Dr. L David Lal Assistant Professor
PhD (Jawaharlal Nehru University) Department of Humanities & Social Sciences- david@iiitg.ac.in
Joined the Institute in July 2016
About
Dr. Lal is currently a faculty member at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati, where he has been serving since July 2016 to the present. Prior to this, he held the position of Senior Research Consultant at Action Aid, India, from April 2016 to July 2016. Additionally, he worked as an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the Department of Political Science, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi, spanning from January 2012 to September 2015. In his career journey, Dr. Lal was also affiliated with the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, an institute recognized by the ICSSR under the Government of India, as an Associate Fellow from August 2009 to January 2012. Furthermore, he contributed as a researcher for the Prime Minister High-Level Committee, commonly referred to as the Sachar Committee, a government initiative from December 2006 to March 2007. Dr. Lal has authored research project reports for several prestigious organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Development Research Centre-Canada (IDRC), Christian Aid, DFID UK, and the Ministries of Panchayati Raj and Social Justice and Empowerment under the Government of India. Dr. Lal presently associated with NCERT, Delhi, contributing to their research on Sustainable Development Goals 4.7, specifically focusing on policies and practices in school education.
Research Interests
Politics of Identity, Violence (Caste and Ethnic Conflicts), Public Policy, Evaluation of Developmental Schemes, Sociopolitical History of Marginalised
Research Projects
- Youth Perception on The Rule of Law in India, 2022, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Germany (KAS) and Christ University Bangalore, State Lead (Assam)
- “Makers of Modern Assam: A Case Study of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordolai, Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Chandra Prabha Saikiani”, supported by Indian Council of Social Science Research, India, 2019-20.
- ‘Dalit Women in Indian Politics: Making Impact through Parliament?’ a three-country study (Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India) on Women and Citizenship for International Development Research Project, Canada, June 2013.
- ‘Study of Social Inclusion at the Level of PRIs, Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayat and Gram Sabha in select States with a particular Focus on Disadvantaged Groups such as Women, SCs, STs, OBCs and also Documenting Select Number of Cases Highlighting Success and Failure’, for Ministry of Panchayati Raj and United Nations Development Research Programme-Capacity Development for Local Governance Project, January 2013.
- “Mapping Caste Based Atrocities in India with special reference to Dalit Women: Annual Report 2009-10”, IIDS, submitted to Christian Aid, UK, May 2011.
- “Atrocities against Dalits: Emerging Pattern” submitted to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, April 2010.
- “Mapping Caste Based Atrocities in India: Annual Report 2008-09”, IIDS, submitted to Christian Aid, UK June 2010.
Teaching
At IIITG, I have taught the following courses:
- Science, Technology and Society
- Introduction to Politics
- Understanding Democracy and Governance in India
- Citizenship in India: Laws, Politics and Institutional Practices (PhD Coursework)
- Understanding Biopolitics: Body, Power and Population (PhD Coursework)
- Research Methodology (PhD Coursework)
Doctoral Students
- Derhasat Narzary
- Rajesh Kumar
- Amrutha S Nair
Professional Activities
Membership:
- External Member, Board of Studies, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, VIT-AP, (2024-2026)
- Member, Indian Social Science Congress, India
- Member, European Association of South Asian Studies, UK
- Member, Association of Academics for Social Justice, India
Conferences and Seminars Organised:
- Convenor of Panel 39: Citizens at Risk: Caste, Violence and State Institutions in India at European Conference for South Asian Studies, University of Turin, Italy, 28-31 July 2023.
- Convenor of Thematic Panel 12: People (Dalits, Tribes, Women, Peasants, etc.) Struggles and Movements for Equitable Democratic Society) at the 46th Indian Social Science Congress held on 27-31 January 2022 at Bharatidasan University, TN funded by ICSSR.
- Convenor of Thematic Panel 12: People (Dalits, Tribes, Women, Peasants, etc.) Struggles and Movements for Equitable Democratic Society) at the 45th Indian Social Science Congress held on 28-30 March 2022 at BSAR Crescent Institute of Science, Chennai.
- Joint Organiser of National Seminar on Conflict and Environment in North-East: Forging a Green Lens held on 4-5 November 2017 at IIITG funded by ICSSR.
