Kshitij Moon

Kshitij Moon is a researcher in the Department of History, working under the supervision of Dr Shabnum Tejani and Dr Eleanor Newbigin. 

He is a developing historian and an aspiring anti-caste scholar. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Nagpur University and two master’s degrees in history—one from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and the other from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). During his MA at Savitribai Phule Pune University, he undertook a dissertation titled “A Thug and a Prophet: A Comparative Study of Tupac Amaru Shakur and His Work.” His research explored how Tupac Shakur’s lived experiences shaped his rap music, using his lyrics, poetry, and socio-political background as historical sources. 

Before beginning his PhD journey at SOAS, University of London, Kshitij worked closely with Yogesh Maitreya, writer and founder of Panther’s Paw Publication, an anti-caste publishing house. He played a key role in developing the Library of Emancipation, a project in Nagpur, Maharashtra, his hometown. The project aimed to establish a public library and research centre with a vision to keep knowledge free and accessible to all. Kshitij assisted in curating, cataloguing, and overseeing the collection of over 300 books, received through donations. The Library of Emancipation is a community-driven initiative designed to create an inclusive space for learning and unlearning, while preserving Dalit history and culture. It also serves as a centre for social change by collecting books that are anti-discriminatory in nature. 

Kshitij has pursued specialised studies in caste, gender, and development. He completed a six-month certificate course on the Life and Thoughts of Dr B.R. Ambedkar at IGNOU (June–December 2023), which covered Ambedkar’s contributions to social, political, economic, and constitutional thought for which he self-published educational reference material that he published on Amazon Kindle in 2023. In 2021, he earned a certificate in Gender and Development from Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Women’s Studies Centre (SPPU), where he conducted oral history research with Neo-Buddhist Dalit families and produced a report on family planning. 

Kshitij’s interdisciplinary research interests continue to shape his academic journey, focusing on the intersections of caste and masculinity.

Kshitij's research interests involve studying the intersection of anti-caste movements, gender-based violence, systemic oppression, race, and masculinities.