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Ph.D. in English-Creative Writing, University of Southern Mississippi, USA


Master of Arts (M.A.), University of South Dakota, USA


Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), University of Miami, USA

Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Challa

Associate Professor, Centre for Writing Studies

Email pchalla@jgu.edu.in
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ORCID ID 0000-0003-0809-0111
Key Expertise film, screenwriting, theatre, ecocriticism, and world literature

Ph.D. in English-Creative Writing, University of Southern Mississippi, USA


Master of Arts (M.A.), University of South Dakota, USA


Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), University of Miami, USA


Biography

Pankaj Challa holds a PhD in English/Creative Writing from the University of Southern Mississippi, and an MFA from the University of Miami, where he was a James Michener Fellow. His fiction has appeared in literary journals such as The Iowa Review, Crazyhorse and Louisiana Literature among other places. Before coming to JGU, Pankaj taught English, Critical and Creative Writing for several years at various universities in the US. In addition to writing, his teaching and research interests include film and screenwriting, theatre, ecocriticism, and world literature. Recent awards include the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Fiction Prize.

Literature and Film

Effective Communication

Academic Writing

Advanced Academic Writing

Introduction to Creative Writing

Introduction to Screenwriting

Fiction Writing

Tennesse Williams/New Orleans Fiction Prize, 2019

Guest Fiction Editor for Zone 3 literary journal, Austin Peay State University, USA, Spring 2021

Select workshops:

CWS Creative Writing Workshop: “Image,” JGU, Fall 2025

“Power of Place,” Fiction Writing workshop as part of Naveen Jindal Fellowship, JGU, Summer 2025

Fiction Writing: “From Where You Dream,” workshop as part of Creative Writing Week organized by the English Language Centre, JGU, Fall 2024

“‘Authenticity’ in Film and Screenwriting,” Writing for College series of interactive workshops, JGU, Fall 2023

“Tickets, Please” in Louisiana Literature, Spring 2020

"The Bridge" in The Florida Review, Spring 2019

“Passengers” in The Iowa Review, Fall 2018

“Halwa” in New World Writing, Spring 2012

“Reunion” in Crazyhorse, Fall 2009

“Red Sari” in The Saint Ann's Review, Winter 2008 (reprinted in The Saint Ann's Review: Tenth Anniversary Issue, 2011)

“Padma” in Rosebud Magazine, August 2007

“Real World Writing: Meet the Screenplay” in Grassroots Writing Research Journal, Vol.1, 2010

“White” in Millennium, Spring 2005

Rebirth. Short Film. Written and Directed, 2004

Savior. Short Film. Written and Directed, 2002

American Hindu, 2005

Tessa and the Boy, 2004
Email pchalla@jgu.edu.in
ORCID ID 0000-0003-0809-0111
Key Expertise film, screenwriting, theatre, ecocriticism, and world literature
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