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Kancha Ilaiah

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Kancha Ilaiah
Born (1952-10-05) 5 October 1952 (age 72)
Papaiahpet, Hyderabad State, India
(now in Telangana, India)
Education
Occupation(s)Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive

Policy (CSSEIP) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University,

Hyderabad
Known forWriter and speaker on Indian political thought
Theorist and activist for the Dalit-Bahujan movements
HonoursMahatma Jyotirao Phule Award

Nehru Fellow 1994-97

Manyawar Kanshiram Smriti Mahanayak Puraskar

Kancha Ilaiah (born 5 October 1952) is an Indian political theorist, Writer, Communist activist and fight for oppressed classes, weaker sections in india. he is social reformer who worked for the upliftment and political mobilisation of the Bahujans, the untouchable groups at the bottom of the caste system in India. He is a writer in both English as well as Telugu.

Early life

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Kancha Ilaiah was born on 5th October, 1952 in the village of Papaiahpet, Warangal district in Telangana State. His family belonged to the sheep-grazing Kuruma Golla caste which is considered as one of numerically dominated sub-caste among the Telugu speaking . The name ‘Ilaiah’ came out of their caste deity ‘Inoli Mallanna’. Inoli Mallanna, Katta Mallanna, Komuravelli Mallanna, Odela Mallanna are the geographical locations/peaks situated in Deccan plateau, through which shepherds usually travel in the quest of fodder for their sheep and goat. Thus, it is believed that Inoli Mallanna was the chieftain of shepherds. Ilaiah was inspired by his own mother Kancha Kattamma as she was at the forefront of the shepherd’s struggle against the forest guards’ discriminatory behavior. She was killed during a violent confrontation while protesting against police brutality.

Ilaiah has an M.A. degree in political science from Osmania University, Hyderabad and an M.Phil. awarded for his study of land reform in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He was awarded with Ph.D. degree for his work entitled ‘Political Thought of Gautama Buddha’, later it was published in the form book entitled ‘God as Political Philosopher: Buddha’s Challenge to Brahmanism’. He has been a recipient of the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Award and was a Nehru Fellow between 1994-97. 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. He also bagged LISA award for his magnum opus ‘Why I am not a Hindu?’ In 2012, he got retired from his teaching job in Osmania University after 38 of study, research and teaching. Currently, he is serving as Director of the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad.

Professional life

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

Ilaiah earned a Ph.D on the basis of his work exploring the political dimension of Buddhism, culminating in God as Political Philosopher - Buddha Challenge to Brahminism..

Illaiah has encouraged proficiency in the English language for Dalits, arguing that it would allow Dalits in India to intellectually engage the world outside India without non-Dalits speaking "for them". In May 2016, in protest against "Brahmanic hegemony" he claims continues to persist in India, Ilaiah appended "Shepherd" to his name. Ilaiah d identified in this choice recognition and reaffirmation of his family origins. As an English-language proper noun rather than its equivalent in an Indian language, "Shepherd" is meant to demonstrate a symbolic break with the cultural norms Ilaiah believed "Brahmins" sought to "impose" on Indian society. Ilaiah characterizes his name change as a tool for the upliftment of Dalits.

Currently, Kancha Ilaiah is serving as director of the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad.

Criticism

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 had contributed to a local newspaper and advised him against writing material that could inflame sectarian discontent or prejudice.

In February 2013, at the Jaipur Literary Festival, Kancha Ilaiah and Javed Akhtar engaged in a heated discussion over the implications of religion in Indian social life.

Ilaiah has also been criticised for believing in the Aryan Invasion theory. In November 2015, Ilaiah stated that if Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of India credited with forging national unity amidst the intense violence and bloodletting that followed the creation of Pakistan, had been Prime Minister of India, India "would have become Pakistan".

He is anti Hindu writer, activist and thinker as he quotes himself in his books like ' Why I am Not a Hindu'. He recently insulted Vysya caste by quoting them as 'Social Smugglers'.

Appointments

Among Ilaiah's official appointments have been:

  • Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
  • Member of National Research Committee constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice, New Delhi
  • Member – Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi
  • Former Member of the National Book Trust, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, New Delhi for three years
  • Member of the Planning Commission Sub Committee to formulate an agenda for land reforms for the XI Five Year Plan
  • Member of the UGC Constitutional Committee to oversee the implementation of OBC reservations in all Central and State universities in India
  • Former member of the Executive Council of Periyar Maniammai University (Tamil Nadu)

Selected publications

English language publications:

Telugu language publications:

  • ఐలయ్య, క. మన తత్వం: దళిత బహుజన తాత్వికత. హైదరాబాద్: హైదరాబాద్ బుక్ ట్రస్ట్

References

  1. "Modi should ask sadhus to clean the streets".
  2. "Introduce English in all schools, says Dalit scholar Kancha Ilaiah".
  3. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/interviews/Kancha-Ilaiah-Even-if-10-dalit-children-got-English-education-India-would-change/articleshow/18503625.cms
  4. "In defence of English: Blame the Indian education system, not the language".
  5. ^ "Good Shepherd: Dalit thinker Kancha Ilaiah on name, caste". Hindustan Times. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  6. Cite error: The named reference rediff was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jaipur-literature-festival-ends-but-controversy-lingers/article4354622.ece
  8. "Who are real Dalits of India".
  9. "If Sardar Patel was PM, India would've become Pakistan: Kancha Ilaiah". Hindustan Times. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  10. "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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