Independent, Open Access, Volunteer-run Politics and People Gender and Society International and Relations Pop Culture National Affairs Technology and Society Religion, Identity & Society Independent, Open Access, Volunteer-run Politics and People Gender and Society International and Relations Pop Culture National Affairs Technology and Society Religion, Identity & Society

Where ideas meet
across disciplines

Open Tab is an independent publishing platform for students, researchers, practitioners and writers. We publish original articles, essays and analysis across politics, technology, culture, society and international affairs. Whether you are drawing from research, lived experience or interdisciplinary thinking, we are interested in writing that is thoughtful, well argued and accessible.

Surprise Me ✦
Founded by Medha Tushti
Is Women’s Objectification Taking Refuge in Women’s Autonomy?
Nirali Vaidya  ·  10 min read
Is Women’s Objectification Taking Refuge in Women’s Autonomy?
Nirali Vaidya  ·  10 min read

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Where ideas become conversations. The Common Room is Open Tab's community space — a place to meet fellow readers, writers, researchers, and practitioners, exchange ideas, and continue conversations beyond the page.

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Editorial
Board

Medha Tushti

Medha Tushti

Founder

Medha Tushti

Founder

Medha Tushti is a public policy professional with interests in technology and regulatory policy, telecommunications, digital governance, and public affairs. She has experience in policy research, regulatory affairs, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy through her work with Vodafone Idea, where she has contributed to research on telecommunications regulation, emerging technologies, and comparative regulatory frameworks. Previously, she worked as a Broadcast Research Intern with NEEDS 89.6 FM, producing research-driven programmes on education, child rights, legal awareness, and social development. She also serves as a Youth Representative with UNODC South Asia, in collaboration with Lockdown Learners and RiseUp4Peace, supporting initiatives on education, peacebuilding, and the rule of law. Her work has also included public engagement as a venue host with Teamwork Arts at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Her research and writing on technology, governance, international affairs, and culture have appeared in institutional and independent publications. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of technology regulation, AI governance, telecommunications, and digital public infrastructure.

Shiva

Shiva

Editor-in-Chief & Development Studies

Shiva

Editor-in-Chief & Development Studies

Shiva is an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Communication and Critical Thinking at JK Lakshmipat University and a PhD candidate in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Delhi. Having previously completed a Master's in Development Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Delhi, she brings an interdisciplinary training and orientation. Her research and teaching interests have gradually gravitated towards sociology, with a particular curiosity about questions of informality, governance, labour, and capitalist transformations. When not ranting about the perils of neoliberal academia, you can find her flirting with poetry, fiction, and music from across the globe. Key areas: Sociology, Gender and Development Studies.

Amal Chandra

Amal Chandra

National Affairs

Amal Chandra

National Affairs

Amal Chandra is an author, public policy analyst, political commentator, and columnist. He currently serves as the Principal Policy Officer of the Congress Party in Kerala and contributes to Research and Public Affairs at the Office of Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament. He is also the Coordinator (India) at Students For Liberty (SFL). Previously, Amal served as a PSE to the Government of Kerala at the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), a Programme Official for PMPY Research and Documentation at the Central University of Gujarat in collaboration with UNICEF, a YL Fellow at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) in partnership with the Atlas Network (USA), and a Research Associate to Adv. Dean Kuriakose, Member of Parliament, in New Delhi. He also served as the General Secretary (Organisation) of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) at Pondicherry University. In 2023, Amal published his debut book, The Essential, featuring a foreword by former Union Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid. The book was launched by Dr. Shashi Tharoor alongside V. D. Satheesan, now the Chief Minister of Kerala. His commentary and research have appeared in leading national and international publications, including the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), Observer Research Foundation (ORF), the Indian Journal of Public Administration (IJPA), Global Policy, South Asian Voices, East Asia Forum, SAGE, and The UnPopulist, in addition to numerous national newspapers and magazines. Having travelled across all Indian states, as well as Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, Amal has developed a broad understanding of India's diversity and comparative public policy — perspectives that continue to inform his research, writing, and public engagement.

