T. Kannan

Assistant Professor of Sociology

Coordinator-Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Law & Civil Society

Exposure to western philosophy and the philosophical traditions of India during my under graduation had inspired me to take up research as a main academic engagement. After the completion of postgraduation in sociology, I worked with the Dalit Research Centre in Madurai as a researcher, which pushed/brought me closer to the lifeworld of Dalits and the grassroot political mobilizations of the marginalized communities in Tamil Nadu and the other parts of South India. This in turn led me to investigate the politics of Dalit identity in Tamil Nadu for my doctoral study. I diversified of my research interests after my doctoral study to the fields of struggles for water rights and the environmental political theories of water rights and ecological justice. Later, choosing to teach sociology to BA. LLB. students at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, shifted my academic engagement from full-time research to full-time teaching. I continue to teach sociology of law to BA. LLB. students.

Education

  • 2009  :  Post-Doctoral Study, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development (CISED), a Centre of excellence promoted by the Institute for Social and Economic Change
  • 2008  :  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sociology, Osmania University, Hyderabad on February 5, 2008 through Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore.
  • 1989 – 91  :  M. A. in Sociology, Madurai – Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
  • 1986 – 89  :  B.A. in Religion and Philosophy, Madurai – Kamaraj University, Madurai, India

Awards/Fellowships

  • 2002  :  Received Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship for Doctoral studies in India (for the year-2002) from Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, New Delhi.
  • 1996-2000  :  National level Fellowship awarded by Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) for Doctoral research at Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, India

Courses Taught

  • Sociology I
  • Sociology II (Sociology of Law)
  • Anthropology of Law and Violence
  • Caste and Political Mobilization
  • Religion and Secular Theologies
  • Rural Social Dynamics
  • Religion, Caste, Gender and Secular Legal Order
  • Social Conflicts and Resolution
  • Understanding Gandhi
  • Social Justice Theory and Practice

Select Publications

  • “Caste Violence and Dalit Consciousness: A Critical Interpretation of Dominance” was published by Institute for Social and Economic Change as its Working Paper, No. 59 in 2000. ISBN 81-7791-016-7.
  • “Replication of Hierarchy: A Subaltern Understanding of Dalit Politics” was published by Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta as its Occasional Paper in the Enreca Occasional Paper Series, Volume – 4. bISBN 81-87578-03-3
  • Book Review: The book entitled “Ideas and Society in India: From Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Centuries” by Eugenia Vanina, Oxford University Press, Delhi, was reviewed for Business Line
  • Book Review: The book entitled “Scheduled Castes Quest for Land and Social Equality” by Harshad R Trivedi, Concept Publishing House, New Delhi, was reviewed for Deccan Herald
  • Book Review: The book entitled “Dalit Identity and Politics” edited by Ghanashyam Shah, Sage, New Delhi, was reviewed for Deccan Herald, September 29, 2002