Prof Ashwani Kumar | Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Prof Ashwani Kumar

Professor
Mumbai Campus,

Dean School of Development Studies

Qualification

Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma),
M.Phil. (University of Delhi),
M.A. (University of Delhi)

Contact

ashwani [at]tiss[dot]edu

Email: ashwanitiss@gmail.com/ashwani@tiss.edu

In a career spanning over more than three decades teaching political science, governance, development and public policy, Dr. Ashwani Kumar has the privilege of engaging with students, academicians, diplomats, parliamentarians, development professionals, multilateral agencies and governments, across countries (UK, Germany, Korea, China, South Africa, USA) and at various levels (as professor, researcher, member of central government committees, global consortiums, multilateral projects), helping build not only rich learning and scholarship, but also a diversity of perspectives with blending of literary traditions which he believes has helped him to achieve excellence in social sciences and policy action. In recognition of his academic exellence in the social sciences, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has awarded him the prestigious ‘Senior Fellowship’ (2016-18) for his research on Welfare Regimes & MGNREGA in the States of India.In his policy advisory role ,he has served as a Member of ‘Central Employment Guarantee Council’ (CEGC), Ministry of Rural Development (Govt of India) and headed a Task Force of Ministry of Rural Development on Capacity Building Reforms for MGNREGA.(Govt of India) He has authored the ‘Community Warriors: State, Peasants & Private Caste Armies in Bihar’, a seminal contribution to exploring the paradoxes of democracy and violence in India. He is recipient of the Azim Premji University Research Grant as well for his research on crime & politics in Bihar. He also regulalry curates presitgious Rajni Kothari Lecture Series & MS Gore Colloquium series @ School of Development Studies-TISS, and one of the co-curators of Chandrabhaga Poetry Festival. He is also co-editor of recently published "Migrants, Mobility and Citizenship in India ( Routeldge India 2021), a major work on electoral and citizenship rights of migrant workers in India. As a senior researcher , he has done several international and national policy related projects including " ‘Inclusive Elections and Domestic Migration’ for Election Commission of India. In addition to being a political scientist and policy researcher, he is also a widely reputed Indian poet writing in English and his book " Banaras and the Other' has been long-listed for Jayadev National Poetry Award 2017. He is co-founder of Indian Novels Collective(INC) to popularise translation of classic novels from Indian languages, and a collection of his select poems titled ‘Architecture of Alphabets’ has been published in Hungarian. He has also curated musical concert on Poems by János Arany in the performance of the Kaláka Ensemble by the Hungarian band @ Times Literature Festival & G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture, Mumbai. He has recently performed in the famous Attakkalari Dance performance by mastero Jayachandran Palazhy. As a feature five poets , he also represented India at Asia Pacific Writers Translators Conference 2019 @ Macau. And he has served as Jury for the fiction book award @ prestigious Tata Literature Live in November 2020 . Recently, he organzied an international conference on " Grassroots Governance in India" as part of centenary celeberations of Prof MS Gore, emiment sociologist & former director of TISS. He He is regularly invited by different TV channels and newspapers to discuss Indian politics.

Committed to institutional reforms in governance of welfare programs, & senior policy advior, Ashwani Kumar is proactively involved in monitoring & evaluation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in various states & districts of India. He was also a Member of Executive Committee for ‘Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology’ (CAPART), Ministry of Rural Development and participated in the governance reforms for voluntary sector in India. He has been involved with various MGNREGA related committees of central government that included member of selection committee for Ombudsman for MGNREGA, Expert Committee on empanelment of National Level Monitors, Reforms in Job Card and Expert Group on Evaluation Studies for MGNREGA at MoRD. He has also done rapid assessment of implementation of MGNREGA and gained crucial experience in coordinating with multiple stakeholders in federal governance in more than 30 districts such as Dhar & Seoni (MP), Sheohar & Gaya(Bihar), Barabanki(UP) Seoni (MP), Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon & Sarguja(Chhattisgarh), Narmada(Gujarat) Tiruvannamali(Tamil Nadu), Bagalkote & Dharwad(Karnataka), Jalpaiguri & Bankura (West-Bengal), Ernakulam (Kerala), Dhalai (Tripura), Nizamabad, Visakhapatnam, Adilabad & Vizininagaram (Andhra Pradesh), Keonjhar & Malkangiri (Odisha) etc. Based on his decade -long policy experience of state capacity in implementing welfare programs, he has published his article "Wages of politics or last-mile welfare? in the international journal " Territory, Politics & Governance" in 2021. He was a member of MGNREGA Appraisal Team of GIZ (German Ministry of Economic Development & Cooperation) and a Special Invitee for Alagh Committee on Revamping of National Institute of Rural Development (Ministry of Rural Development). He also served as a member of Working Group of Planning Commission of India on Postal Sector for formulating 12^thplan for Department of Post; (GoI). He is a member of academic council of Indian Institute of Forest management (Ministry of Environments & Forests, GoI), Somiaya Vidyavihar University(Mumbai & he also serves on the Advisory Board of BADAL- Bastar Academy of Dance & Literature- BADAL( Govt of Chhatisgarh)

He has obtained his PhD in Political Science under the guidance of Prof. Robert Cox from University of Oklahoma and is the recipient of "John Halvor Leek Memorial Scholarship" in recognition of outstanding academic performance in the graduate program at University of Oklahoma for three consecutive years. As a teaching assistant, he worked with David Boren, former Senator and President of University of Oklahoma and Edward Joseph Perkins, former US Ambassador to the United Nations. He has earlier taught at University of Delhi, University of Oklahoma and has also been a Visiting fellow at the Centre for the Study of Global Governance at London School of Economics (London), German Development Institute (Bonn), University of Sussex,(UK) Korea Development Institute (Seoul), North West University (South Africa) etc.

With Mary Kaldor and others at London School of Economics (LSE) and Dirk Messner, Director of German Development Institute, he has co-edited the prestigious LSE Year Book on ‘Global Civil Society; Poverty and Activism’ and ‘Power Shifts and Global Governance’ respectively. His co-authored article " Pathways of money: insights from the 2017 Gujarat Assembly Elections" has been published by India Review, March 2021. He has lectured widely, nationally and internationally including University of Cambridge, University of Sussex, Center for Development Research at University of Bonn, University of Luiss( Rome), University of Chulalongkorn (Bangkok), National University of Singapore among others.

