Sankalp Gurjar is an Assistant Professor at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. Prior to joining GIPE, Sankalp has taught at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and has worked as a Research Fellow with the Indian Council of World Affairs, Sapru House, Delhi. He is the author of ‘The Superpowers’ Playground: Djibouti and Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific in the 21st Century’ (Routledge, 2023). Sankalp writes regularly for various journals, newspapers and magazines. In his research, Sankalp focuses on the Geopolitics and Geoeconomics of the Indo-Pacific Region, Asian Security and India’s Foreign Policy.

1) Sankalp Gurjar, “Changing Contours of America’s South Asia Strategy”, Strategic Analysis, 2024. Forthcoming.
2) Sankalp Gurjar, “Expanding Arc of India’s Defence Diplomacy: From the Indian Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea”, Journal of Defence Studies, Vol. 17, No. 3, July–September 2023, pp. 63-86
3) Sankalp Gurjar, “The Port of Berbera and the Geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean”, International Studies, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2023, pp. 313-327.
4) Sankalp Gurjar, Sankalp Gurjar, The Iran Challenge: Unravelling India’s Foreign Policy Dilemma, Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Vol. 6, No. 5, (July-August 2023), pp. 27-41.
5) Sankalp Gurjar, Bringing Western Indian Ocean in the Indo-Pacific, Journal of the Indian Ocean Studies, Vol. 31, No. 1, (January-March 2023), pp. 39-47.
6) Sankalp Gurjar, “Russia Returns to the Indian Ocean: Exploring the Expanding Strategic Presence”, India Quarterly, Vol. 78, No. 3 (September, 2022), pp. 413-430.
7) Sankalp Gurjar, “Locating Indian Ocean Island States in India’s Foreign Policy”, Indian Foreign Affairs Journal, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Jan-Mar 2021), pp. 36-53.
8) Sankalp Gurjar, “Djibouti: The Organizing Principle of Indo-Pacific”, Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Vol. 4, No. 8 (November, 2021), pp. 46-63.

9) Sankalp Gurjar, ‘Geopolitics of the Western Indian Ocean: Unravelling China’s Multi-Dimensional Presence’, Strategic Analysis, Vol. 43, No. 5 (October 2019), pp. 385-401.

10) Sankalp Gurjar, ‘India-Africa Oil Partnership in the New Millennium’, India Quarterly, Vol.74, No.2 (June 2018), pp. 197-214.

“The Superpowers’ Playground: Djibouti and Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific in the 21st Century”, written by Sankalp Gurjar, Routledge, London: 2023.

1. Sankalp Gurjar, ‘Reconfiguring China’s Role in Afghanistan: Security, Stability and Economic Development’ in Rajen Harshé and Dhananjay Tripathi (eds.) Afghanistan
   Post-2014: Power Configurations and Evolving Trajectories, (Routledge, 2024). Forthcoming
2. Sankalp Gurjar, ‘South Asian Trans-border Energy Connectivity and Co-operation: Problems and Prospects’ in Dhananjay Tripathi (eds.) Reimagining Border Studies, (Routledge, 2021), pp. 89-106.
3. Rajen Harshé and Sankalp Gurjar, ‘Indian Ocean and Major Powers: Reconfiguring India’s Role’ in Anusua Basu Ray Chaudhury and Vikash Kumar (eds.) Understanding Transition in South Asia: Economy, Politics and Society (Essays in Honour of Professor Partha Ghosh), (Academic Foundation, 2020), pp. 239- 263
4. Sankalp Gurjar, ‘Savitribai Phuley’ in Dev Nath Pathak and Sanjeev Kumar H.M. (eds.) Modern South Asian Thinkers (Sage Publications, 2018), pp. 331-336.

English: Hindustan Times, Deccan Herald, ORF Website, The Diplomat, Geopolitical Monitor, RUSI, Policy Forum, Indian Council of World Affairs Website

Marathi: Loksatta, Maharashtra Times and Weekly Sadhana

• Received Mira Sinha-Bhattacharjea Award for the Best Paper; titled ‘Chinese Maritime Activities in the Indian Ocean Maritime Africa’ at the 10th All India Conference of China Studies, organized by the Institute of Chinese Studies (New Delhi), held at the University
  of Goa (in co-operation with Naval War College, Goa), in December 2017.
• Recipient of University Grants Commission – National Eligible Test (UGC-NET) Junior Research Fellowship for Doctoral Work (2014-2016). Later upgraded to Senior Research Fellowship (2016-2019)
• President’s Scholar for MA at South Asian University (2012-2014).