Kancha Ilaiah
| Kancha Ilaiah | |
|---|---|
| Born |
5 October 1952 Papaiahpet, Hyderabad State, India (now in Telangana, India) |
| Education |
|
| Occupation |
Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad |
| Known for | Writer and speaker on Indian political thought Theorist and activist for the Dalit-Bahujan movement |
| Honours |
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Award Nehru Fellow 1994-97 Manyawar Kanshiram Smriti Mahanayak Puraskar |
Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University,
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Award Nehru Fellow 1994-97
Kancha Ilaiah (born 5 October 1952), also known as Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, is an Indian political scientist, writer and activist for Dalit rights. He is a prolific writer in both English as well as Telugu.
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 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.
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