Doctoral Candidate Hamyep Phom

I am Hamyep Phom, a doctoral researcher in Contemporary Theology and Religion at the Faculty of Theology, Heidelberg University, Germany. I come from Nagaland in Northeast India, and my academic work is deeply rooted in the socio-cultural, political, and religious realities of tribal communities, particularly within the Phom Naga context. My research critically engages with questions of epistemic justice, decolonial thought, and the role of theology in public life.

My PhD project, titled “A Pluriversal Public Theology of Med: A Critical Engagement with Dominant Narratives and Oppressive Power,” explores Med, an indigenous Phom Naga ethical and epistemological framework centered on truth, justice, and relational responsibility. Through a decolonial and ethnographic approach, I seek to recover and rearticulate Med as a living and dynamic source of theological reflection and public engagement. I argue that Med provides critical resources for resisting epistemic domination, challenging unjust power structures, and fostering a more just and pluriversal vision of society.

My broader research interests include public theology, postcolonial and decolonial studies, tribal theology, Indigenous epistemologies, and the intersection of theology, politics, and ethics. My work aims to contribute to contextually grounded theological discourses that amplify marginalized voices and promote transformative engagement in both local and global contexts.