MOU Coordinator:
- IIIT Guwahati and Population Council Institute, Delhi
Awards
- Recipient of National Seminar Grant from ICSSR, 2023.
- Recipient of Seminar Grant from Mount Royal University, Canada and Canadian Jewish Foundation, Canada in February 2014.
- Recipient of Junior Research Fellowship in Political Science, University Grants Commission, Government of India, 2010.
Publication
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Journal
- Wani, J. I., & Lal, L. D. , "Dearer Caste and Cheaper Lives: The SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Double Violence of Law in India", History and Sociology of South Asia, (2024), pages. https://doi.org/10.1177/22308075231226364, (Sage)
- Lal, L.D., "Caste Discrimination and Exclusion in Indian Universities: A Critical Reflection", Contributions to Indian Sociology,58 (1), (2024), (Sage) Forthcoming
- Narzary, D. and Lal, L.D., "Pursuing Autonomy amidst Political Complexities: The Bodo Political Journey in Northeast India", Critical Asian Studies,doi.org/10.52698/PPML8090, (2024), Routledge: Taylor and Francis
- Lal, LD, "Anatomy of Caste Violence in India: The Question of Dignity, Honour and Justice", Cambridge University Press Engage, (2023), Cambridge University Press
- Lal, L.D., "In Search of a Utopian Society: Situating ‘Dalit’ Conversions in Contemporary India", CASTE A Global Journal on Social Exclusion,4 (2), (2023), pages. 288-305, Brandeis University
- Narzary, D. and Lal, L.D., "The Eastern Gate: war and peace in Nagaland, Manipur and India’s far east", Asian Ethnicity, (2023), Routledge: Taylor and Francis (doi.org/10.1080/14631369.2023.2182275)
- Lal, LD, "A Complex Interplay Between Past and Present: Reordering Adivasi Worlds: Representation, Resistance, Memory", The Book Review,Vol. 46, No. 5, (2022), pages. pp.11-13, Perspective Publications, Delhi
- Barua, Suranjana and Lal, L.David, "Feminist Consciousness, Empowerment and Identity: Contextualizing Chandraprabha Saikiani in Contemporary Assam", in 7th World Conference on Women’s Studies (WCWS 2021) TIIKM Publishing Conference Proceedings (ISSN 2424-6743), (2021),
- Lal, LD., "Mapping the Changing Contours of Tribal Politics", The Book Review,Vol. 45, No. 5, (2021), pages. pp. 21-23 , Perspective Publications, Delhi
- S. Barua & L, L.D., "History, Memory and Legend: Contextualizing Joymoti Utsav in Assam", Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities,Vol. 13, No. 3, (2021), pages. 1-16, Aesthetix
- Sukumar,N., Lal, L.D. and Mishra, VK., "Inclusiveness in the Panchayati Raj Institutions", Journal of Social Inclusion Studies,5(1), (2019), pages. 72-88, (Sage) doi.org/10.1177/2394481119859675
- Lal, LD, Ojha, A. and Sabharwal, N., "Issues of Under-Representation: Mapping Women in Indian Politics", Journal of South Asian Studies,Vol. 3, No. 1, (2015), pages. pp.93-102, EScience Press
- Lal, LD, Ojha, A. Sabharwal, N., "Women’s Political Representation in the 16th Lok Sabha: Continuity, Contestation or Change?", Women Link: A Quarterly Journal,Vol. 20, No. 3, (2014), JMI
- Pal, GC and Lal, L.D., "Pattern of Atrocities against Dalits in Haryana: Issues of Promoting Social Security and Social Justice", The Human Rights and Global Focus,5(3-4), (2011), ...
