SOITS Brouchure

School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies

SOITS Brouchure:Layout 1 3/31/2011 12:22 PM

About IGNOUIndira Gandhi National OpenUniversity (IGNOU) wasestablished by an Act of Parliamentin 1985 (Act No.50 of 1985).IGNOU, the National ResourceCentre for Open and DistanceLearning with internationalrecognition and presence, providesseamless access to sustainable andlearner-centric quality education,skill upgradation and training to allby using innovative technologiesand methodologies and ensuringconvergence of existing systems formassive human resource requiredfor promoting integrated nationaldevelopment and globalunderstanding.

SCHOOL OFINTERDISCIPLINARY ANDTRANSDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

The School of Interdisciplinary andTrans-disciplinary Studies (SOITS)was established in 2007 with amandate for promoting academicstudy and research within andacross conventional and emergingdisciplines. It has moved to fulfilthis goal by instituting innovativecourses and programmes devoted tothe study of social anthropology,labour and development, languageand linguistics and Peace andConflict among others. It has alsopromoted course offerings in theODL mode in the sphere of Folkloreand Cultural Studies, besides a newmodular offering in the study ofPhilosophy at the undergraduateand graduate levels.

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Further information on the Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityProgrammes may be obtained from the University’s office at MaidanGarhi, New Delhi - 110068 or its website www.ignou.ac.in

Printed and published on behalf of Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, by Registrar, Material Production & Distribution Division.

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02 information booklet


Dear Learners,

The School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-DisciplinaryStudies (SOITS) was established by the Indira GandhiNational Open University (IGNOU) in 2007 with a

mandate for promoting academic study and research within andacross conventional and emerging disciplines. It has moved tofulfil this goal by instituting innovative courses and programmesdevoted to the study of Social Anthropology, Labour andDevelopment, Peace and Conflict, Folklore and Cultural Studies,Philosophy among others. The School offers programmes in bothon-campus and ODL mode.

The School has also implemented a monthly research seminarseries by distinguished scholars in diverse areas likeenvironmental history, religion and culture and tribal studiesamong others. I am happy to note that future areas ofconcentration will include enlarging the research base topromote more studies and publications by faculty and researchscholars as well as specific program offerings examining thepedagogical and research interface between various componentsof the social, natural and life sciences.

I wish you all success in your studies and pursuit of excellence.

(Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai)

vIce chancellor’S meSSage

information booklet 03


DIrecTor’S meSSage

It is a great pleasure to write a message as a Director of theSchool of Interdisciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies(SOITS). The SOITS was established in 2007 with the broad

objectives to offer interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinaryprogrammes and to engage the interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research. Based on the broad mandate, the schoolhas begun the journey and developed various programmesboth in face-to-face and through open distance learning mode.In addition to the face-to face teaching programme at the post-graduate level, the school also facilitates faculty members fromother schools of the IGNOU to offer programmes both face-to-face and open distance learning mode, besides in collaborationwith other institutions.

With interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary orientation, theSOITS is working with the following broad themes viz.,philosophy, social anthropology, astrophysics, peace studies,Sanskrit, folklore, cultural studies, education, labour,migration, tribal studies, etc. Precisely, the mandate of theschool is to encompass language, philosophy, anthropology,economy, history, environment, culture and society andastrophysics.

The SOITS is offering two post-graduate programmes viz.,labour and development and social anthropology and doctorof philosophy. The faculty members from School ofHumanities (SOH), School of Social Sciences (SOSS) andNational Centre for Innovations in Distance Education(NCIDE) of the IGNOU are coordinating various programmesboth face-to-face and in open and distance learning modethrough the SOITS. Further, the SOITS is facilitating variouscertificate programs, diplomas, post-graduate courses, masterof philosophy and doctor of philosophy collaborating with theother institutions viz., Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti(New Delhi), National Council of Rural Institute(Hyderabad), Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research(Puducherry), Chinmaya International Foundation (Kochi),



International Centre for Integral Studies (New Delhi), IndianInstitute of Astrophysics (Bengaluru), Bhasha Research andPublication Centre (Vadodara), Mahanirban CalcuttaResearch Group (Kolkata) and Kaushalam Trust (Pune).

