Anveshi - Research Centre for Women's Studies

Kaneez Fathima joined as a Librarian in 2002 and graduated to become  Research Associate in 2009. Presently she is part of a Project studying the functioning and practice of Women’s Madrasas in Hyderabad (principal investigator Dr. A. Suneetha). She has wide ranging interests and is associated with civil liberties activism and women’s groups. She organizes and participates in various events. She writes articles for Telugu and English newspapers and magazines on different issues.  She also writes pamphlets for activist causes that she pursues. She has presented papers on Library science in national seminars and was once part of the team, which produces Anveshi library newsletter.

Mandakini is a legal postgraduate and joined Anveshi in 2008 as a Research Associate in the Law Initiative. She works on issues that arise in the relationship between women and law. As part of her field work she visits Mahila and Maintenance courts to record cross-examinations. She also assists Vasudha in the legal work of the Human Rights Forum, left unfinished by Balagopal’s unexpected demise. She has also written articles for English and Telugu magazines on the issues of atrocities against women. She takes part in fact finding missions investigating human rights violations as an active member of Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee.

Srinivas Ashala is a human rights activist, deeply interested in politics and literature. He contributes regularly to different Telugu newspapers on various issues and has also authored many pamphlets. Before joining Anveshi in December 2009 he worked for CHATRI, an NGO which campaigns for housing and tenurial rights.  He also has worked for the Telugu newspaper Andhra Jyothi. He joined Anveshi in  Dec 2009 to become part of the Different Tales project. As part of his work with Different Tales he tells stories to the children in different government schools and discusses it with them. He is also involved in the sale and marketing of the storybooks, and the publishing initiative in Anveshi.  Srinivas is also actively involved in the observation and documentation of the Telangana movement.   He also assists in administrative work when called upon to do so.