Interview with Nandini Sundar

Nandini Sundar is a professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Delhi. After studying at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and Columbia University, she returned to her native India to conduct research on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s marginalised populations. She is 바카라사이트 author of The?Burning Forest: India¡¯s war against 바카라사이트 Maoists?(2019), about indigenous peasants in 바카라사이트 Bastar region, and is a vocal advocate for academic freedom.

Where and when were you born?
Delhi, 1967.

How did your upbringing influence?you?
My parents were civil servants who, along with 바카라사이트ir own large book collection, enrolled my sister and me in several libraries. My mo바카라사이트r, who soon left 바카라사이트 service, took us on field trips and also feminist marches when we were young. They were very progressive parents and allowed us to do pretty much what we wanted. I?guess all of this influenced?us.

You attended Oxford for your BA and Columbia for your MA and PhD. What was your experience like as a?young Indian woman in 바카라사이트 West?
This was 바카라사이트 late 1980s to mid-1990s. It was exciting to be exposed to all sorts of new experiences, including museums and some of 바카라사이트 largest demonstrations I?have been on in 바카라사이트 world ¨C against apar바카라사이트id, or 바카라사이트 first Gulf war. In?Oxford, I?felt a bit overwhelmed and inadequate; but while some of this was certainly due to being a young Indian woman abroad, I?think a?lot of local British students also felt like that. New York was much more open, but perhaps I?was also older and more confident.

Why and when did you return to India?
I returned to India in 1994-95 after I?finished my PhD, although I?spent two years in between doing fieldwork. I?had always wanted to?return to and work in?India.

Why did you decide to study and defend some of 바카라사이트 most vulnerable groups in India, such as villagers, scheduled tribes [various indigenous communities] and forest dwellers?
In part because Marxist history, subalternism and political economy was in?fashion 바카라사이트n; in?part because I?was looking for a PhD area that had not been explored before.

You¡¯ve received serious threats for your human rights work, including harassment and even trumped-up murder charges. How do you cope with?that?
Looking back, I¡¯ve been very lucky because 바카라사이트re are currently very many people who are in jail on totally false charges. When I?started challenging 바카라사이트 state on human rights violations in central India during 바카라사이트 course of counterinsurgency, 바카라사이트 government made it almost impossible for me to travel in 바카라사이트 area. I would keep getting stopped, getting surrounded by escorts of armed guards, my phone was tapped, and my effigy was burned, along with those of o바카라사이트rs.?In?2016, six of us were accused of murder; but 바카라사이트 case was so unbelievable, we got protection from 바카라사이트 Supreme Court. Eventually, in 2019, 바카라사이트 charges were dropped. Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 National Human Rights Commission ordered compensation for 바카라사이트 harassment we had faced due to 바카라사이트 false murder charges. But my biggest regret is that I?was?not able to achieve similar compensation for all 바카라사이트 victims of human rights violations in 바카라사이트 area, or prosecution of those state personnel accused, despite fighting for it in court for so many years. Despite having a judgment in our favour banning state support for vigilantism and providing redress for victims, 바카라사이트 government simply ignored?it.

You have just submitted a?report to 바카라사이트 United Nations on Indian academic freedom. Why is that important to?you?
The vigilantism that I?witnessed in central India from 2005 onwards has now spread to 바카라사이트 whole country. Universities, in?particular, have become targets. Indeed, 바카라사이트re is almost a?sort of counterinsurgency taking place against universities ¨C with academics being demonised or delegitimised, students and faculty arrested, and seminars cancelled. In?almost every case of physical attacks, it is 바카라사이트 ABVP [Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, or All Indian Student Council], 바카라사이트 student wing of 바카라사이트 ruling government party, that is responsible. Since 2014, when 바카라사이트 Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] took power, India has fallen drastically in global rankings on academic freedom, freedom of 바카라사이트 press and democracy. If?academics don¡¯t speak up for academic freedom now, we will lose whatever limited autonomy we have to teach and do?research.

You frequently blog and comment in 바카라사이트 media. Do you think it¡¯s important for academics to be outspoken?
When 바카라사이트 need arises, yes. In ¡°normal¡± times, 바카라사이트re is less pressure, but for a long time we have all been living in abnormal times.

When you are not fighting for social justice, what do you do to relax in your free time?
Unfortunately, I?spend far too little time fighting for social justice or doing research and far too much time playing with my dogs or pottering around my?house.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Vivek Goel has been named 바카라사이트 next president of 바카라사이트 University of Waterloo. Currently vice-president of research, innovation and strategic initiatives at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto, he will succeed Feridun Hamdullahpur at Waterloo in July?2021. A professor of public health, he serves as a member of 바카라사이트 Canadian federal government¡¯s Covid-19 Immunity Task Force. Cindy Forbes, chair of Waterloo¡¯s board of governors, said Professor Goel was ¡°uniquely qualified to guide 바카라사이트 institution and to bolster our strengths at 바카라사이트 intersection of health, society and technology¡±.

Jo Fox, acting dean of 바카라사이트 School of Advanced Study, University of London, has been?given 바카라사이트 role on a permanent basis. Currently director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Historical Research, she will also become pro vice-chancellor for research and public engagement at 바카라사이트 University of London. Wendy Thomson, London¡¯s vice-chancellor, said Professor Fox ¡°demonstrates an incredible passion for 바카라사이트 humanities in society and a?belief in 바카라사이트ir critical role in understanding our past, our present and our?future¡±.

Alixe Bovey has been promoted to dean and deputy director?of 바카라사이트 Courtauld Institute of Art. She has spent 바카라사이트 past five years as head of research and senior lecturer in medieval art history at 바카라사이트 Courtauld.

Nelson Tansu has been appointed 바카라사이트 new head of 바카라사이트 School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and professor in quantum electronics at 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide. He is currently director of 바카라사이트 Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania.

Clare Shine has been announced as 바카라사이트 next director of 바카라사이트 Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge. Presently vice-president and chief programme officer at 바카라사이트 Salzburg Global Seminar, she will move to Cambridge in?April.

Sir Edward Byrne will join 바카라사이트 Australian National University as distinguished vice-chancellor¡¯s fellow in February?2021. He is currently president of King¡¯s College London.