Conference
- Lal, L. David, "Education of the Marginalized in Swaraj India", 47th Indian Social Science Congress, (2024), University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, 6-7 February
- Lal, L.D., "Guilt and Remorse in Caste Atrocities: Analysing Upper Caste Detachment", Issues and challenges in global studies: Ambedkar’s theoretical contribution, forced labour and exclusion, (2024), Molde University College, Norway
- Lal, LD., "Repressed Caste Guilt and Caste Violence in India", European Conference for South Asian Studies, (2023), EASAS
- Lal, LD., "Culture, People and Cooperation: Understanding the Contribution of Indian Diaspora in India-Myanmar Relations", India-Myanmar Relations: New Challenges,24-26 May, (2023), Centre for Myanmar Studies, Manipur University and Ministry of External Affairs, GoI
- Lal, LD., "I Owe my Intellectual Life to my Teacher’: Recognizing the role of Dalit Bahujan Teachers in Indian Universities", Challenges in Higher Education for the Underprivileged: A Global Perspective,27 January, (2023), Anna University, Chennai
- Lal, LD., "Under-representation of Chrisitians in Indian Politics: An Analysis of 15-17 Lok Sabha", Intergroup Inequality in Indian Society: Magnitude, Nature, Sources, Policies and the Movement,23-25, August, (2023), Association of Academics for Social Justice (AASJ) and Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru
- Nair, A. and Lal, L.David. , "Education of In-migrant Children: Issues and Challenges", International Conference on “Changing Dynamics of Global Education", (2023), Asian Business School and Northern University Bangladesh, 11-12 December
- Lal, L. David, "Unpaid Labour and Caste Hierarchies: A Study of Ooliam among the Shanar in South Travancore", 82nd Session of Indian History Congress, (2023), Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana, 29 December
- Lal, L. David, "Under-representation of Christian in Indian Politics: An Analysis of 15-17 Lok Sabha Elections", Association of Academic for Social Justice, (2023), Institute for Social and Economic Change Bangalore, 23-25 August
- Lal, L. David, "Repressed Caste Guilt and Caste Violence in India", European Conference of South Asian Studies, (2023), Turin, Italy 26-29 July
- Lal, LD., "Untouchability, Caste and Ayyavazhi Movement of 19th Century Travancore Province", Untouchability, Caste and History,27-29 December, (2022), 81st Indian History Congress at MCC Chennai.
- Narzary, D. and Lal, LD., "Promoting Entrepreneurs among Bodo Women under PM Van Dhan Yojana: A case study of Pachim Maligaon and Jaraguri Van Dhan Vikas Kendra of BTR", 14th Annual National Seminar on Challenges and Pathways to Livelihood Enhancement in Rural Communities of India: Cultural and Economic Parameters,25-27 November, (2022), North Institute of Cultural Research
- Lal, LD., "Gandhi’s Social Expansionism in Assam: A Critical Reflection", Towards Social Equality: Multiple Contexts and Approaches with Special Reference to North East India ,2&3 November, (2022), Dr. Ambedkar Chair, Tezpur University
- Lal, LD., "Searching AI in a Karbi village: Narrative from the Field", International Conference on (Re)constructing the ‘self’ in the age of AI: Perspectives, Contestations and Challenges,15th -16th December , (2022), Galgotias University and Jean Monnet Module-Erasmus Programme of the European Union
- Bhattacharya, R., Agrawal, S. and Lal, L.D. , "Disruptive factors influencing Women’s Education during Covid-19", International Conference on Women Empowerment in Science and Technology,8-10th March, (2021), National Institute of Technology Warangal
- Lal., LD., "Caste, No-Caste, Caste: Reading the Madness of Caste Violence in India", Recovering Caste in International Relations: Challenging Colonial/Brahminical Hegemony,10-15 July, (2021), International Political Science Association, Greece
- Lal, LD., "Identity, Autonomy and Constructing the New ‘Self’ and New ‘Social’: Re-visiting Ayyavazhi movement of Travancore kingdom", Thirteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences,25-27 July , (2018), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Lal, LD., "Dalits Quest for Citizenship in Quotidian Violence", Reclaiming Social Justice, Re-visiting Ambedkar’,21-23rd July, (2017), Government of Karnataka and National Law School Bangalore