He has led several major research projects that include “Online Survey & Competition among Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) Living Abroad” for Election Commission of India for Election Commission of India, ‘South Africa National Project on Human Rights Literacies’ in collaboration with North West University (South Africa); Project Director for Evaluation of Flagships Development Programs including MGNREGA in Manipur, Govt of Manipur & Govt of Sikkim in India. His international projects as project-director include, among others, ICSSR-ESRC (UK)'s partnership program for capacity building for doctoral scholars between TISS & University of Sussex. He has also been Referee for “Governance; International Journal for Policy, Public Administration and Institutions”,(US), Journal on Global Governance, Centre for the Study of Globalization and Regionalization, University of Warwick, UK, The Indian Journal of Social Work”, TISS (Mumbai) and also an examiner for doctoral research at University of Cambridge (UK).He has been on the Search and Selection Committee for the Vice-Chancellor of a State University and the selection panels of the prestigious scholarship funding programs- The Narotam Sekshsaria Foundation Program & Inlaks Foundation Program.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Ashwani Kumar is also one of the major voices of Indian poetry in English & his anthologies ‘My Grandfather’s Imaginary Typewriter’ and " Banaras and the Other' are quite well-received. His poems- translated in Indian languages and Hungarian- are noted for ‘lyrical celebration’ of garbled voices of memory and subversive ‘whimsy’ quality, have appeared in Indian and international journals and major anthologies of poetry in India & abroad. He has read his poems at major International and national festivals including Budapest Poetry Festival @ Hungary, Baltonfured Poetry Festival, Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF), Kala Ghoda Art and Litfest, Tata NCPA Litfest, Prakriti Poetry Festival @ Chennai, Times Mumbai Litfest, Poetry @ Bangla Kavita Academy, Patna Art & Literature Festival, La Sutra Poetry Festival (Mumbai), Odisha Art and Literature Festival, Kadambari Poetry Festival(Bhubaneswar), Chandrabhaga Poetry Festival @ Konark, Mumbai International Poetry Festival, Women Writers Fest(Delhi & Mumbai), IndiaPEN Poetry Reading @ Prithvi, Abhivakyati of Sahitya Academy of India, among others. As a columnist, his articles and reviews appear regularly in Outlook India, The Hindu, Financial Express, The Print, Business Standard, Times of India, Indian Express, DNA, Open Democracy, Prabhat Khabar among others.

Areas of Research

Public Policy & Governance
Elections & Electoral Management
State & Democracy in Comparative context
Violence, Insurgency & Conflict Resolution
Migrants, Mobility & Citizenship
Interpreting Justice & Welfare
Civil Society & Social Movements
Global Governance & International Development
Research Methods in Social Sciences

Research Work in Progress

Researching for a monograph length Study on “Public or Private Leviathan? The Politics of Crime Reduction & Infrastructure Development in Contemporary Bihar.”
Researching for a monograph length Study on “ Is India a case of Ordered or Fragmented Welfare State? The case of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
Working on a book -length study of " Bihari: Return of the Native "- a literary & cultural study

Visiting Fellow/Professor for Research and Teaching

Visiting Professor at North West University(South Africa)
Visiting Fellow at German Development Institute (DIE), Bonn
Visiting Fellow at Centre for Global Governance, London School of Economics ( UK)
Visiting Professor for G20-Global Leadership Forum at Korean Development Institute(KDI), School of Public Policy & Management, Seoul (South Korea)
Visiting Professor, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences(Kolkatta)
Visiting Professor, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex(UK) as part of ICSSR–ESRC(UK)’s PhD Partnering Scheme between School of Development Studies at TISS & School of Global Studies at Sussex University, 2012-15

Academic Awards and Honours

Awarded "John Halvor Leek Memorial Scholarship" in recognition of outstandingacademic performance in the graduate program at the Department of Political
Science, University of Oklahoma for three consecutive years1998, 1999 and 2000.
Awarded Robberson Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant for Field Work in India,University of Oklahoma, 2002.
Awarded Robberson Conference Presentation Travel Grant, University of Oklahoma,2002.
Awarded Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Scholarship for Fall 2001- Spring2002,
University of Oklahoma to support field work in India
Awarded Graduate Student Senate Conference Presentation Travel Grant, University of Oklahoma, 1998.
Awarded Junior/ Senior Research Fellowship by University Grants Commission of India after qualifying in the National Educational Test in 1986.

Advisor, Consultancy & Journal Referee

Member, Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC 2009-11), Ministry of Rural
Development (Govt. of India
Distinguished Member of Research Evaluation Committee of India International Institute
of Democracy and Election Management, Election Commission of India
Chairman, Working Group on Capacity Building Reforms (2009-10) for MGNREGA
(Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), Ministry of Rural
Development ( Govt. of India)
Member, Executive Committee, Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural
Technology (CAPART) from 2009 to 2014, Ministry of Rural Development (Govt. of India)
Member, Academic Council, Indian Institute of Forest Management,(Ministry of
Environments & Forests, GoI), 2013 onwards
Member, Academic Council of TISS 2017 onwards
Member, Mission Appraisal Team for MGNREGA for GIZ( German Minister for Economic
Cooperation and Development), 2012
Member, Working Group of Planning Commission of India on Postal Sector for
formulating 12 plan for (Dept of Post, GoI)
Member, Sub-Group for Postal Sector for Rural Business, Postal Network and New
services for 12th Plan for Planning Commission of India(Dept of Post, GoI)
Special Invitee for Alagh Committee on Revamping of National Institute of Rural
Development (Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. 0f India)
Member, Expert Committee for Empanelment of National Level Monitors (NLMs),
MoRD, 2011
Member Expert Group on Evaluation Studies for MGNREGA (MoRD), 2011
Member, Coordination Committee for Working Groups on MGNREGA, MoRD
Member, Expert Committee for Selection of Award for Excellence in MGNREGA
Administration (MoRD)
Member, Subgroup on Innovative Methodologies for MGNREGA (MoRD)
Member, Selection Committee for Ombudsman ( MoRD)
Member, Expert Group on Job Card for MGNREGA (MoRD)
Member, Grievance Redressal Committee, CAPART( MoRD)
Member, Sub-Group on Reforms for Social Mobilization, CAPART
Research Co-ordinator from TISS for South Africa- Netherlands Research Program- (SANPAD) on Xenophobia, Migration, Conflict, and Rural Development & Cities.
Research & Policy Consultant for GIZ( German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development)
Research Advisor for Public Integrity Education Network, (PIEN) UK.
Referee for “Governance; International Journal for Policy, Public Administration and Institutions”,(US)
Referee for Journal on Global Governance, Centre for the Study of Globalization and Regionalization, University of Warwick, UK.
Academic Referee for “The Indian Journal of Social Work”, TISS (Mumbai)
Academic Referee for Oxford University Press(OUP)
Doctoral Examiner for University of Cambridge(UK)
Worked as Resource Person for Action Aid (South Asia)’s proposal to create a "South Asia Institute of Development" 2009-10.
Spring 2003 Worked on the Academic staff of former Senator David Boren, (President, University of Oklahoma), Oklahoma, USA.
Fall 1997 Worked on the Academic Staff of Edward Perkins, (former U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations), currently Executive Director of the International Program Centre, University of Oklahoma.

