Professor

Prof Mohammed Abdul Kalam

Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Professor, Anthropology

Interests

  1. Indians Overseas
  2. Religious and Linguistic Minorities
  3. Forests and Biodiversity

Faculty Details

Education

1970

R.L. Science Institute, Belgaum
B.Sc.

1973

Karnatak University
M.A.

1989

University of Madras
Ph. D.

Experience

  • 2018-2020 -- Dean (Administration and Regulatory Affairs) and Professor of Anthropology, Krea University, Sri City, Andhra Pradesh
  • 2017-2018 -- Professor of Applied Social Sciences Research (Adjunct Faculty), Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai
  • 2013-2016 -- Professor of Eminence, Tezpur Central University, Tezpur, Assam
  • 2008-2011 -- Chairperson (Dean), School of Social Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai
  • 2006-2011 -- Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ocean and Coastal Studies, University of Madras, Chennai
  • 2005-2011 -- Professor and Head, Department of Anthropology, University of Madras, Chennai
  • 1997-2005 – Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Madras, Chennai
  • 1991-1997 – Reader, Department of Anthropology, University of Madras, Chennai
  • 1978-1991 – Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, University of Madras, Chennai

Research Interest

  • Migration of people within India and the “Jump Factor”; Migration issues in North East India
  • People of Indian Origin in England, USA and France
  • Religious Conversions, with particular reference to Dalit conversions to Christianity and Islam
  • Socio-historical studies of Sacred Groves

Awards & Fellowships

  •  2012 | Visiting Professor | Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
  • 2009 | Visiting Scholar | Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla
  • 2006 | Visiting Professor | Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, Paris, France
  • 2002 | UGC Visiting Fellow | Department of Anthropology
    Sri Venkateshwara University Tirupati
  • 2001 | Visiting Professor | University of Paris X, Nanterre, France
  • 2001 | UGC Delegate | Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme
    Paris, France
  • 1996-1997 | Rockefeller Resident Fellow | Rockefeller Residency Institute, Center for International Studies, Duke University, Durham, NC., USA
  • 1995-1996 | Human Rights Fellow | Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., USA
  • 1992-1993 | Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellow | Academic Visitor, Department of Anthropology, London School of Economics, London, U.K. and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Social and Economic Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, U.K.
  • 1973-1977 | ICSSR Doctoral Fellow | Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University,Delhi

Memberships

  • Member, General Body, Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India (2019 0nwards)
  • Member, Governing Council, Centre for Research and Education for Social Transformation, Government of Kerala, Kozhikode, Kerala (2019 onwards)
  • Member, Board of Studies, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Pondicherry Central University, Puducherry (2019 onwards)
  • Member, Xavier Board for Higher Education in India (2018 onwards)
  • Member, Board of Studies in Sociology, Loyola College, Chennai (2018 onwards)
  • Member, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Peer Team (2016 onwards)

