Name Kancha Ilaiah Role Writer | Education Osmania University | |
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Born 5 October 1952 (age 71) ( 1952-10-05 ) Papaiahpet, Hyderabad State, India
(now in Telangana, India) Books Why I am not a Hindu, Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique, Post‑Hindu India: A Discours, God as Political Philosop, Untouchable God | ||
Professor Kancha Ilaiah to Write Another Book on Arya Vysyas || NTV
Kancha Ilaiah (born 5 October 1952) is an Indian political theorist, writer and activist for Dalit rights. He is a prolific writer in both English as well as Telugu.
Contents
- Professor Kancha Ilaiah to Write Another Book on Arya Vysyas NTV
- Early life
- Professional life
- Criticism
- Appointments
- Selected publications
- References
Early life
Kancha Ilaiah was born in the village of Papaiahpet, Warangal district in erstwhile Hyderabad State. His family belonged to the sheep-grazing Kuruma Golla caste, a community designated by the Government of India as an Other Backward Class group. Ilaiah credited his mother, Kancha Kattamma, as pivotal in shaping his political thought. According to Ilaiah, she was at the forefront of the Kurumas' struggle against the forest guards' discriminatory behaviour. Kancha Kattamma was killed during a violent confrontation while protesting against police brutality.
Kancha Ilaiah is often identified as a Dalit in the news reports, although he is not a Dalit but rather a member of an Other Backward Class.
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 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, Kanacha 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 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".
Appointments
Among Ilaiah's official appointments have been:
Selected publications
English language publications:
Telugu language publications: