Narender Kumar Professor Centre for Political Studies School of Social Sciences AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTE After completing Graduation from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra(Haryana) I did Masters and Doctorate from the Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. My areas of interest include political institutions, political process and public policy. My doctoral thesis looked into the functioning of the Parliament as an institution in India with special reference to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes during 1985-95, the period which experienced various transformations like introduction of liberalization, privatization and globalization on the one hand and emergence of the politics of marginalized sections on the other. The study was undertaken to examine the issues of representation, participation and decision-making by the MPs vis-à-vis policy formulation. This work has been significant contribution in the context of paradox depicted in declining influence of Parliament in policy formulation and the emerging assertion among the marginalized sections of the Indian society during the decade. It observed that though Parliament intervened on several critical junctures but could not add significantly to the constitutionally mandated Dalit Policy Paradigm. For M. Phil, I studied the newly bestowed constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in 1992 and their working in the state of Haryana. Continuing the study on decentralization compared their running in four states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhaya Pradesh with intensive empirical study. This reflected upon the differences existing in the functioning of Panchayat leadership in distinct socio-economic and cultural-political conditions, pointing out that Panchayats in a limited way empower marginalized sections viz. Dalits and Women in varying degree in these states but it is not leading to their effective participation and decisive representation for brining enduring transformations in the rural power structure. Recently I submitted a report to University Grants Commission, New Delhi on the issue of governance in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana vis-à-vis social policies for the Dalits. This looked into whether
the social policies are better governed in a regime led by marginalized sections representative or even the other regimes could also be effective in terms of governance and found that the social and political context plays a significant role and if those change then has a consequence on the outcomes. More significantly, BSP regime in UP during 2007-12 has been pro-active in the policy initiation and implementation for the Dalits compared with the Congress regime in Haryana and the citizens in general rated the former better in terms of governance especially on inclusive policies and maintenance of law and order than the latter. Currently, I am working on the issue of Dynasty Politics in Haryana under a collaborative International project, where academic institutions i.e. King s College London, London School of Economics from Britain and CERI-Sciences Po, Paris from France are partners. Present Position Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for Political Studies from May 2015- Contact: Room No. 117 Centre for Political Studies School of Social Sciences-II Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi 110067 Phone: Office: 011-26704422 Email: kumarr.narender@gmail.com narenderkumar@mail.jnu.ac.in Work Experience Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for Political Studies March 2014- May 15 Professor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow 2011-13 Assistant Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 2007-11, 2013-14 Lecturer, Motilal Nehru College, University of Delhi 1999-2007 Education Ph.D. Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for Political Studies 1996-2001 M. Phil. Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for Political Studies 1994-96 M.A. Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for Political Studies 1992-94 B.A. Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 1989-91
Visiting Positions Visiting Faculty, Tripura University, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy 2009 Visiting Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for Study of Law and Governance 2006 Fellowships Indo-French Social Scientist Fellowship 2011 University Grants Commission-Junior Research Fellowship 1995 Projects Politics of Governance and Dalits in India: A Comparative Study of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, 2007-12 University Grants Commission 2012 Educational Status of Scheduled Castes in Uttar Pradesh: Attainments and Challenges, Sponsored Project, Indian Council of Social Science Research 2012 From Identity to Interest: Qualitative and Quantitative Explanations of Electoral Change in Rural and Urban India, Sponsored Project, International Collaboration-United Kingdom, France and India, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ongoing) Publications Books Kumar, Narender (with Sukhadeo Thorat) (ed.). 2008. B.R. Ambedkar: Perspective on Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies, New Delhi: Oxford University Press (Paperback edition 2009). Kumar, Narender (with Sukhadeo Thorat) (ed.). 2008. In Search of Inclusive Policy: Addressing Graded Inequality, Jaipur: Rawat Publications. Kumar, Narender (with Manoj Rai) 2006. Dalit Leadership in Panchayats: A Comparative Study of Four States, Jaipur: Rawat Publications. Kumar, Narender. 2004. Dalit Policies, Politics and Parliament, New Delhi: Shipra Publishers. Kumar, Narender. 2001. Scheduled Castes and Panchayat Elections in Haryana, New Delhi: Indian Social Institute. Papers in Journals 2010 Representation, Hegemony and Governance: Alternative Contestations, Journal of History and Society of South Asia, Sage 4(1) pp75-84 2008 Formulation of Inclusive Policies in Parliament, Economic and Political Weekly, 19 July.
