In the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, where trains are renowned for their extraordinary
congestion, an unexpected phenomenon has emerged - these crowded carriages have
become social hubs for the city's deaf community. This remarkable aspect of daily life on
the Mumbaitrains has been extensively documented by Annelies Kusters, a pioneering
scholar who recently achieved the distinction of becoming the UK's first deaf full professor
in the field of deaf studies and sign language studies. While Europe and the United States
have long seen deaf professors in these areas, the UK had lagged behind, with only hearing
individuals holding full professor positions, numbering around 10 to 15. Annelies Kusters,
who has dedicated nearly two decades to studying deaf communities worldwide, has now
broken down this barrier, advancing to the position of professor in sociolinguistics at HeriotWatt University in Edinburgh, where she previously served as an associate professor in the
Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies.
Annelies Kusters recognizes the significance of her achievement and attributes it to the deaf
lecturers and scholars who have played pivotal roles in her education. Her commitment
extends to supporting the next generation of scholars, ensuring that they too can stand on
the shoulders of those who came before.
Her research primarily focuses on observing deaf individuals in their everyday lives, taking
her to diverse locations such as Brazil, Denmark, France, Ghana, India, Italy, Kenya, and
Suriname. For instance, during her PhD research in a Ghanaian village with a high prevalence
of hereditary deafness, Kusters delved into the local sign language and its role in daily
communication and social interactions among both deaf and hearing residents.
In the bustling context of Mumbai, she explored the interactions between deaf and hearing
people on overcrowded train carriages. These trains, in addition to serving as modes of
transportation, also function as vibrant meeting places for the deaf community, enriching
connections within this community and enhancing deaf awareness among the hearing
population.
Kusters is also spearheading the MobileDeaf project, funded by the European Research
Council. This initiative investigates how deaf individuals from different countries engage with
each other, adapt their signing to facilitate mutual understanding, and navigate crosscultural sign language interactions
Reference:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/uk/deaf-scholarmakes-history-as-first-full-professor-of-deaf-studies-in-theuk/articleshow/104924483.cms