List of Important Publications

Books / Monographs
    • • Migration Dynamics: Networking, Ethnicity, Identity, and Schism: Monograph No. 100: Centre for Multidisciplinary Development Research, Dharwad: 2018
    • • Report of the Expert Group on Diversity Index (jointly with other Members), Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi: 2008
    • • Communication for Development in the Digital Era (Edited with J. Josephine and K. S. Raghavan), Chennai: ICCD, 2002
    • • Sacred Groves in Kodagu District of Karnataka (South India): A Socio-Historical Study; Pondy Papers in Social Sciences No. 21, Pondicherry: French Institute, 2001 (Second Revised Edition)
    • • Tea Plantation Labour in India (with S.K. Bhowmik and V. Xaxa); New Delhi: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 1996
    • • Sacred Groves in Kodagu District of Karnataka (South India): A Socio-Historical Study; Pondy Papers in Social Sciences No. 21, Pondicherry: French Institute, 1996
    • • Women and Youth Training and Extension Project (WYTEP) in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Women in Agriculture Project (TANWA) and Training and Extension for Women in Agriculture Project (TEWA) in Orissa: Evaluation Report (jointly with others), Copenhagen, DANIDA, 1992
    • • The Uprooted: Development, Displacement and Resettlement (Ed. with V. Sudarsen); New Delhi: Gian Publishers, 1990
Articles (The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy)
    • • “A Winter of Anguish: On Ayodhya From Bradford” The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy: 9 December 2017
    • • “Towards Genuine Pluralism” The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy: 13 November 2017
    • • “Entrepreneurship in India: Is There a Level Playing Field?” (with A. Xavier Raj): The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy: 21 September 2017
Articles in Journals
  • • “Bharat Ki Nasal Samasya:….” Samajik Vimarsh, Volume 2, No. 1, Sage, 2019
  • • “The Closed Nature of Indian Universities” The India Forum, 1 November 2019
  • • “India’s Race Problem: Ignorance and Denial” (with Hira Singh) Social Scientist, Volume No. 45 / Nos. 9-10 / September-October 2017
  • • “Spatial Segregation, Discrimination, and allied Dynamics in Internal and International Migrations”, Kerala Sociologist, 45 (1), June 2017
  •  • “Lineage Ownership to Individual Rights: Social History of Jamma Land Tenure in Kodagu” Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 51, No. 26-27, June 25, 2016
  • • “Missed Calls? People, Communication and Governance”, Anthropology Today, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2016
  • • “Meat of the Matter” Economic and Political Weekly, Vol LI No. 3, January 16, 2016
  • • “The Xenophobia of Patriots” Economic and Political Weekly, Vol XLIX No. 40, October 4, 2014
  • • “Conditioned Lives?” Economic and Political Weekly Special Issue on Symposium on the Sachar Committee Report, Vol XLII No. 10, March 10-16, 2007
  • • “South Asian Identity as Islamic Identity in England” Islam and Muslim Societies: A Social Science Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2005 (pp. 61-85)
  • • “A Decade of Right to Information and Governance: Journey on a Potholed Road?” SNC Journal of Intercultural Philosophy, Vol. 8, August 2005 (pp. 117-122)
  • • “Minorities: In terms of Degree or Kind?” SNC Journal of Intercultural Philosophy, Vol. 4, August 2003 (pp. 113-118)
  • • “The Variable Development of Indian States: Changes in Socio-cultural, Political and Economic Spaces” (with L. Sabaratnam) The Indian Geographical Journal, Vol. 74 (No. 1), June 1999 (pp. 44-51)
  • • “The Transformation of the Coorg (Kodava) Family through the ages” PILC Journal of Dravidic Studies, Pondicherry, Vol. 1 (No. 1), 1991 (pp.69-76)
  •  • “Religious Conversions in Tamil Nadu: Can these be viewed as Protest Movements?” Indian Anthropologist, Delhi, Vol. 20 (Nos. 1 & 2), 1990 (pp.39-48)
  • • “Anthropomorphism”. The Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, Tamil University, Tanjore, Vol. 9, 1990
  • • “The Islamization of Africa: The case of the Tumbuka of Zambia”— Comment Journal Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs, London, Vol. 11 (No. 1), January 1990 (pp.199-200)
  •  • “Religious Conversions in Tamil Nadu (India)” Journal Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs, London, Vol. 10 (No. 2), July 1989 (pp.343-350)
  • • “The Classification of Kin” The Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, Tamil University, Tanjore, Vol. 5, 1987
  • • “Conversion and Protective Discrimination” The Bulletin of The Henry Martin Institute of Islamic Studies, Hyderabad, December, 1984 (pp.26-34)
  • • “Why the Harijan convert to Islam views reservations with reservation” South Asia Research, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, Vol.4 (No. 2), Nov.1984 (pp.153-167)
  • • “Race and Racism: An objective appraisal of myths and vested interests” (with V. Sudarsen) The Journal of Madras University, Vol. LVI, Jan. 1984 (pp.1-8)
  • • “Socio-cultural History of Coorg: with particular reference to Tipu Sultan's reign” The Journal of Madras University, Vol.LV (No. I) Jan. 1983 (pp.1-7)
    • Chapters in Books (English and French)
  • • “Elementary Education and Primary Health Care: Major concerns in the North-East Region” in Social Innovations for Social Impact in North East, Kazi, S.S. (ed), Guwahati, North East Development Foundation, 2015 (pp 26-29)