Lectures/ Seminars/Paper Presentations

‘The Fragile Earth; Rethinking Homosapien, Turtles and Forests’, Foundation Day lecture for Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, ( Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change) February, 6, 2021.
‘Methods & Approaches for Monitoring & Evaluation’, CMR University, School of Legal Studies, Bengaluru February, 6, 2021.
‘Migrants & Mobility: A Citizenship Perspective’, Carmel College, Bengaluru, January 30, 2020.
‘Studying Last Mile Welfare in the Districts of India’, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru January 29, 2020
Voting Facilities for Migrant Workers,’ Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), January 21, 2021
‘Contemporary Trends of English Poetry,’ Mata Jija Bai Government Girls PG College, Indore, January 7, 2021
‘Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the Constitution and the Youth’, Government Dunger College, Bikaner, December 6, 2020
‘MGNREGA as Humanitarian Response: Policy Insights,’ MP Institute of Social Science Research & UNICEF, Ujjain, December 4, 2020
Significance of Bihar Elections in Contemporary Politics'. School of Public Policy & Governance, TISS Hyderabad, November 12, 2020
Bihar 2020 Elections, Center for Policy Research New Delhi, October 29, 2020
Understanding Covid 19 Response Dynamics :Impact on the Sharing Economy’, Policy Monks, New Delhi July 31, 2020
‘Surveillance and the Protection of Privacy in the Midst of Pandemic,’ Afro-Asian Association for Justice Development, July 9, 2020.
Buddha’s Fire Sermon ; Monuments, Memories & Spiritual Politics’ in the International Conference on Bodh Gaya Global Dialogues at Bodhgaya by Deshkal Society in partnership with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), 9-12 March 2018.
Whistling in the Woods: Corruption in the Age of Kaliyuga in the International Conference at GREQAM, AIX MARSEILLE UNIVERSITY,(France) on ‘Corruption, Whistle blowing and Democracy’ 9-10 November ,2017.
Presented a Paper ‘Public or Private Leviathan? The Politics of Crime Reduction and Infrastructure Development in Contemporary Bihar’ at the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) Silver Jubilee International Conference on Bihar and Jharkhand, Patna, March 24-28, 2017.
Delivered The Keynote Address “Globalization & Xenophobia: A Short Essay on Literary Anthropology” at the Conference on Globalization, Culture & Identity: Challenges & Prospects’, Flame University, Pune, and February 25, 2017.
Presented a paper ‘Wage of Politics or Last Mile Welfare? The Case of Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act(MNREGA) ‘at the Leverhulme International Workshop on Continuity and Change in Indian Federalism’ held at University of Delhi, Delhi, 11-13 January,2017.

