Kancha Ilaiah

Kancha Ilaiah
Born (1952-10-05) 5 October 1952
Papaiahpet, Hyderabad State, India
(now in Telangana, India)
Education MA in political science, MPhil on land reforms in Andhra Pradesh
Occupation

Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University,

Hyderabad.
Known for Writer and speaker on Indian political thought, Dalit-Bahujan movement
Honours

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Award Nehru Fellow 1994-97

Manyawar Kanshiram Smriti MAHANAYAK Puraskar for contribution in awakening of depressed masses in India.

Kancha Ilaiah (also known as Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd; born 5 October 1952) is an Indian academic, writer and activist for Dalit rights. He is a prolific writer in English and Telugu. His books include Why I am not a Hindu, Post-Hindu India: A Discourse in Dalit-Bahujan, Socio-Spiritual and Scientific Revolution, God As Political Philosopher: Budha's challenge to Brahminism, A Hollow Shell, Turning the pot, tilling the land: Dignity of labour in our times, Untouchable God: A Novel on Caste and Race, The State and Repressive Culture, Manatatwam (in Telugu), and Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism.

Early life

Kancha Ilaiah was born in the village of Papaiahpet, Warangal district, then in Hyderabad State.[1] His family belonged to the sheep-grazing Kuruma Golla caste (OBC). Ilaiah cited his mother Kancha Kattamma as one of the people who shaped his political ideas.[2] According to him, she was at the forefront of the Kurumas' struggle against the forest guards' discriminatory behaviour and was killed during a violent confrontation while protesting against police brutality.[3]

Professional life

Ilaiah has an M.A. degree in political science and an M.Phil. awarded for his study of land reform in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[1] He has been a recipient of the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Award and was a Nehru Fellow between 1994-97.[1]

Ilaiah has a Ph.D related to Buddhism. His paper was on God as political philosopher- Buddha challenge to Brahminism.[4] While working as an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Osmania University, several of Ilaiah's colleagues as well as academics affiliated with the university expressed, in an open-letter, their concern with respect to certain articles and opinions Ilaiah contributed to a local newspaper and advised him against writing material that could inflame sectarian discontent or prejudice.[1] Currently, he is serving as director of the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad.

Illaiah has supported the English language as a way for empowerment of Dalits.[5][6][7] In May 2016, in protest against what he considers to be Brahmanic hegemony, Ilaiah revealed that he had appended Shepherd to his name. This choice recognised his family origins and, being an English word rather than Indian, was a symbolic break with the cultural norms that he believed Brahmins sought to impose on Indian society. He saw it as a tool for the upliftment of Dalits.[8]

Criticism

In February 2013, at the Jaipur Literary Festival, Ilaiah had a spat with Javed Akhtar over religion and Buddhism.[9] Ilaiah has also been criticised for believing in the Aryan Invasion theory.[8][10] In November 2015, Ilaiah said that if Vallabhbhai Patel had been Prime Minister of India, India would have become Pakistan.[11]

Appointments

Among Ilaiah's official appointments have been:[12]

Selected publications

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The attempt to censor my writings is part of a larger game plan". Rediff. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "How cow protection laws brutalise our culture".
  3. ↑ "Kancha Ilaiah". Ambedkar.org. 16 November 2000. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  4. ↑ "Modi should ask sadhus to clean the streets".
  5. ↑ "Introduce English in all schools, says Dalit scholar Kancha Ilaiah".
  6. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/interviews/Kancha-Ilaiah-Even-if-10-dalit-children-got-English-education-India-would-change/articleshow/18503625.cms
  7. ↑ "In defence of English: Blame the Indian education system, not the language".
  8. 1 2 "Good Shepherd: Dalit thinker Kancha Ilaiah on name, caste". Hindustan Times. 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  9. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jaipur-literature-festival-ends-but-controversy-lingers/article4354622.ece
  10. ↑ "Who are real Dalits of India".
  11. ↑ "If Sardar Patel was PM, India would've become Pakistan: Kancha Ilaiah". Hindustan Times. 2015-11-30. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  12. ↑ "3rd Cycle of Accreditation – NAAC, Self – Study Report, 2013" (PDF). Osmania University. 2013. p. 48. Retrieved 7 August 2016.

External links

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