Faculty

Prof Varadesh Hiregange

He is a senior academic with his background in journalism. Having worked in The Times of India and Deccan Herald, he is also the former Director of Manipal Institute of Communication, MAHE. During his tenure, MIC rose to the 'factually number one' position in India according to the India Today survey, way back in 2012 itself. He has also steered Rashtrakavi Govind Pai Research Institute, Regional Resources Centre for Folk Performing Arts, Kanakadasa Research Centre and Yakshagana Kendra, Udupi. With his long experience in academics, also as a visiting professor at Hochschule University, Bremen, Germany, he is also the founding Director of Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences (GCPAS), MAHE. The three programmes - MA in Ecosophical Aesthetics, MA in Art and Peace Studies, BA in Aesthetics and Peace Studies are the offshoots of his experience. 'Yaava Shabdada Maaye' is his poetry collection. His interests include environmentalism, philosophy, peace studies, media, literature and other arts. Philosophy of Education is his recent area of research.

Dr G M Tungesh

He is a senior academic with his background in language, literature and philosophy. Having been trained in English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, he has earlier taught in Aritrea (South Eastern Africa) and Hyderabad. Now, he has been a senior faculty member in Department of Humanities and Management in MIT, MAHE, with many scholarly publications to his credit.

Dr Somashekara Bhat

He is a senior professor with his background in science and electronics with many scholarly publications to his credit. He has done his PhD from IIT, Madras. Particularly interested in Science Studies, he has been teaching in MIT, MAHE for more than two decades now. Currently, he is also its Associate Director.

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Prof K Phaniraj

He has served at M.I.T. Manipal for 33 years.

He has edited and translated the works of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Antonio Gramsci, Poetry of Bertolt Brecht, writings of Noam Chomsky and Edward Said. He has Co-authored two volumes on communal violence based on extensive field study. Has published several articles on films, theatre and socio-cultural issues in various journals.

Prof Shreeraj Gudi

He is a senior Assistant Professor in School of Communication, MAHE. Having worked as a television journalist in New Delhi, he has earned experience on the field and also specialized himself in political and development journalism. Gandhian and Peace Studies has been his area of inclination with which he has long association.

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Vidushi Bhramari Shivaprakash

She is an accomplished Bharatanatya dancer and founder-director of Nada Nritya School of Dance and Cultural Trust. Trained under the tutelage of renowned Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, she specialises in producing and performing solo thematic dances and dance dramas. She is also a theorist of dance and music, pursuing her PhD with MAHE.

Dr Sushmitha A Shetty

She is a faculty at the Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences, with her PhD Literature and Feminism, from MAHE. Having received M V Kamath endowment award in broadcasting during her post-graduation, she has been teaching in the department for the last five years. She has taught Indian Literature, Environment, Gender studies, Research etc.

Prof Nemiraj Shetty

He is a visual artist, art educator and curator. He completed his MFA in Art Critical Theories and Art History from MS University of Baroda and has trained in Graphic Arts at the Lalit Kala Studios, New Delhi. He has taught Art History, Visual Theories and Communication Design at various institutes and universities across the country such as NIFT, Hyderabad; NICC Bengaluru; Dept of Visual Arts, Bangalore University; LP University, Punjab; and Nitte Institute of Communication & Nitte Institute of Architecture at the Nitte University, Mangalore.

He is a writer and an art journalist, with articles published in the Ahmedabad edition of the Indian Express, the Hyderabad edition of the Deccan Chronicle, and the Andhra Pradesh Times in Hyderabad. Besides, he has run an art gallery by the name of Hasta Gallery and curated a number of exhibitions of art and photography in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Kolkata, and New York. Presently, as the founder of Mindcraft Studios, he is actively training and motivating student communities to contribute to an art and archival project focusing on the city of Mangalore. He is also the secretary of the Art Kanara Trust and co-convenor of the Intach Mangaluru chapter.

Dr Janardhan Havanje

He is a distinguished freelance artist and researcher, who graduated at the top of his class with a Master's in Fine Arts from Dharwad University. His expertise lies in the conservation and restoration of Kaavi art, a rare 13th-century building craft, making him one of the few experts in this field. Dr. Havanje earned his Ph.D. from Manipal University in 2021 with a focus on Kaavi art, and he imparts his knowledge as a visiting professor at Srinivas School of Architecture in Mangalore. Beyond his academic achievements, he is an accomplished visual artist and writer, with numerous publications on posthumous artists of coastal Karnataka. An amateur Yakshagana artist, Dr. Havanje continues to enrich the cultural landscape through his regular contributions to both Kannada and English journals, ensuring his research and artistic practice remain vibrant and influential.

Ms Shravya Baasri

She has done her Masters in Ecosophical Aesthetics, from the Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences, MAHE. A trained vocalist who is presently pursuing Vidhwath in Carnatic classical music(Vocal) under the tutelage of Vidwan Madhooru P Balasubrahmanyam. She is a student of Smt. Sunita Chandrakumar at the Raghuleela School of Music in Mysuru. She not only performs, but also teaches music in Udupi. A lover of fine arts, she is drawn towards various art forms including Bharatanatyam in which she has the Senior Grade. She performs Yakshagana and has been to primary classes in Odissi and contemporary dance forms.

Ms Tanishqa Kotian

She holds a postgraduate degree in Ecosophical Aesthetics from GCPAS, MAHE, and a bachelor's degree from Manipal Institute of Communication, MAHE. Her primary focus lies in the pedagogical process with a particular interest in new media, social media studies, as well as political and social sciences. Aesthetic design holds a special significance in her areas of expertise.

Ms Kausthubha N. Shetty

Kausthubha N. Shetty holds an undergraduate degree from the Manipal Institute of Communication and a postgraduate degree in Ecosophical Aesthetics from GCPAS, MAHE. She is passionate about teaching and research.

Ms Aparna Parameswaran

Aparna Parameswaran is a postgraduate in Arts and Peace Studies with a strong foundation in English Literature, having completed her undergraduate degree in the field. Her courses blend literature, art, and peace studies, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. A keen artist and writing enthusiast, her specialties include fiction and classic literature.