2000 Dalit and Shudra Politics and Anti-Brahmin Movement, Economic and Political Weekly 4 November, 2000. 1999 Haryana: Scheduled Castes in Transition, Economic and Political Weekly 4 September. 2001 Federalism: Ambedkar s Perspectives on Decentralization of Power, Social Action, July- September. 2011 Politicization of Caste and Impulsions of Politics: Bahujan Samaj Party in Contemporary India, Voice of Dalits, December. 2007 Power to the People: Ambedkar s Perspectives Mainstream January 4. 2001 Grass-root Leadership among Scheduled Castes in Haryana after 73rd Amendment Act, The Radical Humanist, February. Papers in Edited Books 2007 Contesting Views on Panchayati Raj: Ambedkar and 73rd Amendment Act, in Ambedkar in Retrospect (ed.) Sukhadeo Thorat and Aryama, Rawat Publications, 2007 Jaipur. 1999 Dalit Identity and Students Politics in JNU, in Dalit Assertion for Identity, (ed.) Ambrose Pinto, Indian Social Institute, 1999 New Delhi. Forthcoming Mindset, Memoirs and Untouchability: Veracity beyond Conventional Structures, in (ed) Vidhu Verma Unequal Worlds: Discrimination and Social Inequality in Modern India Oxford University Press 2015 Book Reviews Destagmatising Chamars, The Book Review, New Delhi February, 2013 Special Issue on South Asia Trajectory of Dalit Public Narratives The Book Review, New Delhi, April 2012 Exploring Unconventional Perspectives The Book Review, New Delhi, December 2011 The Enchantment of Democracy and India (Book by Sudipta Kaviraj) Journal South Asian History and Culture January 2011 Article in Newspapers and Magazines 2014 The Wave nobody assessed correctly, The Pioneer 24 May 2014 Caste Still in the Poll Race, The Pioneer 5 April 2013 Government must listen to Citizens, The Pioneer 14 December 2013 CBI Political Rivals and Obscure Autonomy, The Pioneer 19 October 2013 Discrimination: Past in Continuum, The Pioneer 17 August 1999 A Small Kadam in Man s World, The Pioneer 22 August
1999 The Dalit Development Paradigm and Parliament, The Pioneer 1 August 1998 Elevating Defaults via Rajya Sabha, Third Concept August 1995 SAARC Surges Forward, Third Concept August Special Lectures 2014 Inclusive Growth in India: A Critical Perspective, Rajdhani College, New Delhi, 21 April. 2011 Relevance of Gandhi-A Critical Perspective for Panel Discussion on Relevance of Gandhi Motilal Nehru College, University of Delhi, 7 February. 2009 Indian Government and Politics(Two Lectures), Department of Political Science, Tripura University, Tripura, Department of Political Science, Tripura University, Tripura, 16-18 February. A number of lectures delivered at Human Resource Development Centre- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi on Indian Constitution and Research Methods Presentations in Seminars/Conferences International 2015 Dynasty/Political Families and MLAs in Haryana: A Comparative Profile of 2009 and 2014 Assembly Elections, paper presented in International EECURI Conference, Paris 22-23 June 2014 Ambdekar, Dhamma and Women, paper presented in International Seminar Understanding Dr. Ambedkar Concept of Dhamma: Transforming Self and Society, organized at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow 14-15 April 2013 People Empowerment, Participation and Inclusion, paper presented in International Seminar at 7 th NRCT-ICSSR Joint Seminar at Bangkok, Thailand on 24-26 August, 2013 Urban Rural Dynamics in Uttar Pradesh Electoral Politics: A Comparison of State Assembly Elections of 2007 and 2012, paper presented at International Workshop on Comparing Urban and Rural Politics in India organized by King s India Institute, London, UK on March 18-19 Modern Institutions and Traditional Mindsets, paper presented at the International Conference organized by Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, January. 2009 Confronting the Discourses of Hegemony: Politics of Representation and Equity, Paper presented in a Seminar on Towards a Social Justice Regime in India organized by CPS/SSS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in February.