Presented a paper on “Last -Mile Bureaucracy & Welfare: A Case Study of Implementation of MGNREGA in Jamtara District of Jharkhand” for Institute for Human Development’s international conference on “Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Jharkhand: Opportunities and Challenges”, Ranchi,28-31 July, 2016.
Read parts of book “My Grandfather’s Imaginary Typewriter” at a literary event organized by Department of Culture, Education and Tourism, Baltonfured, Hungary, 20 May,2016.
Delivered a Special lecture on “Idea of Democracy in India-A Paradox or Unlikely Success? at School of Education , North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, 21 April,2016.
Presented a paper on “Poor, Human Rights and Civil Society” at University of Witwatersrand for SIG group on Human rights Literacy ,Johannesburg, South Africa, 20 April, 2016.
Presented a paper in the workshop on “Decolonizing Knowledge Systems” at School of Social & Government Study , North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa,19 April, 2016.
Presented a paper on “Democracy and Development:A Regime Analysis” at BITS Goa Economics Analysis, 12-13 March,2016.
Delivered a talk on “What Exile? Why Exile? An Informal Reflection on Poetry” at
HETEROTOPIA: TISS Literature Festival, 20 February 2016.
Delivered lectuer on “Social Science Research Methodologies for Legal
Research” at West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
(Kolkatta) 29-30 January 2016
Delivered a professorial lectuer on “Accountability & Transparency in Functioning of
Public Institutions” for Class of LL.M. in Access to Justice at Tata Institute of Social
Sciences(Mumbai), 11 August 2015.
• Delivered a lecture on “ Idea of India; Whose Text is it Anyway?” at the induction
program for Development Studies at Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India,
Ahmadabad, 1 July 2015
Delivered Visiting Professorial lecture on “Ghôre Baire(the Home and the World):Migrants and Inclusive elections in India” at Asia Research Center, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom,8 December, 2015.
Presented a paper on “MGNREGA: A Pan-India analysis of regimes, civil society trajectories and performance” at Leverhulme International Network Workshop on Continuity and Change in Indian Federalism at University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad,10 April, 2015.
Presented a paper on “Karmic Destiny of Prasanta Chandra Mahalnobis & Genealogical roots of Biometrika: A Postscript on the fluctuating fortunes of Bengal Renaissance” at the National Seminar on “Tradition, Law and Social Transformation” at WB National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, 13 March ,2015.
Key note lecture on “Methodology Matters: A Conversation about Blurred Boundaries
in Social Science Research” at Centre for Research, Innovation and Training (CRIT), IIS
University, Jaipur , 14 February 2015.
Visiting Professor’s Lecture series for LLM & PhD students on Research Methods at WB
National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, 23 January 2015
Speaker in the Panel on ‘Search Engine/Aggregator: Friend or foe? at 8th South Asia
Annual Conference of INMA(International News Media Association), New Delhi, 13
November 2014.
Expert Speaker at ‘Write-Workshop’ organized by RGAVP(Rajasthan Gramin Aajeevika
Vikas Parishad) Department of Rural Development, Govt of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 6-8
November 2014
Expert Speaker in the workshop on "Recruitment policy for Young Professionals in
RGAVP (Rajasthan Gramin Aajeevika Vikas Parishad) Department of Rural Development,
Govt of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 30 september-1 October 2014
Expert Speaker in interactive workshop on policy framework for Young Professionals &
Public-Private Partnership in Rural Development, Rajasthan Gramin Aajeevika Vikas
Parishad, Department of Rural Development, Govt of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 12-13 August
2014
Lead Speaker in the workshop on designing policy framework for Young
Professionals in NRLM, Rajasthan Gramin Aajeevika Vikas Parishad, Department of
Rural Development, Govt of Rajasthan, Jaipur, July 9 -10, 2014
Presented a paper on “Is India a case of Ordered or Fragmented Welfare State? Exploration of Welfare Regimes & Democratic Paradox” at theConference on South Asian Development(CSAD) at National University of Singapore, Singapore, 21-22 July, 2014.
Delivered a lecture on, ‘Food Security & Développent; A Policy Agenda for Global Leadership ‘, at Korean Development Institute(KDI), Seoul,9-14 March,2014.
Delivered a Key note lecture on “ Exploration of Theory and Practice of Welfare
State ” at Rajasthan Institute of Public Administration,(RIPA), Govt of Rajasthan, Jaipur
(Rajasthan), 11 April 2014
Delivered a lecture on, ‘Food Security & Développent; A Policy Agenda for Global
Leadership ‘, at. Korean Development Institute(KDI), 9th March to 14th March, 2014
Delivered a talk at Workshop on “Building Effective Institutions for Empowering
the Poor - A Guide to Human Resource Strategies for Decision Makers, SRIJAN, at Ford
Foundation India, New Delhi, 4 Feb 2014
Delivered a lecture as Observer for Indian Council of Social Sciences(ICSSR) on
“Ethnography, Field work and Research Methodologies for MGNREGA” at Mohan Lal
Sukhadia University, Udaipur (Rajasthan), Jan 17 -18 Jan 2014
Delivered a lecture on ‘Prospects of Collaborations among Universities in South
Asia’ in the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of South Asia on ‘“Challenges of Nurturing
Collaboration and Exchange Programs in Social Sciences in South Asia’ organized by
Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur (Rajasthan” 16& 17 October, 2013.
Delivered a lecture on “Frontiers of Research in Social Sciences” National
University of Juridical Science, Kolkata, 29th November, 2013
Delivered a paper on “ Parliament & Rights-based Development; A Theoretical
Antinomy”, at National Workshop on ‘Rural Development – Opportunities &
Challenges’ on 6 September 2013 at Shrinathji Institute of Biotechnology &
management, Nathdwara(Rajasthan)
Delivered a talk on Management of Land Acquisition, Resettlement, and Rehabilitation (MLARR) in South Asia at the Course Review Workshop by the World Bank, Colombo,Sri Lanka 13-14 July, 2013.
Delivered Professorial Lecture on “ Who is Afraid of Corruption?; A Political Paradox
in the Age of Kaliyuga in India”, 8 February 2013 at the Tata Institute of Social
Sciences (Mumbai)
Delivered lecture on “ The Progress on Global Food Security”, 6 November 2012
at KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Seoul (South Korea)
Delivered a lecture on “Global Poverty Reduction”, 7 November, at KDI School of
Public Policy & Management, Seoul ( South Korea)
Presented a paper titled “Divergent Paths of Growth and Welfare in Bihar & Gujarat; A Comparative State Politics Perspective” in the workshop on Regional Dynamics, Economic Growth and Welfare in India during the First Decade of 21st Century, organized by Center for Research and Debates in Development Policy (CRDDP), New Delhi and the US-India Policy Institute, New Delhi,16 September,2013.
Delivered a talk on Grassroots Livelihoods Internship for NRLM on 16 August 2012
at Xavier Institute of Management( Bhubaneswar)
Delivered a Paper on “State, Democracy and Politics of Redistribution: The Case of
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act” at workshop on
Workshop at University of Sussex, 28th June 2012.
Delivered a public lecture on “Fasting and Feasting: Democracy, Poor and Realization of Justice in India", Department of Geography, Cambridge University, Cambridge, U.K., 26 June,2012.
Delivered a lecture on “Global Governance & Innovations”, South Arica-Netherlands Academic Partnership Program,(SANPAD) Durban, South Africa, 20-23 May,2012.
Delivered a lecture on “ Social Mobilization and Institutions of Poor for SPIP for
NRLM at YASHDA, 7-8 May 2012 , MSRLM (Government of Maharashtra)