  • • “Indian Model of Managing Diaspora (Non-Resident Indians)” in Potentials and Prospects of Pakistani Diaspora, Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Pakistan, and Hanns Seidel Foundation, Germany, 2014 (pp. 160-173)
  • • “Identity, Space and Territory in India: An Anthropological Perspective” in P. Gervais-Lambony, F. Landy, S. Oldfield (ed), Reconfiguring Identities and Building Territories I India and South Africa, New Delhi, Manohar, 2005 (pp. 73-83)
  • • “Language, Ethnicity and Identity among the Muslims of the Palar Valley”; in Industrialisation and Socio-Cultural change in the Tannery Belt (Tamil Nadu), Pondy Papers in Social Sciences, French institute, Pondicherry, 2004 (pp. 19-29)
  • • "Identite, espace et territoire en Inde: une perspective anthropologique" in P. Gervais-Lambony, F. Landy, S. Oldfield (ed), Espaces arc-en-ciel. Identites et territoires en Afrique du Sud et en Inde, Paris, Karthala, 2003 (pp. 69-84)
  • • “Information Society: Technological, Socio-Cultural and Economic Dynamics” in Information Management: Trends and Issues / Ramesh Babu et al (eds.), New Delhi, Research Co., 2003 (pp. 107-110)
  • • “Kodava” in People of India: Karnataka Volume XXVI, Part Two, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); New Delhi, Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2003 (pp. 751-759)
  • • "Les bois sacres dans le district de Kodagu (Karnataka): étude socio-historique" in: L’hommes: et la foret en Inde du Sud: Modes de gestion et symbolisme de la foret dans les Ghats occidentaux / J. Pouchepadass and J.-Ph. Puyravaud (eds.), Paris: Institut Francaise De Pondicherry - Editions Karthala, 2002 (341-382)
  • • “The Diaspora Bandwagon: Are Indians Part of the Journey?” In Indian Society: Continuity, Change and Development / Reddy P.S. and V. Gangadhar (eds); New Delhi: Commonwealth, 2002 (pp. 102-111)
  • • “Anglo Indians” (with Zubeeda, B.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part One, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 126-132)
  • • “Ansari” (with Razia, S) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part One, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 133-139)
  • • “Bohra” (with Subhadra, S.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part One, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 241-244)
  • • “Dayare” (with Razia, S.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part One, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 370-374)
  • • “Jain” (with Zubeeda, B) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part One, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 492-496)
  • • “Jew” (with Subhadra, S.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part One, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 507-510)
  • • “Khoja” (with Zubeeda, B.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Two, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 709-713)
  • • “Marwari” (with Zubeeda, B.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Two, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 1014-1019)
  • • “Mukkuvan” (with Subhadra, S.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Two, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp.1038-1041)
  • • “Nawaiyat” (with Razia, S) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Two, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 1093-1098)
  • • “Parsi” (with Subhadra, S.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Two, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 1196-1199)
  • • “Pathan” (with Subhadra, S.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Two, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 1204-1208)
  • • “Rawther” (with Razia, S) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Three, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 1259-1263)
  • • “Sheikh” (with Zubeeda, B.) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Three, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 1328-1334)
  • • “Syed” (with Razia, S) in People of India: Tamil Nadu Volume LX, Part Three, Singh, K.S. (General Editor); Chennai: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated East West Press, 2001 (pp. 1419-1426)
  • • “Devarakadus (Sacred Groves) and Encroachments” In: Mountain Biodiversity, Land Use Dynamics, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge /Ramakrishnan, P.S. et.al (ed.); New Delhi: Oxford and IBH, 2000 (pp.98-106)
  • • “Devarakadus (Sacred Groves) and Devarajagas (Sacred Lands) of Kodagu: Control and Management” (with M. Thanuja) In: Mountain Biodiversity, Land Use Dynamics, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge /Ramakrishnan, P.S. et.al (ed.); New Delhi: Oxford and IBH, 2000 (pp.106-119)
  • • “Sacred Groves in Karnataka” In: The Social Construction of Indian Forests / Roger Jeffery (ed.); Centre for South Asian Studies, Edinburgh and Manohar, New Delhi, 1998 (pp. 39-54)
  • • “Moorings and Mobility in an Indian Context: An Anthropological Perspective” In: Peasant Moorings: Village ties and Mobility Rationales in South India / Jean-Luc Racine (ed.); New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1997(pp.79-95)
