Dr. Mudassar Munir

„Though once distant, the sea has become central to my exploration of global narratives. At the German Maritime Museum, I examine how maritime spaces shape cultural memory, identity, and knowledge—positioning the sea as a connective force in human storytelling across time and place.“

Dr. Mudassar Munir, Research Assistant for Global Storytelling

About the person

Mudassar Munir is an anthropologist focused on how maritime cultures shape human interaction with the environment. Growing up in landlocked region of Pakistan, his understanding of the sea came through history lessons—stories of Mohammad Bin Qasim, the British, and the French crossing oceans to shape Indian history. Though he struggled to pronounce Vasco da Gama, he could never have imagined studying maritime worlds. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and Human Sciences from the University of Milan, an MPhil from Quaid-i-Azam University, and a Master’s in Development Studies from the University of Bayreuth. His research spans political anthropology, migration, and maritime cultures, with fieldwork conducted in Kenya, Pakistan, and Europe. His Master’s research examined colonial legacies and South Asians in Kenya, linking migration across the Indian Ocean and the East African coast. His work continues to explore the sea as a connective force shaping identity, migration, and cultural memory across regions.

Current Research Projects

Global Maritime Storytelling at the German Maritime Museum