Such are the constraints of disciplinary boundaries that even when scholars come together in a collective effort to analyse recent processes, their focus narrows down to specific themes, invariably privileging one kind of methodological or conceptual framework over others. The present volume of essays – the outcome of a seminar, ‘Changing social formations in Contemporary India’, organized under the auspices of the School of Social Sciences of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in 2003 – represents an attempt to overcome some of the limitations of this trend. While acknowledging the strengths of in-depth analyses of specific phenomena, there is an equally strong need to critically engage with the different dimensions of recent developments in India since independence, and especially since the 1980s and 1990s, by bringing multiple fields of expertise into play. Economists, political scientists, geographers, historians, sociologists and cultural critics have all contributed to this volume in significant ways. Taken together, these essays clearly demonstrate that India has entered a new conjuncture since the 1990s, quite unlike the era of development that preceded it. The volume includes essays on such contested concepts in contemporary India as democracy, globalization, the rural-urban divide, the city, migration, the middle classes, caste, community and gender identities. It thus sets out to name some of the most urgent sites of engagement for interdisciplinary social science scholarship today.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Praveen Kumar Jha
Dr. Praveen Kumar Jha (1951; 18th January) did M.A. in Psychology from Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur in 1975 and started his career in university service in 1976. He was awarded U.G.C. Fellowship and completed Ph.D. Degree in Psychology under F.I.P. Scheme. At present he is Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, B.N. Mandal University, Madhepura. To his credit, more than 2 dozen research articles have been published in reputed journals of Psychology. He has developed 4 psychological tests which are I wide circulation. He has written 1 book captioned as “Educating Human rights in Psycho-Social Perspecetives†which has been loudly welcomed by the Social Scientists and the general readers. He has reviewed 7 books of psychological theme. His prominent professional affiliations include his membership in Indian Science Congress Association (Calcutta), Indian Psychological Association, (New Delhi); National Academy of Psychology (New Delhi); Indian Academy of Applied Psychology (Chennai); Psycho-Linguistic Association of India (Rajpur); Praachi-Psycho-Cultural Research Association (Meerut); Council of Behavioural Scientists (Agra) and many other organization. He is also a member or National Executive Committee of Praachi Psycho-Cultural Research Association of India and a member or Editorial Board of B.N.M.U. Research Journal. He has also written some popular articles of Psycho-Social interest in leading Hindi Newspapers particularly related with problems of aged, adolescents and children. He has been nominated as the, “Eminent Personality of 20th Century†by the International Biographical Centre. England in 2001, He has been nominated as “Man of the Year 2002â€; included in the list of the “Contemporary who’s who†and selected as “Member of Board of Advisors†in 2003 by the American Biographical Institute, U.S.A. His areas of research are applied Psychology, Social Psychology and Psychology of Adolescents.
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