Dr. Sharmina Mawani                  Vice-President/Treasurer

Institute of Ismaili Studies, London

Sharmina received her doctorate from the Department for the Study of Religions at SOAS in April 2006.  Her thesis is entitled The Construction of Identities Amongst Young Adult Nizari Ismaili Muslims in Toronto and Mumbai.

 

The research investigated the role of language in the transmission of religious knowledge through the ginans (devotional songs) amongst young Nizari Ismailis of Gujarati ancestry in Canada and India.  Sharmina is particularly interested in the manner in which traditional religious practices are evolving in contemporary western society.

s.mawani@gujaratstudies.org

Gujarat Studies Association

Executive Board

The Executive Board of the Gujarat Studies Association consists of the following members:

Dr. Anjoom Mukadam, Dr. Sharmina Mawani and Mr. Alnoor Visram.

Dr. Anjoom Mukadam                                 President

Institute of Ismaili Studies, London

Anjoom received her doctorate in Sociolinguistics from the University of Reading in December 2003.  Her thesis is entitled Gujarati Speakers in London: Age, Gender and Religion in the Construction of Identity. 

The aim of this research was to generate a clearer picture as to the views of two generations of Nizari Ismailis and Swaminarayans of Gujarati descent who had been born and/or brought up in Britain in relation to their language, culture, religion and identity.  The research contested the use of widely accepted terms, such as, ‘diaspora’ and ‘immigrant’ when used in the context of the second generation. New models were generated to enable a better understanding of the complexity related to the identities of these individuals.

www.indobrit.com                    a.mukadam@gujaratstudies.org

 

© 2009 Gujarat Studies Association

Mr. Alnoor Visram                                                   Member

 

Alnoor is a qualified accountant by profession and has excellent knowledge and diverse experience ranging from finance, banking, treasury and charities. He is currently a Trustee and Board member of a charity "Focus Humanitarian Assistance Foundation Europe" an affiliate of the AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) to which he was appointed in July 2005 and provides guidance/expertise relating to finance and governance to the charity . He has previously served Focus during 1998 - 1999 in the same capacity.