Rumela Sen

Political Scientist @ColumbiaSIPA. @Cornell PhD. Views personal. She/her. Mom x2. Book @OUPAcademic

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

Come work with us

[Srinjoy Bose (@srinjoybose.bsky.social) @SrinjoyBose83]

🚨 I’m hiring! 🚨

Australia-based Political Science (Comparative Politics, IR) PhD scholars and ECRs:
I'm recruiting a Casual Research Assistant to work with me, @rsen02, and @KeshabGiri_ on a rebel governance project (with a focus on South Asia). Knowledge of rebel organisations, rebel governance literature essential. Qual skills essential. Survey design (and coding) skills desirable. Prior experience supporting a research project a bonus (but not essential). Remote work options available, flexible start date, but must be based in Australia.
We’re a fantastic bunch to work with, are invested in your professional development, and centre care, reciprocity, and collective flourishing in our practice.
For more info on the project, position description, and UNSW Casual contracts and pay rates, please DM me or email me at [email protected].
@binadcosta, @Alex_Phelan, please share within your networks. Thanks! 🙏

[E-International Relations @E_IR]

This week, Dr. Rumela Sen (@rsen02 @ColumbiaSIPA) speaks with Dr. Tusharika Deka (@Tusharika24) about rebellions, the challenges of fieldwork, Nepalese Politics, digital transnational repression, and much more. Check it out! https://t.co/koaWLC9Kpx

[Columbia | SIPA @ColumbiaSIPA]

MIA Program Director Rumela Sen thinks it's worrying to see "an unprecedented glorification of the army as a voice of sanity and stability" in Nepal.
https://t.co/LOimrktej7

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

19 lives lost! Many more standing up. Nepal #GenZ protests are not just about social media— they are about stolen futures, broken trust, #CorruptionInNepal #nepokids & impunity. We wrote about these underlying grievances @eastasiaforum https://t.co/umJ102mxdP #Nepalprotest

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

@SenatorShaheen https://t.co/8x0EqllY0U

Agreed. Why AI and generative AI is making acts of transnational repression more deadly

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

6 years after Khashogi’s brutal assassination, #ArtificialInteligence including #GenerativeAI is making #digital #TransnationalRepression against #dissenters living in the West deadlier. Our latest article, with former @ColumbiaSIPA student @nusfarooq

https://t.co/8x0EqlmvQs

[Sen. Jeanne Shaheen @SenatorShaheen]

Today is the 6th anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's brutal murder by Saudi officials after revealing human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia. We must keep fighting to protect journalists and ensure that governments cannot commit similar acts of transnational repression with impunity.

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

Nepal is my most favorite place in the world. But Nepali politics is going through a rough phase. We recommend a decisive shift to programmatic politics. Co-authored with Niharika Tuladhar

[East Asia Forum @east_asia_forum]

Nepal’s transactional, personalist politics mired in backroom deals and shifting alliances overshadow democratic governance, programmatic politics and accountability.
https://t.co/JmIH04NkWV

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

@lukemperez It took my chai and made it into an unpleasant concoction 😆

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

A friend shared this podcast today on tea. Still on episode 2. Beautifully done, and an effective antidote against the horror of chai tea latte

https://t.co/MkZGCwE6WH

[Srinjoy Bose (@srinjoybose.bsky.social) @SrinjoyBose83]

These panels on #RebelGovernance are going to be terrific and hella fun. Join us. #ISA2025. @rsen02 @Megan_A_Stewart @KeshabGiri_ @afghanopoly @reginesonja @adrianflorea13 @punamy @HuangReyko

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

Exciting News! Next fall, SIPA students will have a new and improved curriculum. They’ll have a more robust — and customizable — core, updated concentrations and the option to pursue minors. There has never been a better time to pursue a policy education at @ColumbiaSIPA

[Columbia | SIPA @ColumbiaSIPA]

Next fall, SIPA is taking our curriculum to a new level, evolving it to be even sharper and more relevant in today’s world.

We asked Dean Keren @YarhiMilo to break down some of the most exciting enhancements!
https://t.co/T2JvKWYqIL

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

What are you doing!

[Robert Mackey @RobertMackey]

It is worth watching this CNN video from the moment Emory Econ Professor @CarolineFohlin came across the violent arrest of a protester on campus and asked the police, with shock, "What are you doing?" That's all that prompted an officer to hurl her to the ground and handcuff her.

[Sara Wahedi @SaraWahedi]

I just experienced one of my first ‘full circle’ moments.

I bought this bottle of water on my train to Dublin and noticed the name - Tipperary.
Almost immediately, I began humming a tune. I searched “Tipperary song” on Google and learned that it was an old wartime song during World War 1.

There’s a backstory to this.

When my mother, brother and I arrived to Canada as refugees from Afghanistan, we didn’t know a word of English. My mother, having to work 3 jobs, entrusted us in the care of a Norwegian-Canadian woman named Marit. Other than her routine 5 am hug, I barely saw my mother throughout my childhood.

Marit was uncommonly kind to everyone she met. She was also dedicated to her church. While my mother focused on ensuring we maintained our Dari and Islamic values as children, Marit would also bring us to church on Sundays, welcoming us to her community. She always told us that Christians are brethren to the Muslim faith - we knew nothing but solidarity and respect as children.

Marit’s husband, Merrill, was Irish. It was a routine practice of his to sit on the porch of his house, staring blankly into the forest behind their suburban home, with a pipe in his mouth. “It’s a long way to Tipperary..” He would hum.

He would raise his arms like a conductor’s baton and usher my brother and I to join in.

Within a few months, you could mistake us for an Irish choir.

Now, at 28, I’m in Northern Ireland heading to Dublin, having just won an award as ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ for my work dedicated to my country of origin, Afghanistan.

My brother smiled solemnly to himself yesterday while we walked around Belfast. I asked him what he was thinking about.

“Wouldn’t it have been amazing if Merrill was with us right now?” My throat closed tightly.

I guess it really is a long way to Tipperary.

[AAPI New Jersey @aapinewjersey]

Join us Sunday evening in Montclair, NJ for a vigil in memory and for justice for Jaahnavi #JusticeForJaahnavi #JaahnaviKandula

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

@sadafjaffer Let me email you my syllabus.

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

@AjayVerghese @jennortegren Congratulations to both of you!

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

A genius meme!

[Columbia | SIPA @ColumbiaSIPA]

TOMORROW: Join Secretary @HillaryClinton and @SpeakerPelosi for a conversation at @Columbia on global politics, national security, and democracy

Monday, April 3
12:30-2 pm

Hosted by @ColumbiaSIPA and Dean Keren @YarhiMilo

Sign up to watch live: https://t.co/pvgX02vEjU

[AIIS @AIISIndia]

📚 It's that time of year again! Attention recent PhDs in South Asian studies! Interested in transforming your dissertation into a book? Check out our Dissertation-to-book workshop held at the Annual Conference on South Asia every year! Apply by July 31 https://t.co/I6ti54nzT8

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

This team worked round the clock on getting IRB clearance. There were times when it seemed they won’t be able to go. We persevered, and thanks primarily to Prof Jenny McGill and Capstone Workshop (EPD workshop) they have now done some amazing interviews. https://t.co/EkrfNwiTc4

[Rumela Sen @rsen02]

So proud of our @ColumbiaSIPA students working on reintegration of former former rebels in Cote d’Ivoire and the Philippines (Mindanao region). Based on their fieldwork they will produce an actionable report for our Client @UNPeacekeeping