DR. PARVATHI A/P WAJINDRAM

Dr. Parvathi Wajindram is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Indian Studies, University of Malaya. She holds a PhD in Social Science from the University of Malaya, a Master’s degree in Corporate Communication from Universiti Putra Malaysia, and a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Communication. With professional experience in academia, broadcasting, and corporate communication, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her teaching in civilisation studies, gender and society, Indian politics, media and communication, and traditional Indian arts.

Dr. Parvathi’s scholarship is anchored in the intersections of civilisation, gender, and power, with a focus on how cultural worldviews, historical narratives, and social institutions shape identity, authority, and agency in plural societies. She examines how gendered power operates within minority communities and diasporic contexts, illuminating how individuals negotiate inclusion, representation, and empowerment.

A significant dimension of her work bridges civilisation studies with communication and media analysis, examining how power is communicated, framed, and performed within organisations, public discourse, and digital spaces. Drawing from her background in corporate communication and media production, she investigates the role of strategic communication, leadership narratives, and cultural storytelling in shaping collective memory and social behaviour.

Complementing this, Dr. Parvathi also conducts research on traditional Indian music and dance from an academic and cultural perspective. She explores these art forms as civilisational knowledge systems that transmit values, ethics, gender norms, and community identity across generations. Her work analyses how Indian classical and folk arts function as forms of cultural communication—embedding power relations, reinforcing or challenging social structures, and fostering identity formation among Malaysian Indians and diasporic youth. Through this lens, she highlights how traditional arts become spaces where culture, gender, creativity, and social change intersect.

Together, these strands form a cohesive research agenda that foregrounds the role of culture, communication, and power in shaping human experience. Ultimately, Dr. Parvathi’s scholarship contributes to understanding how communities navigate tradition and modernity, build resilience, and cultivate agency in an increasingly interconnected world.