Sangmuan Hangsing

Sangmuan Hangsing

Religion, Identity & Society

Sangmuan Hangsing

Religion, Identity & Society

Sangmuan Hangsing is a public policy researcher, writer, and development practitioner from Lamka, Manipur. His work examines the intersections of conflict, governance, indigenous politics, borderland studies, and India's engagement with Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Northeast India and the Indo–Myanmar frontier. His writing and analysis on public policy, geopolitics, conflict, and social justice have appeared in The Hindu, The Indian Express, Scroll, ThePrint, Outlook India, Himal Southasian, The Diplomat, Asian Confluence, ORF Expert Speak, The Quint, The Wire, EastMojo, and Borderlens, among other national and international publications. His research explores questions of state-making, ethnic conflict, indigenous rights, regional connectivity, and the political economy of borderlands, bringing perspectives from India's frontier regions into broader policy and public debates. Sangmuan holds a Master's in Public Policy from the Kautilya School of Public Policy and was an IUCN Media Fellow. Beyond research and writing, he has led initiatives in education, publishing, and youth engagement, reflecting a commitment to bridging scholarship with public engagement and community-driven action. His work continues to span policy research, strategic communications, and community development. His interests include public policy, international relations, borderland governance, peace and conflict studies, political philosophy, and the role of ideas in shaping public life.

Rashad Ullah Khan

Rashad Ullah Khan

Religion, Identity & Society

Rashad Ullah Khan

Religion, Identity & Society

Rashad Ullah Khan is a researcher and writer whose work examines the intersections of religion, identity, politics, and public policy in contemporary India. He is currently pursuing an M.A. in Religion at Columbia University, having previously completed an M.A. in Women's Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a B.A. in Social Sciences from TISS, Hyderabad. With over six years of research experience, Rashad has worked with institutions including the Centre for Development Policy and Practice, the Kautilya School of Public Policy, and Anveshi Research Centre for Women's Studies. His research spans communal violence, religious processions, minority rights, internet shutdowns, education policy, and democratic institutions. He has presented his work at several national and international academic conferences and has written extensively for publications such as The Diplomat, the Berkeley Journal of Sociology, Siasat, and the Centre for Development Policy and Practice. At Open Tab, Rashad serves as Section Editor for Religion, Identity & Politics. He is committed to creating an accessible platform where rigorous research, thoughtful analysis, and diverse student voices come together to foster informed public conversations on issues that shape society.

Waseem Ahmad

Waseem Ahmad

Politics and People

Waseem Ahmad

Politics and People

Waseem Ahmad is a public policy professional working at the intersection of trust & safety, misinformation, and civic engagement. He holds a Master's in Public Policy from the Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad, and a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering. Waseem currently serves as Deputy Manager, Research and Strategic Partnerships at DataLEADS, where he leads tech policy advisory to social media platforms on content policies and builds strategic partnerships across the technology, media, and policy landscape, with a growing focus on financial misinformation and scam prevention. Previously, as Project Manager at Mythos Labs, he led multi-stakeholder campaigns on counterspeech and civic resilience across Asia and Europe, partnering with organizations like Google Jigsaw, Cambridge University, the US State Department, and UNODC on projects ranging from anti-misinformation games for youth to policy simulations for G7 officials. Questions of discrimination, exclusion, and fairness run through much of his work, both on paper and on the ground. He is particularly interested in the rental housing equity angle. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also organized a fundraiser to support daily wage laborers, distributing food kits and meals to migrant workers along highways. His writing on public policy and social justice has appeared in NDTV and The Quint. He is interested in the politics of information, digital rights, and social equity more broadly.

Rajeev Anand Kushwah

Rajeev Anand Kushwah

Gender and Society

Rajeev Anand Kushwah

Gender and Society

Rajeev is a researcher–writer who loves movies (particularly the horror genre), monuments, coffee, and dogs (all animals and insects tbh)! Currently working with Godrej Foundation and Godrej DEI Lab, they completed their undergraduation in Political Science Hons. from Sri Venkateswara College (University of Delhi) in 2020. They graduated with a Masters in Women's Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai) in 2022 and were a participant at the International Writing Program's Summer Institute, University of Iowa, for the 2021–22 session. They have been the recipient of Mavelinadu Collective's grant for non-fiction for the first issue of Debrahminising Gender. Their work can be found in EPW, Women's Link Journal, Shuddhashar, Outlook, Gaysi, and Hindu College Gazette, among others. Their research interests include queer experiences, feminist ethics of care, and masculinities.

