kalpana kannabiran

Welcome to my personal website!

A snapshot

I begin with a brief personal background. I am a sociologist and legal researcher with a keen interest in the areas of sociology of law, historical sociology, social movements, gender studies, disability studies, indigenous/adivasi rights, minority rights, development studies, jurisprudence (colonial, constitutional and criminal) and human rights. I have worked with Asmita Resource Centre for Women, and have taught in NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and Council for Social Development, Hyderabad and Delhi.

I am a writer and editor – and have published 26 books and over a hundred research articles and opinion pieces in various media platforms.

A Life Member of the Indian Association for Women’s Studies, I was elected Joint Secretary in 1996-98 and General Secretary, 1998-2000. At the international level, I completed a three-year term as Civil Society Advisory Governor (Asia Region), Commonwealth Foundation, London, January 2020—December 2022.

"The Commonwealth Foundation has a tradition of involving civil society in its governance structure. The Foundation’s Board of Governors comprises representatives of its Member States as well as five CSAG members: distinguished civic voices that each represent a region of the Commonwealth. The representatives provide guidance on aspects of our programmes as well as our long-term strategy."

(https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2020/feb/07/hyderabad-based-sociologist-kalpana-kannabiran-named-civil-society-governor-asia-2100212.html)

I have been active in the International Sociological Association, as President, Research Committee 32: Women and Gender in Society (2002-2006), and currently President, Research Committee 05: Racism, Nationalism, Indigeneity and Ethnicity (2023-2027).

I am now Distinguished Professor, Council for Social Development, New Delhi and am based in Hyderabad, Telangana.

areas of interest, publication and work

Sociology (India, public sociology); Interdisciplinary Law; Indigenous/Adivasi Studies; Critical Caste Studies; Caste-Race Intersections and Diaspora Studies; Critical Disability Studies; Women’s & Gender Studies; Sexuality, Gender based violence and Sexual/Reproductive Justice; Development Studies; Regional Studies; Violence Studies; Law and Society; Law & Literature; Critical Legal Studies; Human Rights & Civil Liberties; Work and Labour Studies; Social Movements and Resistance; Transnational Feminisms; Studies in Transversal Politics; Decoloniality, Decolonization and Counter-colonialism.

These are areas I have researched and published in.

PUBLIC WRITING

Girl Punk, Interrupted

Bilkis Bano’s Lonely Battle for Justice is a Heartfelt Cry for India to Resurrect its Secular Values

The Pussy Riot trial in Russia is a reminder that women and feminist politics have been an essential part of the struggle against oppressive systems in India too, from Chipko to Posco.

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/girl-punk-interrupted/article3812677.ece

More Public Writing

Bilkis Bano’s Lonely Battle for Justice is a Heartfelt Cry for India to Resurrect its Secular Values

The remission granted to men convicted of gangrape and mass murder is our defeat. It is our collective responsibility to resoundingly say ‘no more of this’.

https://scroll.in/article/1033703/bilkis-banos-lonely-battle-for-justice-is-a-heartfelt-cry-for-india-to-resurrect-its-secular-values

More Public Writing

Same-sex marriages in India: Trans-formations, intimacies, and public morality

Bilkis Bano’s Lonely Battle for Justice is a Heartfelt Cry for India to Resurrect its Secular Values

Same-sex marriages in India: Trans-formations, intimacies, and public morality

We now have questions of the ‘desirability’ of queer marriages with opinions ranging from rejection of marriage, of monogamy, to advocating choice (of whether or not to marry). What is important, however, is that the questions are all out of the closet and subject of open debate in courts and outside.

https://thesouthfirst.com/opinion/same-sex-marriages-in-india-trans-formations-intimacies-and-public-morality/

More Public Writing