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.