Anand

Anand

Pop Culture

Anand

Pop Culture

Anand has spent close to six years figuring out how people, institutions, and supply chains actually work. He is currently Deputy Manager in the Office of Student Affairs at Ashoka University. Before that, he was at Safe Harvest, coordinating with over 40 farmer-producer collectives across eight Indian states, which taught him a lot about what happens between a field and a shelf. He holds an MA in Development Studies from TISS Hyderabad and a BE in Mechanical Engineering from Noorul Islam University. He is interested in what cooperative structures do and do not do for people that formal education left behind. He writes about food and travel, watches cinema with no loyalty to genre or geography, and follows football with a devotion that has not always been returned. Genre-fluid and polyamorous when it comes to music and film, he can go from Tinariwen to Linkin Park to a Wong Kar-wai film to a well-made thriller without needing to explain himself. He takes quizzing very seriously — he is the kind of person who knows the answer but loses points on the buzzer.

Subhash Bhambhu

Subhash Bhambhu

International Relations

Subhash Bhambhu

International Relations

Subhash Bhambhu is a PhD scholar at the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies, Shiv Nadar University. His areas of interest concern international political economy, where he looks at the narratives and counter-narratives around economic sanctions in reference to the Global South and North. In a broader sense, he focuses on the politics of knowledge production and how it shapes economic statecraft in today's world. He pursued his master's in South Asian Studies at UMISARC, Pondicherry University. Prior to that, he completed his bachelor's in Persian language from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Along with research, Subhash enjoys reading literature and aspires to be a writer.

Akarsh Srivastava

Akarsh Srivastava

International Relations

Akarsh Srivastava

International Relations

Akarsh is a public policy researcher whose interdisciplinary interests lie in the domains of Indian foreign policy, strategic thought, national security issues, and military affairs in India. He is a keen observer of how geopolitical developments impact India's positioning in the world across multiple geostrategic vectors. His research interests within the international relations space are the economics of defence, India's neighbourhood, and the geopolitics of critical earth minerals. He holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from the Kautilya School of Public Policy and has prior publishing experience with eminent think tanks like ORF, Foreign Policy Research Centre, and CLAWS. He is a keen follower of India's dynamic and evolving foreign policy discourse. He is driven by his unwavering resolve to play a meaningful role in how India engages with the world on multidimensional issues.

Ishika

Ishika

Technology and Society

Ishika

Technology and Society

Ishika is a PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her research is situated at the intersection of Human-AI Interaction and Responsible AI, with a focus on how people make reliance decisions when using Generative AI systems. She is particularly interested in designing AI systems that preserve human agency, support critical and reflective engagement with AI outputs, and promote responsible use of AI while minimizing the harms of these emerging technologies.

Tanya Gupta

Tanya Gupta

Technology and Society

Tanya Gupta

Technology and Society

Tanya Gupta approaches policy research with a simple conviction: the most effective solutions emerge from understanding a problem across sectors, not within the confines of one. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Policy at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad, specialising in Technology & Society and Global Affairs, where her work focuses on translating complex policy questions into actionable, evidence-based solutions. Her professional experience spans nasscom, Borders & Beyond, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Education, giving her a well-rounded understanding of industry, government, and think-tank perspectives on technology and policy challenges. This cross-sectoral exposure has shaped her approach to research: grounded in rigorous analysis, attentive to diverse stakeholder needs, and oriented toward practical, implementable outcomes. Before joining Open Tab Collective, Tanya co-founded Amoli Trust, a youth-led organisation working on the prevention of child sexual abuse, which has grown into a network of 600+ volunteers and impacted 25,000+ students pan-India through community awareness and safety education. Leading this initiative sharpened her skills in stakeholder management, resource mobilisation, and driving youth-led social impact at scale — experience she now brings to building thoughtful, solutions-focused research within the Technology & Society Pillar.

About Open Tab

A multidisciplinary publication for ideas, public life, and culture.

Open Tab is an independent publishing platform founded on the belief that the most interesting ideas emerge when different disciplines meet. Politics informs culture, technology reshapes society, and everyday experiences often reveal larger questions about the world we live in.

We publish original articles and essays across public policy, politics, technology, international affairs, culture, sustainability, gender, law, and society. We are interested in thoughtful writing that is curious, well-reasoned, and accessible, whether it comes from a student, researcher, practitioner, or first-time writer.

Our Editorial Board is a collaborative network of students, researchers, practitioners, writers, and professionals who share a commitment to thoughtful publishing and meaningful dialogue. Together, we review submissions, work closely with authors through the editorial process, develop thematic collections, and foster conversations that extend beyond the page.

