barbara. He aims to further master disciplines of cultural studies, South Asian Studies, translation studies, and religious studies and further explore questions of power, religion, and society in a post-colonial and post-modern world. Beyond academics, Jignyasu dedicates his time to translating and editing Gujarati short stories, poems, and biographies into English. He also loves to play football and badminton and go on hikes.