The SOITS has also organised a monthly lecture series thatis delivered by prominent academicians over the last twoyears. The faculty members also presented a number ofpapers in various conferences, delivered lectures andpresented/published articles in journals and books.

I must take this opportunity to thank the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Professor V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai and Prof.Srivasthan, the former PVC of the school and Dr.Latha Pillaifor their encouragement to develop various programmes atthis school. It is my privilege to thank the programmecoordinators and collaborating institutions for their supportand encouragement. It is also important to mention thecontributions of the experts and advisors not only from thedifferent schools of IGNOU but also from other institutionsfor their mammoth support and encouragement.

Indeed, it is a great pleasure to thank my colleagues for theirimmense support in various academic activities andprogrammes of the school. It is my privilege to thank myoffice staff, students and administration for their kindcooperation.

I hope and wish to see more academic and research activitiesin future.

Velayutham Saravanan




School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies

School of Interdiscipline and Trans-Disciplinary Studies(SOITS) was established in 2007 with the objective ofoffering various Interdisciplinary programmes and to

undertake research and development in the areas of studythat are interdisciplinary in nature. In a very short span oftime, the School has made rapid strides in realising the aboveobjective.

It has launched a number of programmes, both in-houseand in partnership with external collaborators. In-houseofferings include the Master of Arts in Labour andDevelopment, Master of Arts in Social Anthropology, Master ofArts in Gandhi and Peace Studies and the Diploma in Folkloreand Culture Studies. A range of interdisciplinary programmeslike Aurobindo Studies, Integral Studies, Sanskrit language andAstrophysics have been launched through collaborations andMemoranda of Understanding with the National Council ofRural Institute and Sri Aurobindo Centre for AdvancedResearch, the Chinmaya International Foundation, theInternational Centre for Integral Studies, the Indian Instituteof Astrophysics, Bangalore, BHASHA and Mahanirvan CalcuttaResearch Centre.

The School has a rigorous research programme ininterdisciplinary areas ranging from folklore, tribal studies,ethnic conflict and conflict resolution, Gandhian Philosophyand its contemporary relevance. The recruitment of its corefaculty in 2009 has enabled the School to expand andstrengthen its activities manifold. It also draws expertise fromother institutions to augment its teaching and researchactivities. The School has played a key role in actualisingIGNOU’s new initiative in launching face-to-face, on-campusprogrammes in addition to its massive presence in the area ofOpen and Distance Learning. The School embodies the“multi-modal” approach with its offerings in face-to-face, openand distance and on line modes.

In addition to the above, The School also facilitatesResearch and Teaching Assistant (Ph.D.) Scheme, andIntegrated M.Phil.-Ph.D. Programme.


Master of Arts in Labour and Development (MLD)

This face-to-face, on campus Programme offered at IGNOU, MaidanGarhi Campus, New Delhi aims to provide in depth understandingof the importance of labour in the development process with specialreference to India. It gives students the opportunity to understandthe socio-political and historical underpinnings of the developmentprocess and its impact on labour and employment relations. It isexpected that students who successfully complete this programmewill get opportunities to work in the government, NGOs, labourorganisations and corporate sector.

Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline with an interest in labourstudies.Minimum Age: 20 YearsDuration: 2 Years (4 Semester)Medium of Instruction: EnglishFee: Rs. 2,500 Per Semester Programme Coordinator: Dr. Babu P. RemeshEmail: [email protected]

mlD Students and coordinator with Prof. ravi Srivastava (JnU).



Master of Arts in Social Anthropology (MASA)

This face-to-face on-campus Programme offered at IGNOU,Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, aims to provide students with thetheoretical and methodological tools with which to studysocieties and cultures across time and space. It includescourses on tribal communities and the policies andprogrammes mandated for their welfare and development,changing dimensions of caste, class ethnic and gender

relations, anthropological and historical analysis of the stateand economic anthropology. It is expected that students whosuccessfully complete this Programme will get theopportunity to work in the government, NGOs, research andteaching institutions.


a field trip by the students of master of arts in Social anthropology (maSa) to chakrata, Uttarakhand.