Open Tab is an independent, volunteer-driven initiative. There are no membership fees or formal hierarchies, only a shared commitment to good ideas, careful writing, and intellectual curiosity.

Founder
Medha Tushti
Somewhere, there's a version of me with a proper bio full of degrees, internships, and LinkedIn-approved buzzwords. This isn't that. Open Tab is for curious people, unfinished ideas, and the occasional inconvenient question. Thanks for opening this tab, hopefully, you won't close it too soon.
Write to Open Tab

Your work
belongs here.

if you made it and it's interesting, we want to read it

Open Tab publishes essays, analysis, commentary, opinion, cultural criticism, interviews, personal reflections, and other forms of creative and analytical expression. There are no formal criteria only that the work thinks carefully and says something.

Essay Opinion Commentary Explainer Photo Essay Reflection
Submit an Essay Read the Guidelines

We respond within 3–4 weeks  ·  otabcollective@gmail.com  ·  All submissions open access

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Submission Guidelines

Before you send it over

We welcome thoughtful, original, and engaging contributions from students, researchers, practitioners, artists, and curious thinkers. Please read these guidelines carefully before submitting.

Types of Submissions

We accept a range of original contributions, including but not limited to:

  • Original articles and essays
  • Opinion and commentary pieces
  • Photo essays
  • Interviews and conversations
  • Reviews (books, films, exhibitions, etc.)
  • Research-based explainers or think pieces
  • Pitches for special issues or themed sections

If you are unsure whether your idea is suitable, you are welcome to send us a brief pitch before preparing a full submission.

1. Originality

  • All submissions must be the author's original work.
  • The work must not have been previously published, either online or in print.
  • Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. If your work is under consideration elsewhere, please inform us.

2. Length

Articles, essays, and opinion pieces should run between 800–1,200 words unless otherwise specified. Other formats may have different word limits, communicated in relevant calls for submissions.

3. Format

Please submit your work as a Google Doc with editing access enabled (or a Microsoft Word .docx file). Use the following formatting:

  • Font: Times New Roman
  • Title: 16 pt  |  Body text: 12 pt
  • Line spacing: 1.5  |  Alignment: Left-aligned
  • Margins: Standard (1 inch / 2.54 cm)

4. Language and Style

Please use British English spelling and grammar. Write clearly and accessibly for a broad readership, and ensure your work has been carefully proofread before submission.

5. Author Bio

Include a short author biography of 20–50 words containing your current role/occupation, institution/organisation (if applicable), research or creative interests, or a brief introduction you'd like readers to know.

6. Images and Visual Material

If your submission includes photographs, illustrations, charts, or infographics, please submit them as separate high-resolution files. Clearly indicate where each image should appear within the text, include captions/credits, and ensure you have the appropriate rights to use them.

7. References and Citations

Where appropriate, hyperlink online sources within the text. If hyperlinks are not suitable, use footnotes. Use a consistent citation style throughout (APA, MLA, Chicago, OSCOLA, etc.). Academic references should generally be limited to five key references unless justified.

8. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI tools may be used only for proofreading, grammar correction, formatting assistance, or language refinement. However:

  • The ideas, arguments, analysis, interpretation, and conclusions must be entirely your own.
  • AI should not be used to generate substantial portions of the content.
  • If AI tools were used at any stage, you must include a brief AI Declaration at the end of your submission (e.g., "AI Declaration: AI-assisted tools were used for grammar checking and language editing only. All ideas, analysis, and conclusions are the author's original work.").

Please note that submissions may be screened using AI-detection or editorial review processes where necessary.

Editorial Process & Response Time

Every submission undergoes editorial review. If accepted, editors may suggest revisions relating to clarity, structure, flow, style, accuracy, or formatting. Acceptance is subject to satisfactory revision where required.

As a volunteer-run publication, we aim to respond to all submissions within 1–2 weeks. If you have not received a response after two weeks, you are welcome to send a polite follow-up email.

Copyright and Permissions

By submitting your work, you confirm that the submission is your original work, you have permission to use all quoted material/images, and you retain copyright unless otherwise agreed. You grant Open Tab permission to edit and publish the submission if accepted.

How to Submit

Please email the following in a single submission to otabcollective@gmail.com:

  • Your article/contribution (Google Doc link with editing access)
  • Author bio (20–50 words)
  • Images or visual material + credits (if applicable)
  • AI Declaration (if applicable)
Email Submission (Google Doc) →
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