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CSSS organises a Colloquium by Prof. Vivek Kumar

CSSS organises a Colloquium by Prof. Vivek Kumar

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CSSS organises a Colloquium by Prof. Vivek Kumar
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CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL SYSTEMS
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY


cordially invites you to the


THURSDAY COLLOQUIUM

 

on

 

Indian Universalism to Particularism
A Hypothesis for Indian Sociology

 

by

 

Prof. Vivek Kumar, CSSS, SSS, JNU


on
12th OCTOBER 2023 at SSS II,
ROOM 013, 3:00pm-5:00pm


Abstract: Reading the Postmodernism of Lyotard and Foucault, Sociology as an Art Form by Robert Nisbet, the Myth of value-free Sociology of Alvin Gouldner, Shikai Ishikirion of Yamagashi and Brinton, and The Romantic-Conservative Reaction of Zeitlin, to name just a few, it can be argued That Sociology has a number of faces. Further, Sociology is not an objective science. At least in the initial stage of its development in the nation where it emerged, it has taken various shapes. Hence, how can Indian Sociology be an exception? Why does it have to follow a Western path of evolution and development? Why can't it travel its own path of development?

 

In this context, we want to read Benoy Kuamr’s ‘The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology, Radhakamal Mukerjee’s ‘The Philosophy of Social Sciences and The Dimensions of Values, P. H. Prabhu’s ‘Hindu Social Organization’, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ‘Buddha and his Dhamma’ and G.S.Ghurey’s Nationalist Sociology to ask a few questions, that is, whether the philosophical and methodological preposition that exists in Western Sociology/Social Sciences does exist in the Indian Society as a whole. Therefore, this research project tries to
analyze whether we can utilize the values underlying the social institutions and society in India to evolve the Sociology of India.


Prof. Vivek Kumar (Ph.D.) is Professor of Sociology, Public Intellectual and former Chairperson of Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, JNU. He has also been co-ordinator of Global Studies Programme and Ambedkar Chair Professor in Sociology, instituted by Ministry of Empowerment and Social Justice, GOI. As a recipient of Fulbright Teacher’s Fellowship, Prof Vivek Kumar has been Visiting Professor in the Department of Sociology, Columbia University, New York, USA. As a DAAD –UGC fellow Prof Vivek has also been a visiting faculty at the, Humboldt University, Germany. His publications include, Caste and Democracy in Indian (2014), the edited volume Dynamics of Change and Continuity in the Age of Globalization (2009), India's Roaring Revolution (2006), and Dalit Leadership in India (2002). His seminal article includes, ‘How Egalitarian is Indian Sociology’? He completed a research project, "Social Status and Social Attitudes in India: A Study of Indian College Students," with Harvard University, USA and UBC. He has also delivered Ambedkar Memorial Lecture at British Columbia University, Simon Frazer University, and Toronto University all in Canada

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.