H. Thoppil Babu (Hafeesha)

Hafeesha Thoppil Babu is a PhD researcher in the Department of Gender and Diversity Studies at Radboud University. Her research focuses on the intersection of religion, gender, and social identity, with particular emphasis on Muslim women, feminist anthropology, symbolic violence, minority rights, and Islamophobia. Her doctoral study examines the lived experiences of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Malabar, analyzing how economic resources, education, and social structures shape their positioning within broader Muslim identity.
Hafeesha earned her MA in Social Anthropology from the University of Sussex, where she was awarded distinction for her dissertation on symbolic violence against Ahmadiyyas in Malabar. She also holds an MA in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Hyderabad, where her research examined media representations of menstruation and indigenous community communication practices in India. During her studies, she completed a placement at the External Department of the Ahmadiyya community in London, expanding her engagement with religious minorities.
Her research interests include Muslims of India, feminist anthropology, intersectional feminism, conflict and identity formation in Muslim communities, and ethnography of religion. She has presented her work at international conferences, such as the Considering Violence Conference at Tel Aviv University and the Al-Mahdi Institute Graduate Islamic Studies Conference in Birmingham.

Beyond her academic work, Hafeesha has experience as a mental health support worker in the UK and as an assistant professor of journalism in India. Her contributions to research on minority languages have been recognized by UNESCO. She has received awards, including the Chancellor's International Scholarship from the University of Sussex and the Andrew Francis Pickup Global Citizens Award.Through her interdisciplinary approach, she aims to advance scholarly discussions on religion, gender, and social justice.