Eligibility: Graduation in any disciplineminimum age: 20 YearsDuration: 2 Years (4 Semester)medium of Instruction: EnglishFee: Rs. 2,500 Per Semester Programme coordinator: Dr. Nandini Sinha Kapuremail: [email protected]

Master of Arts in Gandhi and Peace Studies

This face-to-face Programme is jointly developed by theIGNOU and Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, New Delhi.Classes will be conducted at the Gandhi Smriti and DarshanSamiti, Gandhi Darshan Campus, Rajghat, Delhi. TheProgramme aims to promote both theoretical and appliedresearch in Gandhian Studies, Peace, Conflict Managementand Social Regeneration. It includes Gandhi’s views andperceptions on economic, social, gender, political,environmental and sustainable development, critiques andevaluation of Gandhian concepts and their relevance in thecontemporary world.

eligibility: Graduation in any disciplineminimum age: 24 YearsDuration: 2 Years (4 Semester)medium of Instruction: Hindi and EnglishFee: Rs. 2,500 Per SemesterProgramme coordinator: Prof. D. Gopal, School of SocialSciences, IGNOUemail: [email protected]



IGNOU-IIA Integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D. in Physics and Astrophysics

This full-time, residential Programme launched incollaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics,Bangalore aims to give research orientation to students witheffect from the post-B.Sc. level. The broad research areasenvisaged are sun and solar system, stellar Physics,Extragalactic Astronomy, Theoretical Astrophysics andrelated areas of Physics and Instrumentation. There isprovision for lateral exit after completion of M.Sc. Studentsare provided stipend as per Department of Science andTechnology norms and hostel facility at IIA.

Eligibility: B.Sc. in Mathematics/PhysicsMinimum Age: 24 YearsDuration: For M.Sc.: 2 Years (Min.) 3 years (Max)Fee: Rs. 5,000 (For M.Sc.)Programme Coordinator: Dr. C.K. Ghosh, NCIDE, IGNOUEmail: [email protected]

P.G. Diploma in Folklore and Culture Studies

This Programme offered through the Open and DistanceLearning Mode aims to explore the relation between folkculture and context through various frameworks borrowedfrom disciplinary areas like Literature, History, Sociology,Anthropology, Folklore Studies and Culture Studies. Itfocuses on themes such as oral literature, material culture,social customs, performing arts and the various theories andmethods employed for studying them. Graduates aspiring forcareers in the fields of tourism, archaeological development,museum management, tribal rights, research and teachingwould benefit from this Programme.

Eligibility: GraduationMinimum Age: 21 yearsDuration: 1 Year (Maximum 3 years)Fee: Rs. 2,000



Programme Coordinator: Dr. Nandini Sahu, Reader,School of Humanities, IGNOUEmail: [email protected]

COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMES

Programmes from the CBCI Chair B.A. Philosophy (Major) and M.A. Philosophy

The B.A and M.A. programmes in Philosophy are offered incollaboration with the CBCI Chair through the distanceeducation mode. While the B.A. Programme is part of the BDP of IGNOU and is available both in English and Hindi, the M.A. Programme is presently available inEnglish only.

Programme coordinator: Prof. Gracious Thomas, Director,School of Social WorkEmail: [email protected]

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), Kochi

The Certificate Programme in Sanskrit is an on-lineProgramme jointly offered by the Chinmaya InternationalFoundation and IGNOU. It aims to provide a simple basiccourse enabling beginners to get acquainted with the salientaspects of the Sanskrit language.

Eligibility: 10th Pass or EquivalentDuration: 6 MonthsMedium of Instruction: EnglishFee: Rs. 1,500 per Semester, USD 150 (For overseasstudents)Contact: Programme Coordinator, CIF, Adi SankaraNilayam, Veliyanad, Ernakulam, Kerala Phone: 91-484-2747307 Email: [email protected]



Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research (SACAR)

IGNOU’s collaboration with the Sri Aurobindo Centre forAdvanced Research, Puducherry aims at popularizing theideas of Sri Aurobindo and examining their significance andrelevance in contemporary times. Programmes range fromthe Certificate level to Research level in Aurobindo Studies.