Invited Expert Speaker on International Seminar on “ Rural Development;
Retrospect & Prospects” organized by Afro-Asian Rural Development
Organization(AARDO) and MoRD 5-7 March 2012
Chaired a panel on “ Development Communication” at International Conference on
Science Communication for Scientific Temper”, organized by at 11 January 2012, New
Delhi,
Expert Group Meeting on Research Proposals for Evaluation of MGNREGA at NIRD (
Hyderabad) on 10 October 2011
Expert Group Meeting on Research Proposals for Evaluation of MGNREGA at MoRD (
New Delhi) on 8 August, 2011
Discussant in the National Workshop on “Appropriate Development Strategies for
effective implementation of Rural Development Schemes in IAP districts" Organized
by MoRD & Planning Commission at Vigyan Bhawan, 13 Sept.2011, New Delhi.
Chaired the panel discussion & lectured on “ Introducing Cosmopolitanism” at
International workshop on “Cosmopolitanism’ at TISS, 9 Sept 2011.
Delivered lecture at a seminar for District Officials on the implementation of Social
Sector programs, Govt of Manipur, 9-10 June 2011.
Presented a paper on “Comparative Social Welfare Policy Lessons from Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)” at German
Development Institute, Bonn, and 20 May 2011.
Presented a paper on “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural employment Guarantee
Act (MGNREGA); From Wage Employment to Water Security” at Centre for
Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany, 19 May 2011.
Lead Discussant at National roundtable on Rural Entrepreneurship Program” for
IndiaPost (GoI) at India Islamic Centre, New Delhi 13April 2011.
Presented a Paper on “State, Poverty and Democracy in India: Multiplier Effects of
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)” at
International Conference on Rural Development by South Africa Netherlands
Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD) Beijing , 28 February,
2011.
Presented a paper on “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): From Wage Employment to Water Security” at Centre for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany, 19 May 2011.
Presented a paper on “MGNREGA and Creation of Economic Opportunities for
Poor at International Conference on Combating Poverty in a Market Driven World by
Fair Trade and TISS, Mumbai 7 February 2011.
Presented a paper on “Discourses and Critical Assessment of NREGA” at the ICDDTISS
International workshop on “Development Trajectories: India and South Africa”
held at TISS, 4 December 2010 at TISS.
Presented a Draft curriculum on Rural Development & Grassroots Governance at
National Workshop on “Lab to Land” program of MoRD from 29-30 October at NIRD,
Hyderabad.
Discussant at the National Workshop of Professional Institutional Network for
MGNREGA by MoRD in Udaipur, 20 October, 2010.
Presented a Technical Paper on “Integrated & Inclusive Research Methodologies;
A Pro-poor Agenda ”(NCAER, Delhi) 20 September, 2010
Discussant in a national workshop on “Innovative Methodologies for MGNREGA”
(NCAER, Delhi) 23 July 2010.
Presented a report of the working group on the Capacity Building for MGNREGA
at NIRD, Hyderabad, 12-14 July 2010.
Discussant in a workshop on “Innovative Methodologies for MGNREGA” at NIRD
(Hyderabad) 21 June 2010.
Chaired & led the discussion at the workshop on MGNREGA in Northeast, NIRD,
Guwahati, 27 May, 2010.
Lead Speaker in a training session on MGNREGA at Kerala Institute of Local
Administration at Trichur(Kerala) 17 May 2010
Chaired& led the discussion at the Workshop on ‘Making MGNREGA Robust; Asset
Management System’, NIRD (Hyderabad) 14 May, 2010
Chaired and led the discussion at the National Consultation on the performance of
MGNREGA in Bihar at AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies (Patna) 5 May2010.
Discussant in a workshop on the prelaunch of ‘National Rural Livelihood Mission’
(MoRD) at NIRD (Hyderabad) 28-30 April, 2010
Discussant in a workshop on “Making MGNREGA Robust’ by Planning Commission
(New Delhi) 10 April2010.
Chaired the workshop on MGNREGA in Ladakh at Institute of Social Science (New
Delhi) by TISS-Leh District Administration, 27 February, 2010.
Jury at Public Hearing on NREGA, Bhubaneswar by Right to Food Collective
(Odisha) 2 Feburary2010.
Discussant at National Consultation on Index of Backwardness (BRGF), Vigyan
Bhawan (Delhi) by MoPR, 13 January 2010.
Discussant on “Workshop on 'Social Accountability in India: Moving from
Mechanisms to Outcomes and Institutionalization in Large Scale Public Programs”
‘organised jointly by CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research & Training
(CUTSCART) and the World Bank, Dec 16-17, 2009.
Discussant at National Convention of Panchayati Raj Representatives” at Vigyan
Bhawan (Delhi) by MoPR, 2 October 2009.
Presented a paper on “Action Research and NREGA” at the National Consultation on
Action Research and Awareness Building for Convergence of RD Programmes(NIRD,
Hyderabad, 31 August2009)
Discussant at NREGA Public Consultation Workshop at Vigyan Bhawan (Delhi) by
MoRD, 20 August 2009.
Discussant at NREGA Public Consultation Workshop at PUSA Institute by MoRD, 17
August 2009.
Discussant at NREGA Public Consultation Workshop at Vigyan Bhawan (Delhi) by
MoRD, 16 July 2009.
Central Observer & Visited NREGA worksites and attended “ Rojgar Mela” organized
jointly by the Government of Rajasthan and MKKS at the invitation of Ministry of Rural
Development ( GoI) June 2009.
Presented a paper on “Experiencing ‘New Violence’ and Living with Reconciliation: In Pursuit of a Hybrid Theory of Justice” at Global Justice: Local Justifications, University of Luiss, Rome, 4-5 December,2009.
Presented the theme paper on "Global Civil Society" at LSE-TISS workshop on Global Civil Society and Poverty,, Mumbai,2-4 May, 2008.
Presented a paper on "Emergent forms of Global Civil Society" at the International workshop organized by German Development Institute, Bonn, Germany,12-14 April, 2008.
Presented a paper on "Social Audit in India" at the International Workshop on Anti-Corruption Reforms Outside the State organized by U4 Anti-corruption Resource Centre (Norway) and TIRI (UK), Dhaka, Bangladesh,12 March,2008.
A public lecture on “India’s “9/11” and Globalization of Terror” at LSE (London) 9
December 2008.
Presented a Public lecture on ‘Dr. Ambedkar’ in Jaipur, 12 April 2008.
Presented a paper titled “Epistemic Violence and Politics of Social Exclusion in Social
Sciences in India”, in the seminar on "Interrogating Caste, Social Exclusion and Social
Justice, TISS, Mumbai 21-22 October 2008.
Presented the theme paper on "Global Civil Society" at LSE-TISS workshop on
Global Civil Society and Poverty, Mumbai, May 2-4, 2008.
Presented a paper on "Emergent forms of Global Civil Society" at the International
workshop organized jointly by German Development Institute, Bonn (Germany) April
12-14 2008.
Discussant &Resource Person at the Centre for Global Governance at London
School of Economics (LSE), on LSE Yearbook on Global Civil Society, December12-18,
2007.
Presented a paper/seminar on "Revolution, Revolutionaries and Politics in Bihar"
at the Centre for Global Governance (LSE), December 11, 2007.
• Discussant at the 4th International Conference on "Federalism: Unity in Diversity",
organized by Inter-State Council, Government of India. 5-7 November, 2007, New
Delhi.
Presented a paper on "Politics of Forgiveness: Reflection on Evil and Reconciliation", at Annual Meeting of All India Political Science Association, Jaipur, 27-29 DecemberDecember, 2006.
Presented a paper on “Rethinking Social Capital, Caste Violence and Dalit Politics in India" at the International Conference on Culture Matters: Understanding Development from the Perspective of Marginalized Communities" Organized by Deshkal Society, New Delhi-,13-15 October 2006.
Presented a paper on "Community Warriors, Subalterns and State Power in India: Analysis of Ranvir Sena, a Private Caste Army in Bihar" at the 31st Annual Conference on South Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, October 2002.

