JNU | RTI | Directory | Contact Us | Emergency Services | List of Holidays
-A A +A

CSSS organises a Colloquium by Dr. Projit Bihari Mukharji

CSSS organises a Colloquium by Dr. Projit Bihari Mukharji

Event From Date
Event End Date
Event Title
CSSS organises a Colloquium by Dr. Projit Bihari Mukharji
Event Details
CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL SYSTEMS
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY

cordially invites you to the

THURSDAY COLLOQUIUM

“Psychic Citizens: ESP Research in Postcolonial India”
by
Dr. Projit Bihari Mukharji
 
on
14th September 2023 at SSS II,
ROOM NO. 013; 3:00 pm - 5: 00 pm

Abstract: The history of parapsychology has long presented historians of science with an interesting test case to explore what constitutes ‘science’. Most of these studies, however, are focused on the so-called West. Yet, parapsychology enjoyed a fairly robust career in mid-twentieth century India as well. The chronology, emphases, and politics of this career resonated with larger postcolonial ambitions of not only nation-building but also reimagining ‘science’ itself. In this paper, drawing upon a distinct set of parapsychological researches into ESP or extra-sensory perceptions, I will show both the practical ends and philosophical affordances that marked the Indian history of parapsychology. Additionally, I will also etch the larger Cold War context and its influence on this history. Finally, I would argue that the history of ESP research can give us a new perspective on the new histories of postcolonial citizenship.
 
Dr. Projit Bihari Mukharji is Professor and Head of the Department of History at Ashoka University. He is a historian of science and his most recent book, Brown Skins, White Coats: Race Science in India, c. 1920-66 (Chicago, 2023) looks at the historic reemergence of biological ideas about human races.

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.