SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK

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Report from Lund University delegation tour to India, 21–25 March 2011

by Anna Lindberg, Director, SASNET

A high-level multi-disciplinary delegation from Lund University, led by Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Eva Åkesson visited India on 21-25 March 2011. The reasons for the visit, partially planned for by the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi, were the already substantial collaborations with India and expectations of further increased cooperation in the coming years. The delegation consisted of deans and outstanding scientists, representing several of Lund University's faculties, and they visited universities in Delhi, Mumbai and Kanpur. SASNET’s Director, Dr. Anna Lindberg was a member of the delegation.

The delegation first visited the Nordic Centre in India (NCI) office at Nizamuddin East, where the Director Dr. Mirja Juntunen and the Manager Mr. P.N. Malik gave an introduction to the organisation and its activities. Lund University is a member of this consortium of Nordic universities.

Counsellor Andreas Muranyi from the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi spoke to the delegation about Indian universities and research institutes and collaboration between the two countries with regard to research. He also accompanied the group on several of the university visits. The delegation was also graciously invited to the home of Mattias Lentz, Deputy Head of Mission, at the Swedish Embassy.

Occasionally the delegation split into smaller groups and visited different academic sites.

Anna Lindberg paid calls on the following institutions in New Delhi and Mumbai:

• Delhi University
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (ITTD)
• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
• Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS)
• Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai (IITB)

For the past several years, Lund University has enjoyed a close collaboration with Delhi University while working on two different Erasmus Mundus Action 2 Programmes (more information) and a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Both parties have expressed the wish that these collaborations might continue to strengthen. The program at Delhi University was organised by the Dean of International Relations, Professor Kondepudy Sreenivas. Photo from the meeting.

SASNET has been in contact with several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in India stretching over a considerable period. At IIT Delhi, Professor Balakrishnan gave an account of the recent development of IITs, which have grown from seven in 2007 to fifteen today. Anna Lindberg and Ann-Katrin Bäcklund, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science at Lund University, were invited to a special session at IITD sponsored by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and organised by Professor Amrit Srinivasan, Department Chair. Professor Ravinder Kaur, who visited Lund University in 2009, was also present at this meeting.

IGNOU – the World’s largest university

On March 22, Anna visited the Indira Gandhi National Open University to learn more about their activities. It is difficult to conceive that one can organise a university of 4.2 million students! However, it seems to be proceeding successfully, according to Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Latha Pillai (photo to the right), and Dr. Nehal Farrooquee, both of whom she met at IGNOU.

The entire delegation visited with several faculty members at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in a meeting led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor S.K. Soporno. At JNU, Anna had the opportunity of speaking with Professor Rajesh Kharat, School of International Studies (previously at University of Mumbai), who most likely will spend a month at Lund University during the fall 2011.

National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights

In addition to her stops at academic institutions and universities in New Delhi, Anna also visited the headquarters of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and met with its general secretary, Paul Divakarm, and with activist Bezwada Wilson (photo to the right).

The delegation also travelled to the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. They were met by Professor Subhasis Chauduri, Dean of International Relations. He made a presentation about their programmes.

Tata Institute of Social Science

Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), located in Mumbai, is another member of the two Erasmus Mundus Action 2 consortiums of universities coordinated by Lund University in projects that involve student migration from India to Europe. On March 24th, Lund University Pro Vice Chancellor Eva Åkesson visited TISS, accompanied by Ann-Katrin Bäcklund, Anna Lindberg, and Dr. Jan Magnusson, School of Social Work, Lund University. Since several researchers at LU have close collaboration with TISS, faculty members from there have visited LU many times.
In a meeting with several representatives of the institute, the LU delegation discussed future possibilities of expanding collaboration even more. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Eva Åkesson and the TISS Director Professor S. Parasuraman. Photo from the signing.

The meeting was also attended by the following administrators and faculty members from TISS:

Prof. Neela Dabir, Registrar
Jayashree Balasubramanian, Program Manager
Prof. Janki Andharia (Disaster Management)
Dr. Abdul Shaban (Development Studies)
Assoc. Prof. Ezechiel Toppo (School of Management & Labour Studies)
Prof. Anjanli Monteiro (Media and Cultural Studies)
Prof. K.P. Jayasankar (Media and Cultural Studies)
Dr. Bipin Jojo (School of Social Work)
Dr. Swati Banerji (School of Social Work)

Bangalore and Dharavi

One part of the Lund University delegation went to Bangalore. A few people, headed by Prof. Anders Axelsson, Dean of Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering (LTH) visited the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Read his report from IISc.
Some other participants went to visit the National Law School of India in Bangalore. Read a short report.

The India trip ended with a three hours tour of the Dharavi slums in Mumbai, a visit that was of special interest since SASNET in 2008 funded a Dharavi related project by researchers at the Royal University College of Fine Arts (KKH) in Stockholm. This project resulted in a book entitled ”DHARAVI: Documenting Informalities” and an exhibition and workshop held in Mumbai in 2009. More information about the project.

Lund, April 6, 2011
Anna Lindberg

 

Read also the Pro Vice Chancellor’s (Prof. Eva Åkesson) blog reports from the tour:
– Visit to Delhi University
– Visit to IIT Delhi, Council for Scientific and Industrial research, and IGNOU
– Visit to Department of Biotechnology, and JNU, Delhi
– Visit to IIT Bombay
– Visit to Tata Institute of Social Science in Mumbai