  • • “Ancreges et mobilite dans un contexte indien: une perspective anthropologique” In: Les Attaches de L'Homme /Jean-Luc Racine (ed.); Paris: Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, 1994 (pp.61-76)
  • • “Development or Ethnocide? with particular reference to the Andaman Archipelago” In: Challenges of Development / Suryanarayan, V. and V. Sudarsen (eds.); Delhi: Konarak Publishers, 1994 (pp.91-96)
  • • “Tribal Societies and Development: Beneficiaries or Victims?” In: Relevance of Anthropology: The Indian Scenario / Halbar, B.G. and C.G.H. Khan (eds.); Jaipur: Rawat Brothers, 1990 (pp.329-339)
  • • “Introduction” (with V. Sudarsen) In: The Uprooted: Development, Displacement and Resettlement / Kalam, M.A. and V. Sudarsen (eds.); New Delhi: Gian Publishers, 1990 (pp.1-5)
  • • “Rehabilitation and Relocation: Theory and Practice” (with V. Sudarsen) In: The Uprooted: Development, Displacement and Resettlement / Kalam, M.A. and V. Sudarsen (eds.); New Delhi: Gian Publishers, 1990 (pp.155-161)
  • • “Okka of the Coorgs - Lineage or Joint Family?” In: Religion and Society in South India / Reddy, G.P. et. al., (eds.); New Delhi: B.R. Publishers, 1987 (pp.195-219)
    • Review Article
  • • “Inside Tribal Society: A Survey of Research”; review of Tribal Development in India: Problems and Prospects / Buddhadeb Chaudhry (ed.); In: State and Society, Second Quarter, 1983 (pp.91-96)
    • Book Reviews
  • • Leveling Crowds: Ethnonationalist Conflicts and Collective Violence in South Asia / Stanley J. Tambiah; In: Review of Development and Change, Vol. III (No. 2) July-December 1998 (pp.353-358)
  • • Lamani Economy and Society in Change / B.G. Halbar; In: South Asian Social Scientist, Vol. IV (No. 1), Jan. - June, 1988 (pp.71-74)
  • • From Mobilization to Institutionalization; the dynamics of agrarian movement in twentieth century Kerala / T.K. Oommen; In: South Asian Social Scientist, Vol. II (Nos. 1 & 2), Jan.- Dec., 1986 (pp.11-112)
  • • “Failed Movements”; review of Peasant movements in colonial India: North Bihar 1917 – 1942 / Stephen Henningham; In: The Indian Express Magazine, April 29, 1984
  • • Social Stratification / James Littlejohn; In: Sociological Bulletin, Vol. 23 (No. 2), September 1974 (pp.274-276)
    • Popular Articles
  • • “Some Crucial Lessons as we prepare for ‘Lockdown 3.0’ (Syndicated Column) The Free Press Journal and other Publications, Edit Page, 2 May 2020
  • • “COVID—19: Coronavirus highlights the class divide in India” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 2 April 2020
  • • “COVID—19 pandemic: Are virtual classrooms a window into the future?” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 25 March 2020
  • • “Legal Matters: Pluralism, dissent, and praise in a changing world” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 6 March 2020
  • • “Politics: Students spearheading protests – then and now” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 17 January 2020
  • • “Migration row utterly misplaced” The Asian Age / Deccan Chronicle, Edit Page, 15 December 2019
  • • “Society – BHU and IIT show a malice that runs deep in society” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 25 November 2019
  • • “From Vibrant Diversity to Crippling Uniformity” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 20 September 2019
  • • “JNU’s thoughtless action sets a nasty precedent” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 6 September 2019
  • • “Is overenthusiasm trivialising Nationalism?” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 25 June 2019
  • • “Is the State Literate about Education in India?” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 13 June 2019
  • • “Election Campaigns and Mudslinging: A Murky Business?” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 15 May 2019
  • • “Human History has been a saga of migrations” (Syndicated Column) The Free Press Journal and other Publications, Edit Page, 23 January 2019
  • • “The Sentinelese are not Culpable” (Syndicated Column) The Free Press Journal and other Publications, Edit Page, 7 December 2018
  • • “Let’s leave the Sentinelese alone, they don’t need our civilization” Opinion/MoneyControl, News18 portal, 30 November 2018
  • • “Ultra Patriotism and Intolerance have no place in Cricket” (Syndicated Column) The Free Press Journal and other Publications, Edit Page, 19 November 2018
  • • “Silence of the so-called intellectuals kills dissent” (Syndicated Column) The Free Press Journal and other Publications, Edit Page, 25 October 2018
  • • “Democracy Under Assault” (Syndicated Column) The Free Press Journal and other Publications, Edit Page, 31 August 2018
  • • “Dangerous Game: Politicisation of Education” The Asian Age / Deccan Chronicle, Edit Page, 16 May 2016
  • • “Caste factor gets huge play in Sports" in The Asian Age / Deccan Chronicle, Edit Page, 6 August 2014
  • • “Symbols of Consumption” In: The Hindu – Business Line, May 16, 1996
  • • “The Most-Wanted…” In: The Hindu – Business Line, August 17, 1995
  • • “Selling to the Rare Factor” In: The Hindu – Business Line, July 27, 1995
  • • “Islam” In: At Home, In Madras, Muthiah S. (Ed.), OWC, Madras (1995)
  • • “Other Faiths” In: At Home, In Madras, Muthiah S. (Ed.), OWC, Madras (1995)
  • • “Muddle in the Museum” (with V. Sudarsen) In: The Indian Express, May 14, 1983

Contact Details

  • E-mail id: kalam.m@srmap.edu.in
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