For details, contact: [email protected]

Bhasa Research and Publication Centre, Vadodara

The BHASHA-IGNOU collaboration has resulted in a rangeof programmes including Health Management, Tribal Artsand Culture Studies from the Certificate to Research levels.These programmes are being offered at the Adivasi Academy,Tejgadh and Himlok, Keylong.

For details, contact: Bhasa Research and PublicationCentre, 62, Shinathdham Duplex, Behind Dinesh Mills, OppShrinagar Society, Vadodara 390007

Email: [email protected]

International Centre for Integral Studies (ICIS), New Delhi

The ICIS, in collaboration with IGNOU, offers on-line web-based programmes in Integral Studies, combining academicstudy with the growth of consciousness. These programmesare based on the underlying philosophy of the Mother andSri Aurobindo. They help students gain insights into specificsubject areas as well as engage in reflection and experimentalapplication in their own lives.

Programme coordinator: Ameeta Mehra, InternationalCentre for Integral StudiesEmail:[email protected];[email protected]



Other Activities

In addition to the above, the School organises monthly seminarseries, faculty seminar series and facilitates Research Scholar’spresentation. The School is also planning to bring out workingpaper series. Further, the School also undertakes researchprojects from different sponsoring agencies. The facultymembers are not only organising various academicprogrammes in the School but also participating extensivelyin the wider academic debates and discussion both at nationaland international level.

Panel Discussion on ‘cultural contributions of Indian Diaspora.’ From left, ambassadorP.S. Sahai, Prof. ajay Dubey, ambassador J.c. Sharma, vc Prof. v.n. rajasekharan Pillai, Prof. ravindra K. Jain and Prof. aparajita Biswas.



(above) Speakers at the seminaron ‘caste, Democratic Politics

and nation Building: historicaland contemporary India;’

(right) audience at the event.

g. aloysius (left) and Prof. rowena robinson delivering

talks during the Seminar Series.

The National Seminar, titled ‘Caste, Democratic Politics and Nation Building:Historical and Contemporary India’, March 10-11, 2011.

Monthly Seminar Series



Glad (Group on labour anddevelopment) is aninitiative from Indira

Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU), New Delhi under itsSchool of Interdisciplinary andTrans-Disciplinary Studies(SOITS). It is a collective offaculty members and studentsfrom the SOITS and all the otherschools of the University, whowork on and/or are interested indiscourses, research, educationand training related to theme,‘labour and development’.

(Above) Prof. Jan Breman delivering atalk of glad@ignou

(Right) Audience listen-ing to Prof. Breman.



FacUlTY

Prof. velayuthamSaravanan is an economicand environmentalhistorian with a Ph.D. ineconomics from the

University of Hyderabad. He joined as a Professorand Director in 2011. earlier, he was with theCentre for Jawaharlal nehru Studies (CJnS),Jamia millia islamia, new Delhi; Centre foreconomic and Social Studies (CeSS), Hyderabadand Giri institute of Development Studies (GiDS),lucknow. With interdisciplinary researchinterests, he has made significant contributionsto the fields of economic history andenvironmental history and contributed morethan 50 research articles both in national andinternational journals.

Dr. nandini SinhaKapur, associateProfessor, did her Ph.D.in History from theJawaharlal nehruUniversity, new Delhi.She earlier taught in theUniversity of Delhi. She

has several research publications and is theauthor of 'State formation in rajasthan: mewarduring 7 - 15 Centuries', 'reconsructingidentities: tribes, agro-Pastoralists andenvironment in Western india (aD 7th-20thCentury) and an edited volume on‘environmental History of early india’. She isthe Coordinator of the ma Programme inSocial anthropology.

Dr. Shubhangi vaidya,assistant Professor, did herPh.D. in Sociology from JnU,new Delhi. earlier, she workedas an assistant regionalDirector, rSD, iGnoU andserved at the Jaipur rC and at

the rSD Headquarters in maidan Garhi. She haspublished articles and presented papers in variousconferences in the areas of gender, disability anddistance education. She has written and translatedcourse material for iGnoU’s open and distanceprogrammes in Sociology at the ba/ma levels. Herresearch interests include the Sociology of Disability(specifically autism Spectrum Disorders), Genderand Diasporic literatures. She teaches in both themasters Programmes offered by the School.

