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CSSS organises a lecture by Vivek Kumar

CSSS organises a lecture by Vivek Kumar

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CSSS organises a lecture by Vivek Kumar
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Centre for the Study of Social Systems

School of Social Sciences

 

CSSS Colloquium

 

Vivek Kumar

(Professor, CSSS, JNU)

 

Will be presenting a paper on

 

Decoding Babasaheb Ambedkar: Ideas and Praxis

 

Date & Time: September 18, 2018 (Tuesday), 3.30 pm

Venue: CSSS Committee Room (No: 13), SSS-II

Abstract: This paper tries to deconstruct the established notion of reductionism and blackout of Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in the annals of academia and media in general and politics in particular. Further it would like to understand the nature of impact of the aforesaid processes on Ambedkar’s intellectual contributions- both at the levels of ideas and praxis? Is it not true he has been reduced to a Dalit messiah or at the most a chief draftsman of Indian constitution?  Therefore, the paper would highlight, a. The way Babasaheb Ambedkar has been revered by his followers and supporters; b. In what words as he appreciated by Columbia University (his alma mater) while awarding honorary LL. D. Degree in the year 1952?; c. The way in which western social scientists have appreciated his academic and political wisdom; d.The horizons, shades, epistemologies and approaches contained in his thoughts; and e. The nature and dynamics of his movements. To conclude the paper would make an attempt to comprehend whether with all these developments Ambedkar is acquiring a status of ‘Global Icon’? Specially, when his busts have been installed in at least in nine foreign universities. 

 

Bio: Professor Vivek Kumar is a sociologist and a public intellectual, currently teaches at the Centre for the Study of Social System, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. As a recipient of Fulbright Teachers Fellowship he has taught (2012) in the Department of Sociology in Columbia University, New York, USA. He has been a visiting faculty in the Department of Asian and African Studies, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. His areas of interest include methodology of social sciences, sociology of marginalized sections, dependent and independent Dalit political leadership, sociology of Indian diaspora, sociology of South Asia, social movements, globalization and social change. He has authored many books include “Caste and Democracy in India”, “India’s Roaring Revolution: Dalit Assertions and New Horizons”, “Dalit Leadership in India”, “Dynamics of Change and Continuity in the Era of Globalization: Voices form the Margins” and several research papers and articles. He also writes in newspapers and participates in debates on television channels regularly. Prof. Vivek Kumar is the Professor In-charge of Ambedkar Chair at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, JNU.

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.