U-Talk journal
U-Talk is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Umran Academic Research Association (UARA), operating alongside U-Talk Magazine under the same ISSN (3049-4133) while maintaining a distinct, rigorous editorial process for its annual scholarly special issue. As an annual peer-reviewed interdisciplinary special issue, U-Talk Journal is committed to advancing rigorous scholarship and meaningful public intellectual engagement across the humanities and social sciences. The journal follows a double-blind peer review policy and adheres to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) standards.
Journal Title: U-Talk Peer-Reviewed Journal
ISSN: 3049-4133 (Online)
ISSN-L: 3049-4133
Publisher: Umran Academic Research Association (UARA), Istanbul, Turkey
Frequency: Annual (one peer-reviewed special issue per year)
Language: English
Country of publication: India (ISSN registered with Indian ISSN Centre)
Open access: Yes – diamond open access (free to read, free to publish)
Discipline: Interdisciplinary – Humanities and Social Sciences
Aims & Scope:
U-Talk Journal is an annual peer-reviewed interdisciplinary special issue committed to advancing rigorous scholarship and meaningful public intellectual engagement across the humanities and social sciences. We publish work that institutions often ignore, including field experiences, vernacular thinkers, young researchers, activists, translators, artists, local knowledge holders, and marginalized narratives.
We particularly welcome submissions that explore:
Inter-cultural & inter-religious dialogue – encounters, exchanges, and conflicts between cultures and faiths
Cross-cultural and cross-religious perspectives – comparative approaches to ethics, philosophy, literature, and lived traditions
Civilizational dialogue – conversations between global intellectual traditions
Vernacular knowledge and lived traditions – local wisdom, disappearing practices, language struggles
Migration, cultural memory, and belonging – stories of displacement, home, and identity
Mission Statement:
U-Talk Journal operates alongside U-Talk Magazine, sharing the same ISSN (3049-4133) but maintaining a distinct, rigorous editorial process for its annual scholarly special issue. We aim to become a Public Intellectual Archive of Contemporary Voices – not merely publishing content, but documenting lived thinking.
Editors
Dr. Insha Qayoom Shah
Editor, U-Talk Peer-Reviewed Journal
Affiliation: Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, India / Co-Director, UARA
Email: insha.qayoomshah@umran.org.in
Rajeev Kumar
Managing Editor, U-Talk Peer-Reviewed Journal
Affiliation: Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey / Director, UARA
Email: rajeev.kumar@umran.org.in
Editorial Board
Prof. Mousumi G. Banerjee
Affiliation: EFL University, Shillong, India
Email: gmousumibanerjee@efluniversity.ac.in
Dr. K. Kannan Prasad
Affiliation: Loyola College (Autonomous), Chennai, India
Email: kannanprasadk@loyolacollege.edu
Dr. Deepak K. Nair
Affiliation: R.N.A.R. College, Bihar, India
Email: deepakmarysivan@gmail.com
Saalima Khan
Affiliation: Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India / Director, Umran Mahila Manch
Email: saalima.khan@umran.org.in
Assist. Prof. Dr. Sajal Dey
Affiliation: EFL University, Shillong, India
Email: sajaldey@efluniversity.ac.in
Dr. R. Abeetha
Affiliation: Vels Institute of Science, Technology, and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai, India
Email: abeetharamakrish@gmail.com
Dr. Imran Visram
Affiliation: University of Oxford, U.K.
Email: imran.visram@sant.ox.ac.uk
Advisory Board
Prof. Bruce B. Lawrence
Nancy and Jeffrey Marcus Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies Emeritus, Duke University, USA
Adjunct Professor, Alliance of Civilizations Institute, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul
Prof. miriam cooke
Braxton Craven Professor Emerita of Arab Cultures, Duke University, USA
Publisher
Rajeev Kumar
Director, Umran Academic Research Association (UARA)
Istanbul, Turkey
Contact for submissions: uara@umran.org.in
Type of Review: Double-Blind Peer Review
Summary:
All submissions to U-Talk Journal undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Neither the author(s) nor the reviewers know each other’s identities. This ensures fairness, impartiality, and academic integrity.
Step-by-Step Process:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Initial Check | Editor checks scope, formatting, and basic quality (3–5 days) |
| 2. Peer Review | 2–3 subject experts review anonymously (3–6 weeks) |
| 3. Decision | Editor communicates: Accept / Minor Revisions / Major Revisions / Reject |
| 4. Revision | Author resubmits with point-by-point response |
| 5. Final Decision | Editor approves or requests further changes |
| 6. Publication | Accepted articles published in the annual special issue |
Reviewer Guidelines:
Reviewers evaluate originality, methodology, clarity, and contribution to the field
Personal comments to author are separate from confidential comments to editor
Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest
Ethical Standards:
U-Talk Journal follows the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines for peer review.
Open Access Policy:
U-Talk Journal is a diamond open access journal – free to read, free to publish. All articles are immediately and permanently available online without any subscription or paywall.
Copyright:
Authors retain full copyright of their work. Authors grant U-Talk Journal the right of first publication.
Creative Commons License:
All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.
What this license means:
| You may… | Under these conditions… |
|---|---|
| Share (copy, distribute) the article | Give credit to the author and journal |
| Adapt (remix, transform) the article | Do so for non-commercial purposes only |
| Include in institutional repositories | Provide a link to the published version |
U-Talk Peer-Reviewed Journal is currently not indexed in any major database. We are actively working toward meeting the criteria for inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and other academic indexes. We will announce all indexing milestones here.
No Article Processing Charges (APCs)
U-Talk Journal does not charge any fees to authors for submission, peer review, or publication. The journal is entirely free for all authors worldwide.
Workshop Participants: If you attend our writing workshop, submission guidance is included. Still no extra charge for publication.
Fee Waivers: Not applicable – publication is already free for everyone.
Editorial Office:
Umran Academic Research Association (UARA)
Istanbul, Turkey
Email Contacts: uara@umran.org.in
ISSN Portal Record: https://portal.issn.org/resource/ISSN/3049-4133
Submission Categories
| Category | Word Limit |
|---|---|
| Research Articles | 5,000–8,000 words |
| Short Scholarly Essays | 2,500–4,000 words |
| Book Reviews / Review Essays | 1,000–2,000 words |
Manuscript Preparation
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Word limit | As per category above (including references) |
| Abstract | 200–250 words (not required for book reviews) |
| Keywords | 4–6 keywords |
| Language | English (British or American, consistent) |
| Citation style | Chicago Manual of Style (17th or 18th edition) – Notes & Bibliography system |
| File format | .docx or .doc (no PDF for submission) |
Formatting Instructions
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
Line spacing: 1.5
Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
Page numbers: Bottom center
No author identifiers anywhere in the manuscript (for double-blind review)
What to Submit (Two Separate Files)
| File | Contents |
|---|---|
| Anonymous Manuscript | Title, abstract, keywords, main text, references, tables/figures. No author name or affiliation. |
| Title Page | Article title, author full name(s), affiliation(s), ORCID (if available), email address, phone number, and a short bio (50–100 words) |
Originality & Plagiarism
Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere
Plagiarism in any form will lead to immediate rejection
Authors are encouraged to use plagiarism detection software before submission