Dr. Babu P. remesh,associate Professor, did hisPh.D. in economics from theCentre for DevelopmentStudies/Jawaharlal nehru

University. Prior to this, he was fellow at the V.V. Girinational labour institute, noiDa. He has publishedseveral research articles and reports. Dr. remeshhas authored two books, ‘Shifting trajectories’(2008) and ‘Dynamics of rural labour’ (2010). Hiscurrent research interests include informal Sectorand livelihood issues, Social Security, iCt and newforms of Work organisation and labour History. Heis the coordinator of the m.a. Programme in labourand Development and also coordinator of theGroup on labour and Development at iGnoU(glad@ignou).



Dr. Sadananda Sahoo isassistant Professor didhis Ph.D. in Sociologyfrom University ofHyderabad. Prior to this,he worked as researchassociate at the institute

of applied manpower research (iamr),Delhi. His research interest includesDiaspora and ethnic Studies, DevelopmentStudies, international migration, PublicPolicy, rural Development etc. He haspublished more than 15 articles and 10reviews both in national and internationalrefereed journals and popular magazines. Heteaches in both the masters Programmesoffered by the School.

Dr. Subhakantamohapatra is assistantProfessor did his Ph.D.in Geography fromUtkal University,bhubaneswar. Heworked as a research

fellow and research associate (1992-96) atnCert, new Delhi and as an academicofficer in Geography (1996-2002) at nioS,new Delhi. earlier, he worked as assistantProfessor in Geography (2002-2010) atGovernment College, Chandigarh. He isactively involved in research on Population,environment and Health Geography andClimate Change, with a special focus onvulnerability and adaptation. He teaches inboth the masters Programmes offered by theSchool.

Dr. ratheesh Kumar,assistant Professor, didhis Ph.D. from indianinstitute of technology(iit), bombay. He is ananthropologist with

research interest in the areas ofanthropological theory, Sociology ofeducation, Popular Culture and Caste today.He is the author of ‘Classrooms andPlaygrounds: mapping educational Change,’kerala (2010). He teaches in both the mastersProgrammes offered by the School.


conSUlTanTS/vISITIng FacUlTY

Dr. c.P. vinod did his Ph.D. in anthropologyfrom kannur University, kerala with afellowship from Zurich University, Switzerlandas part of an international researchprogramme implemented by the Swissnational Science foundation (SnSf). His Ph.D.research is about the interfaces of local andglobal in livelihood practices of labouringcommunities in Western Ghat region ofWayand in kerala. His major research interestis on unorganised labour, indigenouscommunities and the development process.

Prof. r.S. mann has a distinguished career inSocial anthropology. He served as theDirector of the anthropological Survey ofindia, Professor and Head of the Departmentof anthropology, University of Delhi and President, indian anthropologicalassociation. He has published 12 books and over a 100 papers.

Dr. S.m. Pattnaik is currently teaching Socialanthropology in University of Delhi. He hasbeen a visiting Professor to Virginia tech. andState University of blacksburg and michiganState University 2009. His research interestincludes globalisation and indian tribes,nGo’s and development and anthropology ofnorth east india. Currently he is president ofindian anthropological association and editorof research Proceedings in anthropologypublished by the University of Delhi. He hasfour books and over 35 papers in journals ofnational and international repute.

Dr. Sonali mukherjee has been a lecturer inSociology at the jesis and mary College during2007-09 and research associate in WomenStudies Programme in Jawaharlal nehruUniversity 2001-06. Her research interestincludes Gender and Development, adversesex ratio and media and organisations’development.



Education is a liberating force, and in our age it is also a democratising force, cutting across the barriersof caste and class,smoothening out inequalities imposed by birth and other circumstances.

‘

’


conTacT US aTDirector,

School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary StudiesiGnoU, maidan Garhi, new Delhi – 110068, india. www.ignou.ac.in

tel.: +91-29571115, +91-29571115 e-mail: [email protected]

Staff members of School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies.


SOITS Brouchure

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