Dr. Ambedkar Studies Centre

Department of Sociology

University of Jammu

DIRECTOR (I):Dr. ASHISH SAXENA,

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY,

UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU, JAMMU-180006

Phones: 0191-2438045 (O), 0191-2436798 (R), 09469210918 Email:

ABOUT THE CENTRE:

As we know that India has produced great thinkers and social leaders who, by their revolutionary and path-breaking thoughts and actions, have left a lasting impact on not only India, but on the world as a whole. They have developed indigenous ideas and have provided cultural and ethical identity to India. There is a great need to acquaint the teachers and students with their thinking and their work and to involve them in studies, research and field work based extension service programmes of constructive work.

Keeping this broader objective in mind, Dr. Ambedkar Studies Centre,Department of Sociology, University of Jammu was sponsored by the University Grant Commission (UGC) under its epoch-Making Social Thinkers Scheme and which started functioning in the latter part of 2006. the objectives of the Centre are to acquaint teachers and students with the thoughts, actions and works of Dr. B. R Ambedkar and pursue studies, research and field work based extension Programmes. In all, we must strive to establish inter-disciplinary scholarship through learning and disseminating the philosophy of Ambedkar at macro/micro level. Urgent need is to identify and consolidate the attempts by subaltern groups/institution striving for their social justice and reflect their concern in the mainstream debate, especially in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

VARIOUS COMMITTEES & MEMBERS: (Proposed)

A.Advisory Committee:

1.Prof. Varun Sahni,Chairman

Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu

2.Dr. Ashish Saxena, Director Incharge, Member Secretary

Dr. Ambedkar Studies Centre, JammuUniversity

3.Prof. Partha Nath Mukherji, Member(Outside Expert)

S.K.Dey Chair, Institute of Social Sciences,

New Delhi.

4.Prof. Vivek Kumar, Member (Outside Expert)

Centre for the Study of Social System

J.N.U, New Delhi.

5.Expert (to be nominated by the UGCMember (UGC Expert)

6. Prof. Kulwant Kaur, Member

Dir. Incharge, CSE & IP, J.U

7. Dr. Abha Chauhan, HOD, Dept. of SociologyMember

8.Prof. Suman Jamwal, Dept. of History, J.U.Member

  1. Dr. Mathew Joseph, DSRS, J.U.Member

10Mr. Suresh Babu, Dept. of Sociology, J.U. Member

B.Purchase Committee:

1.Dr. Ashish Saxena, Dept. of SociologyMember

2.Dr. Abha Chauhan, Dept. of SociologyMember

3.Mr. Suresh Babu, Dept. of SociologyMember

4.Dy. Registrar, (B&F) or his nomineeMember

C.Research & Publication Committee:

1.Dr. Shayam Narayan Lal, Dept. of HistoryMember

2.Dr. Mathew Joseph, DSRSMember

3.Dr. Baljit Singh, Director, Nehru Study CentreMember

4.Dr. Mohd. Tajjudin, Dept. of Pol. ScienceMember

C.Programme Committee:

1.Dr. Renu Nanda, Dept. of EducationMember

2.Ms. Vishva Raksha, Dept. of SociologyMember

3.Dr. Virender Kundal, Dept. of EconomicsMember

4.Dr. Chandra Sekhar, Dept. of PsychologyMember

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE CENTRE:

In this short period, the Centre has initiated a few activities in Jammu region and which are as follows: The Centre has organized -

Eight (8) LECTURE SERIES

Till date the centre has organized 8 lectures and the key speakers and the theme of the lecture series were:

  • Dr. Ambedkar and the Indian Constitution and Social Justice: Ambedkar’s Vision in 2006 by Dr. Sushma Yadav, Professor, Dr. Ambedkar Chair in Social Justice, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi.
  • Dalit Leadership and Role of Ambedkar and Different Shades of Dalit Assertion in 2007 by Dr. Vivek Kumar, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, JawaharlalNehruUniversity, New Delhi
  • From Status Improvement to Social Inclusion: Changing Paradigm of Dalit Mobility in India and ‘Ambedkar, Dalits and the Urban Social Space’ in 2007 by Professor Paramjit Singh Judge, Department of Sociology, GuruNanakDevUniversity, Amritsar
  • Ambedkarism and Ongoing Social Revolution in 2007 byProfessor KanchaIlaiah, OsmaniaUniversity, Hyderabad.
  • Ambedkar’s Concept of Political Power in 2007 byProfessor Gopal Guru, JNU, New Delhi.
  • ‘Dr. Ambedkar and Scheduled Castes: Could Equity be Preferred over Reservation’ in November, 10, 2008 byProfessor Satish Sharma, HimachalPradeshUniversity, Shimla.

One (1) NATIONAL SEMINAR

  • On Ambedkar and Social Justice in March 2007.

Two (2) WORKSHOP

A)Debate on Reservation Policy: J & KStatein March, 2007.

B)A workshop on ‘Awarenessgeneration and CapacityBuilding About Sanitation Among Sikhligars in Jammu’ in September 2007.

Two (2) Dr. AMBEDKAR MEMORIAL LECTURE

  • The lecture was delivered by Prof. Satish Deshpande, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University on“Caste, Social Justice and Higher Education in the 21st Century” on Birth Anniversary of Dr. B. R Ambedkar (April; 2007).
  • The lecture was delivered by Prof. Valerian Rodrigues, JNU, New Delhi on“Text and Tradition” The Gandhi-Ambedkar Debate on Birth Anniversary of Dr. B. R Ambedkar (April; 2008).

RESEARCH STUDIES:

i)Socio-Economic study of Sikligars – A Marginalized Community of J & K in 2007.

ii)Impact Assessment Study of Indira Awaas Yojana in Jammu District in 2007.

EXTENSION/OUT REACH ACTIVITIES:

The Centre started its extension activity from September 2007 in the rural and urban areas of Jammu.

a)Govindpura (Sikligar di Kulliyan) near Jammu airport (urban area).

b)Village Shumali, Satwari, Jammu (rural area)

ESTABLISHMENT OF LIBRARY AND DOCUMENTATION CENTRE

A small library consisting of about 260 books and a few journals is established. Besides this reports of different organizations and government documents have been collected and compiled. It is an ongoing process.

COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS:

All the press clippings related to the issues of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, minority and women have been collected. This will help in further research. It is also be an ongoing activity.

PUBLICATIONS/ REPORTS:

Five of the six lectures delivered as a part of the ‘Lecture Series’ are published. These are available at the Centre’s Office. The reports of the two projects are also complete and placed in the Documentation Centre of the Centre’s Library. The Centre has also brought out its ‘Newsletter’ for the year 2006 and 2007.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

  • Panel Discussion on Weaker Sections in J&K.
  • Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Memorial Lecture, April 2009
  • National Seminar on Re-Thinking Ambedkar (Proposed)

Future Vision:

  • Up gradation of library and documentation centre concerning Ambedkar’s philosophy.
  • Preparation of sourcebook material on Ambedkar’s philosophy.
  • Research on the issues of subaltern communities in J&K.
  • Academic deliberations including Conferences, Seminars, Symposium and lecture session in near future.
  • Interaction with the civil society on the issue of subalterns in J&K.

Ashish Saxena

Director (IC),

Dr. Ambedkar Studies Centre, University of Jammu