“The Centre for Karbi Studies is a vision that truly stands for the 5 R’s of Indigenous research – Respect, Relevance, Responsibility, Reciprocity and Relationship. An empathetic research approach while exploring the unexplored with sensitivity, every project at CKS is a learning opportunity and experience that has taught me a profound respect for each study, acknowledging the unique value of every research endeavour.”
About
Driven by a passion for learning, Girbani believes in exploring life through knowledge that enriches from within. Her curiosity has led her to diverse fields and experiences making her a researcher who thrives on discovery.
Educational Qualifications
A mathematician by training, Girbani holds a degree in Mathematics ( Hons) from Cotton College (2009) and a postgraduate degree in Mathematics from Tezpur Central University (2011). She completed her schooling at Little Flower School, Guwahati and higher secondary at Cotton College, Guwahati.
Experiences and explorations
She joined the engineering college Nits Mirza as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics (2011- 2016). Her inquisitiveness to explore beyond mathematics and teaching led her to explore various fields including various government-aided projects like the Richter 8.1 awareness campaign on earthquake, Zone V and Quizdom of Assam State Disaster Management Authority; Awareness on Wheels of ASRLM, Magnificent Assam tourism campaign of Assam Tourism, Tawang Festival of Arunachal Pradesh, Shirui Lily Festival of Manipur, 50th Karbi Youth Festival and others.
Girbani co-founded Metropolis Asia, Guwahati’s urban winter festival with Ranjan Engti in 2013. She is presently also the editor of the e-journal ‘FOLK: Lores of Northeast India’ published by the Folk Culture Research Centre ( FCRC), Nagaon. As an independent research writer and a research associate at CKS, she regularly contributes articles to newspapers and magazines and has authored and co-authored books.
Recently, Girbani collaborated with Urmi Buragohain, founder of Placemaking Foundation on a research report featuring the water conservation story of the Karbi people in a compendium curated by the National Institute of Urban Affairs ( NIUA) and ICIMOD featuring 20 untold Himalayan narratives.
Books Authored/ Co-Authored/ Copy-Edited
1. Authored ‘MAGNIFICENT MANIPUR: Uniquely Yours’, a Coffee table book
published in 2022 by Manipur Tourism, Govt of Manipur.
2. Co-authored ‘TIRIM AMO: A Handcrafted Legacy of the Karbis’, a coffee table book on Karbi textiles published in 2023 by the Department of Handloom and Textiles, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Govt of Assam.
3. Co-authored ‘CHIKIMO: Reminiscing 50 years of Karbi Youth Festival’, a compendium on the 50-year-old journey of the historic Karbi Youth Festival, Published in 2024 by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Govt of Assam and Centre for Karbi Studies.
4. Copy-edited ‘The Myth of Kajir Ronghangpi’ edited by Dr Dharamsing Teron and Prof. Vulli Dhanaraju, Published by Manohar Publishers.
5. Copy-edited Dr Dharamsing Teron’s ‘Nothengpi, (2nd Edition).
6. Regularly contributes to Newspapers and Magazines.
Areas of interest
Indigenous history, culture, heritage; Folklore and narratives; Creative research writing