Books.

Kumar, Ashwani & Ram B. Bhagat. Migrants, Mobility and Citizenship in India. Routledge 2021
Kumar, Ashwani. Banaras and the Other.Paper Wall Media & Publishing Pvt. Limited, 2017.
Kumar, Ashwani. My Grandfather’s Imaginary Typewriter. Kozhikode: Yeti Books, 2014
Kumar, Ashwani & Dirk Messner. Power Shifts and Global Governance Challenges: Perspectives from North and South, London: Anthem Press, 2010.
Kumar, Ashwani, Mary Kaldor et al., Global Civil Society: Poverty and Activism. London:Sage International,2009.
Kumar, Ashwani. Community Warriors: State, Peasants and the Private Caste Armies in Bihar. London/Delhi: Anthem Press, 2008.

Government Reports on Policy and Governance

Chapter on academic restructuring for Alagh Committee on Revamping of National Institute of Rural Development in 2013 (Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India).
Report of the Working Group on Capacity Building for MGNREGA for MoRD( (2010).
Monitoring Report for CEGC on the performance of MGNREGA in Odisha (Keonjhar District) for MoRD in 2010.
Monitoring Report for CEGC on the performance of MGNREGA in MP (Dhar District) for MoRD in 2009.
Investigation of Micro-Finance related Suicide Cases in AP (Submitted to MoRD-NIRD) in 2010
Working Paper on “Innovations in methodologies for Evaluation Studies on MGNREGA” in 2012(Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India).
Prepared draft policy note for National Internship Policy for National Rural Livelihoods Mission in 2013 (Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India).

District Appraisals/ Monitoring for MGNREGA Implementation for MoRD( Government of India)

.Burdwan & Nadia, 2014-15; Bankura, 2013-14; Darjeeling
Jalpaiguri 2011-12 in West Bengal
Rudraprayag, 2014-15 ; Pithoragarh, 2011-12 in Uttaranchal
Adilabad, 2013-14; Visakhapatnam, 2012-13; Nizamabad & Vizininagaram, 2011-12 in Andhra Pradesh.
Gaya, 2013-14; Sheohar, 2012-13 in Bihar
Amravati- Melghat , 2011-12 in Maharashtra
Rajnandgaon, 2013-14; Sarguja & Dhamtari 2011-12 in Chhattisgarh
Keonjhar & Malkangiri 2011-12 in Odisha
Jamtara & Deoghar 2013-14 in Jharkhand
Dhalai, 2011-12 in Tripura
Narmada, 2011-12 in Gujarat
Churu, 2013-14; Barmer & Nagaur 2010-11 in Rajasthan
Dhar & Seoni 2010-11 in Madhya Pradesh
Barabanki, 2013-14 in Uttar Pradesh
Ernakulam, 2010-11 in Kerala
Kamrup District, 2010-11 in Assam
East Rivohi District 2010-11 in Meghalaya
Tiruvannamali District 2010-11 in Tamil Nadu
Bagalkote & Dharwad Districts 2010-11 in Karnataka
North Sikkim 2010-11 in Sikkim

Book Chapters/Articles

Kumar, Ashwani (with Shashwat Dhar) Internal Migrants and Inclusive Elections in India’ in Sumit Ganguly & S. Sridharan (eds.) Oxford Handbook on Politics in India, Oxford University Press(forthcoming 2022).
Kumar, Ashwani, & Mr. Ravindra Chowdhary, MGNREGA- A Humanitarian Policy
Response during Covid-19, Vol3 | Issue 2| August 2021, CMR University Journal for Contemporary Legal Affairs, Bengaluru (India)
Kumar Ashwani , Wages of politics or Llast-mile welfare? The case of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Territory, Politics & Governance (UK) June 2021
Ashwani Kumar, Souradeep Banerjee & Shashwat Dhar, ‘Pathways of money: insights from the 2017 Gujarat assembly elections,’ India Review, Vol 19, Issue 5, March 2021.
Ashwani Kumar, ‘Autopsychography of Mohandas, The Beacon Journal, January 30, 2021
Kumar, Ashwani (with Shashwat Dhar) Migration, Politics and Ethnicty: Revisiting Myron Weiner’ in Ashwani Kumar & Ram B. Bhagat (eds.) Migrants, Mobility and Citizenship Routledge 2021
Nitin Dhaktode & Ashwani Kumar, ‘Social Accountability in MGNREGA: Institutionalized Social Audit in United Andhra Pradesh’, International Journal of Governance and Public Policy Analysis, Sri Lanka, Volume 02, Issue 01, December, 2020.
Ashwani Kumar, ‘Coins of Amrita: An Afterword’, The Beacon Journal, August 6, 2020.
Ashwani Kumar, ‘Cholera Conversation at Fulton Canteen’, The Beacon Journal, June 19, 2020.
Kumar. Ashwani (with Souradeep Banerjee) Violence and Ethnic Conflict in India: A Human Rights Perspective , in Human Rights Literacies, edited by Cornelia Roux and Anne Becker, Springer 2019.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Migration; Birds without ID”. International Gallerie, Issue38 (Vol. 19- No 1) 2016.
Kumar, Ashwani. Translations of excerpts from “My Grandfather’s Imaginary Typewriter’ in Hungarian Journal Tempevolgy, May-June 2016.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Contemporary Practices of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme; Insights from Districts’, ed. KB Saxena, New Delhi: Sage India, 2015.
Kumar, Ashwani. “The Modern Indian City: Adventures into a strange kind of living Graveyards”. Indian literature, Vol. January-February 2014 , New Delhi: Sahitya Akademy.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Hinduism related Movements in India”in Encyclopedia of Global Studies ed. Mark Juergensmeyer&Helmut, London: International Sage,March 2012.
Kumar, Ashwani. “The Question of Poor.” The Third Sector, ed. Rupert Taylor, Sector, New York: Springer,2010.
Kumar, Ashwani. “G20 and Global Governance: A New Deal for the global poor.” G20 and Global Development, ed. Thomas Fuss, DIE:
Kumar, Ashwani. “Global Civil Society: Emergent forms of Cosmopolitan Democracy and Justice” in Power Shifts and Global Governance, ed. Ashwani Kumar& Dirk Messner, London: Anthem Press,2010.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Introduction: Power Shifts, Global Governance and Cosmopolitan Democracy” in Power Shifts and Global Governance, ed. Ashwani Kumar& Dirk Messner, London: Anthem Press,2010.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Introduction to the Global Civil Society 2009” in The Global Civil Society Yearbook, ed. Ashwani Kumar, Mary Kaldor & Haken Seckinelgin, 2009; Poverty and Activism, London: Sage,2009.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Global Civil Society and Poor”, Open Democracy, (UK), April 2009.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Globalization of Terror; Mumbai Violence”, Open Democracy (UK) January, 2009.
Kumar, Ashwani . “Hind Swaraj: An Apocalyptic Search for a Politics of Future", in Celebrating Satyagraha, ed. BS Bibhuti ,179-204 , New Delhi: Academic Excellence,
Kumar, Ashwani. “Exiled Between Home and Memory", Seminar, No 580, December 2007.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Corruption and Development: Dilemmas of Democracy in India”, in a book in Hindi titled “Rajniti Me Anya Peshe Se Aanewale Ki Bhumika”, by the Department of Political Science, Government College, Kota, (Rajasthan), 2007.
Kumar, Ashwani. “MacIntyre's After Virtue: Political and Policy Implications”, Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol LXVII No. 4 , Oct-December 2006.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Nanawati Commission: Explorations of Evil and Forgiveness", Journal of Human Rights Global Focus, Kerala (India) April-May 2006.
Kumar, Ashwani. “The Principles of Organization in Kautilya's Arthashastra", Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. LXVI, No.3, July-September, 2005
Kumar, Ashwani. “The Politics of 91 Constitution Amendment", Mainstream, Vol. XLII NO 9, February 19, 2005.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Presidential Character of George Bush: Lessons for Indian Democracy", Mainstream, Vol. XLII, No 30, July 17, 2004.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Indian Voters No Irrational Fools", Mainstream, Vol. XLII No 25, June 12, New Delhi,2004.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Reflections on Gandhi, Traditions, and Modernity: An Analysis of Gandhi's Emancipatory Discourse on Bihar Earthquake of 1934.” In Special Volume on India at 50, ed. Subrata Mukherjee and Sushila Ramaswamy, Political Science Annual, University of Delhi, Delhi,1997.

