He is a Kashmiri born and raised in Delhi, growing up unaware of his homeland. He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies, specializing in the contemporary history of the Kashmir conflict. His thesis explored its complex origins, Kashmiri Pandit identity politics, the political economy of the Kashmiri state, and the psycho-political role of desire in Kashmiri politics. Trained initially in Economics, his interests span urban sociology, psychoanalysis, sports history, music, and cinema studies. He has taught at Delhi’s Shri Ram College of Commerce and Kamala Nehru College, and serves as visiting faculty in the Economics Department at Delhi Technological University (East Campus). A lifelong Chelsea FC fan, he is an ardent follower of football.