Biography

Mohammad Sayeed is an urban anthropologist whose work explores informal spaces, cultural history of Delhi, formations of the Urdu public, and the spatial renditions of religion. His unique approach is informed by a diverse academic background in sociology, Urdu literature, continental philosophy, theoretical mathematics, and classical theology.

In his doctoral research, he developed the "analytic of congestion" to understand how urban precarity shapes contemporary city life, arguing that congestion is not merely a physical condition but a force that structures the city's bureaucratic, emotional, and spiritual realms. In a collaborative foray into sensory ethnography, his work on smells was exhibited at Kiran Nader Museum of Arts. He is also a co-founder of the city blog Chiragh Dilli. When not teaching courses on writing, anthropology, cultural theory and literary history, he can be found tracking the sensory landscapes of smells, noises, and textures.