Book Reviews

Kumar, Ashwani, A writer’s diary | Book review: ‘The Blue Book’ by Amitava Kumar, 6 March 2022
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/a-writers-diary-book-review-the-blue-book-by-amitava-kumar/2451741/
Kumar, Ashwani, Ghare Baire’ | Book Review – Home in the World: A Memoir by Amartya Sen, 1 August 2021
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/ghare-baire-book-review-home-in-the-world-a-memoir-by-amartya-sen/2301542/
Kumar, Ashwani, Resurgent Asia: The story of the Asian economic miracle, 29 Dec 2019
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/resurgent-asia-the-story-of-the-asian-economic-miracle/1806447/
Kumar, Ashwani, A poet’s life: The life and works of Jayanta Mahapatra, 30 April, 2019
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/a-poets-life-the-life-and-works-of-jayanta-mahapatra/1561216/
Kumar Ashwani, Identity politics at the root of most global problems today: Francis Fukuyama, 30 December 2018
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/identity-politics-at-the-root-of-most-global-problems-today-francis-fukuyama/1428508/
Kumar Ashwani, ‘Costs of Democracy: Political Finance in India’ is how corrosive power of political finance works in Indian elections, 19 August 2018
Kumar , Ashwani, Ashis Nandy: A Life in Dissent, 13 May, 2018
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/book-review-ashis-nandy-a-life-in-dissent/1165106/
Kumar, Ashwani, Why I am a Hindu by Shashi Tharoor, The Financial Express, 11 March, 2018.
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/book-review-shashi-tharoors-why-i-am-a-hindu-is-an-emphatic-denunciation-of-hindutva/1094131/
Kumar, Ashwani, Book Review: Michiko Kakutani’s The Death of Truth, 14 October 2018
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/book-review-michiko-kakutanis-the-death-of-truth/1348239/
Kumar Ashwani, Upcountry Tales: Once Upon a time in the heart of India by Mark Tully', 14 January, 2018.
http://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/book-review-of-upcountry-tales-once-upon-a-time-in-the-heart-of-india-by-mark-tully/1013992/
Kumar Ashwani, 'When the moon shines by day', The Financial Express, 29 October 2017.
http://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/this-book-by-nayantara-sahgal-is-most-compelling-and-remorseless-satire-on-growing-dangers-of-neo-fascists-forces/910543/
Kumar Ashwani, The Crisis Within: GN Devy, The Financial Express, 20 August2017.
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/gn-devy-in-his-new-book-the-crisis-within-warns-of-the-crisis-in-education-in-india/815919/
Kumar, Ashwani. "The Broken Ladder: The Paradox and Potential of India's One Billion", The Financial Express, 21 May, 2017.
http://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/anirudh-krishnas-the-broken-ladder-the-paradox-and-the- potential-of-indias-one-billion-a-poignant-narrative-of-the-extremes-in-india/678188

