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: ashish.ju@gmail.com
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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Prof. Varun Sahni,
Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu
Dr. Ashish Saxena, Director Incharge,
Dr. Ambedkar Studies Centre, Jammu University
Prof. Partha Nath Mukherji,
S.K.Dey Chair, Institute of Social Sciences,
New Delhi.
Prof. Vivek Kumar,
Centre for the Study of Social System
J.N.U, New Delhi.
Expert (to be nominated by the UGC
Prof. Kulwant Kaur,
Dir. Incharge, CSE & IP, J.U
Dr. Abha Chauhan, HOD, Dept. of Sociology
Prof. Suman Jamwal, Dept. of History, J.U.
Dr. Mathew Joseph, DSRS, J.U.
Mr. Suresh Babu, Dept. of Sociology, J.U.
Chairman
Member Secretary
Member(Outside Expert)
Member (Outside Expert)
Member (UGC Expert)
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
B. Purchase Committee:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Dr. Ashish Saxena, Dept. of Sociology
Dr. Abha Chauhan, Dept. of Sociology
Mr. Suresh Babu, Dept. of Sociology
Dy. Registrar, (B&F) or his nominee
Member
Member
Member
Member
C. Research & Publication Committee:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Dr. Shayam Narayan Lal, Dept. of History
Dr. Mathew Joseph, DSRS
Dr. Baljit Singh, Director, Nehru Study Centre
Dr. Mohd. Tajjudin, Dept. of Pol. Science
Member
Member
Member
Member
C. Programme Committee:
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2.
3.
4.
Dr. Renu Nanda, Dept. of Education
Ms. Vishva Raksha, Dept. of Sociology
Dr. Virender Kundal, Dept. of Economics
Dr. Chandra Sekhar, Dept. of Psychology
Member
Member
Member
Member
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, Jawaharlal Nehru University, 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, Guru
Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Ambedkarism and Ongoing Social Revolution in 2007 by Professor Kancha
Ilaiah, Osmania University, Hyderabad.

Ambedkar’s Concept of Political Power in 2007 by Professor Gopal Guru,
JNU, New Delhi.

‘Dr. Ambedkar and Scheduled Castes: Could Equity be Preferred
over Reservation’ in November, 10, 2008 by Professor Satish Sharma,
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.
One (1) NATIONAL SEMINAR

On Ambedkar and Social Justice in March 2007.
Two (2) WORKSHOP
A) Debate on Reservation Policy: J & K State in March, 2007.
B) A workshop on ‘Awareness generation and Capacity Building 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.
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Preparation of sourcebook material on Ambedkar’s philosophy.
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Research on the issues of subaltern communities in J&K.
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Academic deliberations including Conferences, Seminars, Symposium and
lecture session in near future.
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Interaction with the civil society on the issue of subalterns in J&K.
Ashish Saxena
Director (IC),
Dr. Ambedkar Studies Centre, University of Jammu