- lal, LD., "Understanding Citizenship through Caste Lens in India", International Conference on ‘Violence and Citizenship’,30th March-1st April, (2017), Centre for Citizenship Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Lal, LD., "Caste Atrocities’ against Dalits in India: A Different Understanding of the Concept of Atrocities’", International Conference on Understanding Atrocities: Remembering, Representing and Teaching Genocide ,19-21st February, (2014), Mount Royal University, Canada
- Lal, LD., "Women and Political Exclusion", Research Methodology Workshop on Social Exclusion and Discrimination,24–26 June , (2013), Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP), National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore
Inviting Talks
- Lal, L. David, "Constitution, Universal Value and its connection with Education", Online Faculty Induction Programme , (2024), UGC MM-TTC at NIEPA, New Delhi, 19 March
- Lal, L David, "Development and Review of the Guidelines and Action Plan for Curricular Integration and Implementation of ESD and GCED in Schools", External Member , (2024), NCERT, New Delhi, 12-16 February
- Lal, L David, "The Research Process and Educational Research Tools and Techniques", two-day training programme on 'Project Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation' for DIET faculties from North East India, (2024), North East Regional Institute of Education in Shillong, Meghalaya, 30-31 Jan
- Lal, LD, "An expert for a consultative meeting of the Nodal Officers of the States and Union Territories on Sustainable Development Goals 4.7: Policies and Practices in School Education", Planning and Monitoring Division, National Council of Educational Research and Training,9-11 August, (2023), NCERT
- Lal, LD., "Invited as an expert for a Consultative Meeting to deliberate on ‘Tribal Health in North-East India’", Public Health and Education,April 26 , (2023), RASTA Population Council of India
- Lal, LD., "Invited for a special lecture on ‘Historical and Contemporary Anti-Caste Utopias: A Dalit Bahujan Discourse’", Dalit Studies,Feb 28 , (2023), Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, Delhi
- Lal, LD., "Invited as an expert for a Consultative Meeting to deliberate on ‘Health Data Analysis Needs in North-East India’", Health Data,Feb 10, (2023), Population Council Institute
- Lal, L.D., "Four- Day Consultative Meet on 'Guidelines and Action Plan for Curricular Integration and Implementation of ESD and GCED in Schools',", Planning and Monitoring Division, National Council of Educational Research and Training, 26-29 Dec, (2023), University of Calicut
- Lal, L. David, "Student Diversity and Civic Learning", Orientation Programme on Student Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education , (2023), NIEPA and UGC-MMTTC, Gauhati University, 28 February
- Lal, L David, "Repressed Caste Guilt and Remorse: Understanding Caste Violence in India", CSSEIP, JNU , (2023), 14th February
- Lal, L David, "Guidelines and Action Plan for Curricular Integration and Implementation of ESD and GCED in Schools", NCERT-Delhi, 26th - 29th December, (2023), Department of Education, University of Calicut, Kerala
- Lal, L David, "The role of Theories in Social Science Research", Tata Institute of Social Sciences Guwahati , (2023), 1 December
- Lal, L David, "Sustainable Development Goals 4.7: Policies and Practices in School Education", Planning and Monitoring Division, (2023), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Delhi, 11 November
- Lal, L David, "Implications of Interdisciplinary partnership: New directions in mental health, wellbeing, ‘recovery’ and resilience", Consultative Meet on MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE: Embedding Wellbeing in Everyday Life , (2023), Mind India, Guwahati, 8-9 Sep
- Lal, L David, "Sustainable Development Goals 4.7: Policies and Practices in School Education", External member for a consultative meeting , (2023), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Delhi on 9-11 August
- Lal, L David, "Tribal Health in North-East India", External member for a Consultative Meeting , (2023), RASTA Population Council of India
- Lal, LD., "Invited as a resource person for a Workshop on ‘Review of Literature’", Research Methodology,6 December , (2022), Assam Downtown University
- Lal, LD, "Invited as a resource person for a Workshop on ‘Literature Review’", Research Methodology,11th November , (2022), TISS Guwahati