National 2013 Dalits, Political Process and Parliament, paper presented in a Seminar on Caste & Dalits: A way Forward, organized by Hyderabad Central University, on July 24-25, Social Exclusion, Political Process and Liberal Democracy paper presented at the Research Training Program sponsored by ICSSR organized by Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi July 2013. Urban Rural Dynamics in Uttar Pradesh Electoral Politics: A Comparison of State Assembly Elections of 2007 and 2012, paper presented at International Workshop on Comparing Urban and Rural Politics in India organized by King s India Institute, London, UK on March 18-19 Modern Institutions and Traditional Mindsets, paper presented at the International Conference organized by Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, January. 2012 Discrimination in Governance and Political Participation, paper presented at National Law School of India University, Bengluru, 26-28 May. Dalit Movement and Politics in UP, paper presented at National Seminar organized by Ambedkar Chair, Jawaharlal Nehru Univeristy, New Delhi, 27 March. Dr. Ambedkar s Quest for Social Inclusion, Paper presented in International Seminar organized by School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 07 February. 2011 Ambedkar s Schema for Gender Equality: Hindu Code Bill and Women Rights, Paper presented at National Seminar organized by Institute of Development Studies, Kolkota, 11-12 March. Interweaving Caste and Democratic Politics: Bahujan Samaj Party s Itinerary towards Bahujan, Paper presented at National Seminar organized by School of Inter-disciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies, Indira Gandhi Open University, New Delhi, 10-11 March. Engaging Ambedkar on Inclusive Society: Exploring Unconventional Concerns, Paper presented at the National Seminar organized by Ambedkar Studies Centre, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 4-5 March. 2010 Democracy, Decentralization and Dalits Paper presented in the National Seminar on Democracy: India s Experience organized by the Department of Political Science, Kakitya University, AP in March. 2009 Federal Structure and Decentralization of Power: Exploring Ambedkar s Position, Paper presentedin the National Seminar on Dr. B.R.. Ambedkar as a Social Theorist India organized by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Studies Centre, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 14-15 April.
2008 Dr. Ambedkar and Development of Inclusive Policy in India, paper presented at State Level Seminar on Role of Reservation Policy in Uplifting the Underprivileged Sections of India organized by Bhawan s College Mumbai, 23 August. 2006 Affirmative Action in India: Myth and Reality, Paper presented in the National Seminar on Dalits and Human Rights: Contemporary Issues and Emerging Patterns organized by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Studies Centre, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow in November. Hindu Code Bill: Testament for Gender Equality and Social Transformation, Paper presented in the National Seminar on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Vision and Reality, 50 Years of Post-Ambedkar India organized by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Studies Centre, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow in April. 2003 Reservation in Legislatures, Panchayats and the Dalits, Paper presented in a Seminar on Equal Opportunities, Affirmative Action and the Scheduled Castes: Challenges and Prospects organized by Dr. Ambedkar Chair, CSSS/SSS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in October. 1998 Contesting Views on Panchayati Raj: Ambedkar and 73rd Amendment Act, Paper presented in the National Seminar on Ambedkar in Retrospect organized by the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in August. 1996 Emergence of Bahujan Samaj Party in 1996 Election and Its Social Implications, Paper presented in the National Seminar on Political Sociology of India s Democracy: Analyzing 1996 General Election & Its Implications organized by the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 1996. Academic-Administrative Experience Director-In-Charge, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow. July 2011-May 2013 Head/Coordinator, Department of Political Science Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow. November, 2011- May 2013 Member, Board of Studies, Department of Political Science, Gautam Buddha University, NOIDA 2014- Member, Academic Council, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow 2011-13. Member, Various University Level Special Committees Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow Member, Research Advisory Committee, Apex Body of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, 2011-13 Referee, Oxford University Press 2009-11