Department of Sociology Faculty of Social Sciences South Asian University New Delhi Vacancy for Short-Term Researchers Department of Sociology, South Asian University in collaboration with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (Germany) invites application for the following posts: 1. Short-Term Researchers (03): Position will be based in North East India, Sri Lanka, and Bihar. Qualifications Must have a Masters degree in social sciences Research experience ofat least four-five years. However, promising candidates with lesser experience may also be eligible. Strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skill Must be proficient in English and local languages Nature of Work: The researcher must be familiar with the broader conceptual contour of the research outlined below. The task of the researcher will be to engage in ethnographic as well as quantitative research among different social groups in designated region. A detailed book of guidelines (including finances permitted under the project) must be followed by the short term researchers. 1
They would have to follow the suggested methodologies and submit the ethnographic account and other materials collected during the field work within ten days of completion of field work. The reseracher will have to produce a paper of approximately 10,000 words at the end of the research and will have to submitted a detailed narrative report every two months. S/he must be ready to interact with the respondents irrespective of their social/economic/religious background. It would require the incumbent to travel to different parts of the region. Duration of Work: The researcher will be appointed for the ten (10) months. Stipend: The researcher will be tentatively paid a total of Rs.450,000/- to be paid in installments every two months dependent on the submission of required documents/write up. Interested candidates may apply with the following documents to Ms. Ragini Pant, Senior Researcher, Department of Sociology, South Asian University or to marxistschool2014@gmail.com: 1. Detailed CV 2. A one page description of how they would design their fieldwork (picking up a tentative woman academic/activist/movement) and present a work plan. 3. One page Statement of interest on why do you want to take up this assignment Applications must reach the office by 31stJanuary, 2019. 2
Broad Conceptual Contour of the Research The real tragedy of the women s resistance in South Asia is the lack of, or half-hearted attempts to unearth and document their histories. Often seen in glimpses or as an endnote reference, the contributions made by the women, especially from a progressive antisystemiclens are majorly missing. 2019 happens to be the 100th death anniversary of the revolutionary scholar Rosa Luxemburg, and we at SAU and RLS intend to document stories of women resistance, organisation, and politics in celebration of revolutionary spirit. Looking atwomen s resistance in its varied forms can be a fitting tribute to her. The proposed research will be conducted by two researchers in India and one in Sri Lanka.The representation of women in the left hasbeen a great concern for the South Asian region. The paucity of women in prominent organizational roles withinthe left camp or the unsuccessful run of the organizational left to forge solidarities, mobilize and articulate theissues of women often gets interpreted as a deficit of women s struggle. It is not there has been a complete absence of women s resistance in South Asia. Historically, at different points of time, we have witnessed it in different forms. However, questions have been raised about the prominence of women and women s questions within the Left s organisational structures, gendered politics as a significant constituent of the struggles or even about the way struggles have been conceotualised. There has been little or no work on how different forms of resistance within the progressive anti-systemic historic moments or even outside of such organised struggles have not been noticed or understood within the processes of production, reproduction. As a caveat it must be mentioned that the site of production or the processes of reproduction are as much cultural and political sites as they are economic. There is a need to, as the first step, bring in public those struggles and what they stood for. This research will attempt to unravel/document/bringto the fore the narratives and struggles of rebellious women/organisations who have used different methods and forms at locallevels. 3
This can be through documenting oral histories of them being part of a movement or they can even be someone who contributed to thebuilding up of a resistance narrative in spheres of literary production or social sphere. Digging such narratives would allow us to not only establish the nature of society and polity that compelled them to be buried under ground but it would also allow us to make sense of gendered relations within such a society and polity and enhance possibilities of building up a conceptual/theoretical/political narrative. These endeavours and research would be an engagement with the anti-systemic praxis, and therefore be in a conversation with the practice and theory of gender, Marxism, local variants of the theoretical enterprise. These will trace the historical progression of capitalism and resistance to it, locally (the figures will be identified during the process of research) and globally. The proposed research while delving into the critical theme of resistance will also entail reflections on the shortcomings in a movement or collective engagement. In this background of the existing major political cavity, it is imperative that such a South Asian study is attempted which needs to be documented, analysed and to be reflected upon for present and future. The research will critically reflect on questions like: - Which forms have women s resistance taken in the proposed sites of research? - How can one understand its absence in the larger resistance literature and mainstreamacademia? - Has there been a left movement in the area and what has been the nature of interaction between the women s resistance and those movements? - Can there be documentation of these micro-expressions of resistance? What will be itsformat? - Is there a seeming pattern to its absence? 4
The larger aim of the research is to link the role played by women in resistance and the movements for socio-political transformation. Beyond the idea of representation, such a study will also raise and address pertinent questions on how and why the local resistance by women on issues of labour and exploitation does not find space in the larger body of antisystemic politics in South Asia, during or after colonial regimes. It would not only adopt a critical prism towards the location of women within these left movements but also look at their contribution to the movements. 5