- Lal. LD., "Invited as an expert consultative meeting of the Nodal Officers of the States and Union Territories for a research study on ‘Sustainable Development Goals 4.7: Policies and Practices in School Education’", Planning and Monitoring Division, National Council of Educational Research and Training,2-5th August, (2022), NCERT
- Lal, LD., "Invited for a consultative meet on ‘Ration Pe Charcha: Situating Public Distribution System in Delhi’", PDS in India,20 April, (2022), NIDAN India
- Lal, D., "Invited to talk on “Covid19 Pandemic, State and its Responses in India”", ‘Indian Politics and the Covid19' ,22 June, (2021), Rajdhani College, University of Delhi
- Lal, LD., "Invited for a lecture on “Aam Aadmi Party and Emergence of Alternative Politics in India”", Alternative Politics in India,16th November, (2021), MSW-Community Organisation and Development Practice, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati
- Lal, LD., "Invited as a resource person and keynote speaker in AICTE-ATAL Faculty Development Program on the theme “ROAD: -Response Effectiveness, Organizing Self, Attitudinal Shift, Decision Making”", Faculty Development Programme,6 December, (2021), Girijananda Chowdhury Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (Guwahati, Assam) and AICTE ATAL- FDP, AICTE
- Lal, LD., "Invited for a talk on “Rupture of the Normal: Understanding Caste Violence through Legal Lens”", Monthly Lecture Series,28 August, (2020), School of Law, Governance, and Citizenship, Ambedkar University Delhi
Book Chapters
- Lal, L.D., "From Benign to Blatant: Reproduction of Caste through Atrocities", in an edited book on Social Exclusion Matters: Essays on Discrimination and the Journey of Inclusion (Conference Proceedings), (2024), pages. 122-142, AOB Publishers
- Nair, A. and Lal, L.D., "Education of In-migrant Children: Issues and Challenges", in an edited book on Changing Dynamics of Global Education (Conference Proceedings), (2024), pages. 58-67, KB Publications
- Lal, LD and Barua, S., "Gandhi's Role in India's North-East: Issues of Reform and Integration", Revisiting Gandhi: Legacies for World Peace and National Integration, (2021), World Scientific: Singapore Publishers
- Narzary, D. and Lal, L.D. , "The Eastern Gate", Asian Ethnicity,DOI: 10.1080/14631369.2023.2182275, (2023), Routledge: Taylor and Francis
- Narzary, D. and Lal, L.D. , "The Eastern Gate", Asian Ethnicity,DOI: 10.1080/14631369.2023.2182275, (2023), Routledge: Taylor and Francis
- Lal, LD., "'Claiming ‘Nation’ and ‘National Movements’: Marginalised Historiography of Dalits and Tribals'", Peoples (Dalits, Tribes, Women, Peasants, etc.) Struggles and Movements for Equitable Democratic Society),28-30th March 2022 , (2022), 45th Indian Social Science Congress
- Lal, LD., "Language, Identity, Cultural Protest and Political Meanings: Evidence from Jhallikattu Protest in Tamil Nadu", International Conference on Language, Culture and Identity,10-11, November, (2017), Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore
Others
- Lal, LD, "The Politics of Repressed Guilt: The Tragedy of Austrian Silence", The Historical Dialogues, (2022), HISTORICAL DIALOGUES, JUSTICE, AND MEMORY NETWORK
- Wani. J. and Lal, LD , "Lessons in Popular Resistance", Indian Express,dated 26th January, (2021), Indian Express
- Wani. J. and Lal, LD , "UP’s anti-conversion laws are a political weapon to further communalism", Indian Express,dated 7th December, (2020), Indian Express
- Wani. J. and Lal, LD , "The Precarity of Dalit Lives in India", Indian Express,dated 27th October, (2020), Indian Express
- Wani. J. and Lal, LD , "A Pandemic of Failures", Indian Express,dated 25th September, (2020), Indian Express
- Wani. J. and Lal, L.D., "Will Jammu and Kashmir Remain Hostage to the Narrative of Regional Conflict?", 9Dashline.com ,dated 21st September, (2020), 9Dashline.com
- Wani. J. and Lal, L.D. , "A Secularism More Inclusive", Indian Express,dated 4th September, (2020), Indian Express
- Lal, L.D., "CRIMINALISATION OF POLITICS: Caste, Land and the State", Seminar, (2016), https://www.india-seminar.com/2016/678/678_books.htm
- Lal, LD, "Gender Gap in Politics: Why the numbers, reflecting under representation of women in Parliament matter", DNA India,dated 15th January, (2015), DNA India
- Lal, L.D., "Criminalization of Politics: Caste, Land and the State", Seminar Magazine,678, (2015), pages. 76-77, Seminar
- Lal, L.D., "Boys will be Boys…Hang the Women?: An Insensitive Uttar Pradesh", Countercurrents.org,www.countercurrents.org/lal170614.htm, (2014), Countercurrents