Kumar, Ashwani. "Age of Anger; A History of the Present by Pankaj Mishra", The Financial Express, 12 March, 2017.
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/age-of-anger-a-history-of-the-present-by-pankaj-mishra-book-review/585264/.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Voice of the People. ”, DNA, 19 July ,2016.
http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-voice-of-the-people-2235807
Kumar, Ashwani. “The New Stranger.” Financial Express, 24 April, 2016.
http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/jobs/words-worth-the-new-stranger-amophobia-and-the-rise-of-right-wing-populists-in-europe/242069/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Charity Paradox.” Financial Express, 20 June, 2015.
http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/jobs/looking-away-book-review-charitys-paradox/87903/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Striving On” Financial Express, 30 August, 2015.
http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/jobs/striving-on/127486/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Political Order and Political Decay”. Financial Express, 7 February 2015.
http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/jobs/political-order-and-political-decay-book-review-getting-to-denmark/40245/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Tipping Point.”Financial Express, 19 October 2014.
http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/the-tipping-point/1299689/
Kumar, Ashwani. “A Scarred Nation.” Financial Express, 21 September 2014
http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/a-scarred-nation/1291145/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Political Pamphlet.”Financial Express, 11 May 2014.
http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/political-pamphlet/1249455/
Kumar, Ashwani. “The Lone Ranger.” Financial Express, 20 April 2014.
http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/the-lone-ranger/1242167/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Beauty & the Beast.”Financial Express, 30 March 2014.
http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/beauty-the-beast/1236819/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Unlikely Success.”Financial Express ,24 Feb 2014.
http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/unlikely-success/1228527/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Howard G Buffett's Food Security Acts.”Business Standard, 11 Dec 2013.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/howard-g-buffett-s-food-security-acts-113121101084_1.html.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Development research Pop.” Financial Express, 1 Sep 2013.
http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/development-research-pop/1162798/
Kumar, Ashwani. “Competing to empower the poor.”Business Standard, 15 Aug 2013.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/competing-to-empower-the-poor-113081500919_1.html
Kumar, Ashwani. “Governance for New Century: Japanese Challenges, American Experience”, ed. Thomas E. Mann and Sasaki Takeshi ,American Political Science Association Legislative Studies Section Newsletter, 30., No. 1., January 2003.
Kumar, Ashwani. “Executive Decree Authority.”ed. John M. Carey and Matthew Soberg Shugart, American Political Science Association Legislative Studies Section Newsletter, Vol.22, No.1, January 1999.

Articles in Print Media English

Kumar, Ashwani. “Has Bihar been betrayed?” Business Standard, 2 Oct 2013.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/ashwani-kumar-has-bihar-been-betrayed-113100200953_1.html
Kumar, Ashwani. “Is Cash transfer a Congress Calling Card?” Business Standard, 2 Jan 2013.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/ashwani-kumar-is-cash-transfer-a-congress-calling-card-113010200040_1.html
Kumar, Ashwani. “No gentlemen in this army.” The Hindu, 6 June 2012.
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/no-gentlemen-in-this-army/article3494007.ece
Kumar,Ashwani. “Should food be distributed via MGNREGS? Business Standard, 25 April 2012.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/should-food-be-distributed-via-mgnregs-112042500067_1.html
Kumar,Ashwani. “Make NREGA New.” Indian Express, 8 Oct 200
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/make-nrega-new/
Kumar,Ashwani. “Unshackle Entrepreneurs.” Indian Express, 3 Dec 2009.
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/unshackle-entrepreneurs/
Kumar, Ashwani. "Poverty and Activism: the heart of global civil society.” Open Democracy 12 May 2009.

Hindi Media

Projects

Project leader with Prof Disha Nawani for Capacity Building Workshops for College Teachers to reduce the Student drop-out rate in the Government Colleges Of Ladakh 2021.
Principal Investigator( with Aaditya Dar),Public or Private Leviathan? The Politics of Crime Reduction & Infrastructure Development in Contemporary Bihar, funded by Azim Premji Foundation
Project Director (with Sandhya Iyer), TISS-IIIDEM of Election Commission of India's research study on Exploring Role of Money Power in India's Electoral Politics(2017-18).
Project Director, Assessment of Technical Quality and Economic Assessment of Category B Asset Under MNREGA in Sikkim.( 2016-17)
Project Director for research on Elections and Electoral Management in India for India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), Election Commission of India.

Project Director for Election Commission of India’s project “Online survey & Competition among Non-Resident Indian (NRI) citizens living abroad” (2016-17).
Project Director for Election Commission of India’s project on “Inclusive Elections in India: An Overview of Characteristics of Domestic Migration” 2015-16.
Project Director for ‘South Africa National Project on Human Rights Literacies’ in collaboration with North West University (South Africa) 2015-16.
Lead Researcher for ICSSR –ESRC (UK)’s PhD Partnering Scheme between School of Development Studies at TISS & School of Global Studies at Sussex University, 2012-15.
Project Director for ICSSR grant for organizing National Seminar on “Contesting Spaces & Negotiating Development; A Dialogue on Geographies of Power, Politics and Citizenship in India” in September-October 2015.
Project Director for Election Commission of India’s Project on Compilation & Analysis of KABBP Surveys, 2013-14.
With Aaditya Dar (George Washington University) Principal Investigator for project on “ Does political background of leaders matter for development? Funded and sponsored by International Growth Center (IGC)’s Bihar Project at LSE (UK) 2013-16.
Project Co-ordinator for NSS-NUDS Project on Skill Development for Rajasthan & Bihar, 2012 upto Oct. 2013.
Project Director for Ford Foundation supported Consortia of Management Institutes for implementing Rural Livelihoods Internship in seven states of India, 2012-15.
Project Director for India Post-TISS-NIOS Project on Rural Entrepreneurship Program (Ministry of Telecommunication and Post, GoI), 2010-11.
Project Director for Evaluation of Flagships Development Programs including MGNREGA in Manipur, Govt of Manipur, 2011-13.
Project Co-Coordinator from TISS on multi- country research on Xenophobia, Urban Governance & Rural Development by South Africa Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD).

Courses Taught at Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Interpreting Justice & Welfare ( MPhil in Development Studies
Development Discourses & Practices ( MPhil in Development Studies
Public Policy; Theory and Processes ( MA in Development Studies)
Understanding India's Foreign Policy and Strategic Affairs ( MA in Development Studies)
Seminar in Monographs in Social Sciences ( MPhil-PhD in Social Sciences)
Institutions, Governance & Policies ( MA in Development Studies
State and Democracy: Explorations in Political Theory( MA in Development Studies
Development of the Marginalized: Perspectives and Challenges (MA in Development Studies)
Social Exclusion: Theories and Processes ( MA in Development Studies)
Idea of India ( Foundation Course for MA Programs)
State, Democracy and Politics in India( Foundation Course for MA programs)
Governance and Public Policy ( MA in Labour and Globalization)
Social Planning and Policy Research ( MA in Social Work)
Political Dimension of Business Environment ( MA in HRM& LR)