The Governing Council of the Centre for Studies of Plural Societies met today at the CSPS headquarters, Jasola Vihar, in New Delhi, to discuss the progress of various CSPS projects, budget and audit reports, and future programs. The Chairperson, Wajahat Habibullah, and Vice Chairperson, Prof. AK Ramakrishnan, commended the growth and continued activities of CSPS towards providing training and support to young researchers and academicians. Director (Honorary) Dr. Omair Anas presented a brief report detailing the ongoing budget and previous financial issues. He informed the council that the center is in discussion with several universities about having MoU partnerships to provide internships and collaborative programs. The council unanimously agreed to institute a Corpus Fund of 1 CR to strengthen the centre’s financial security.
The newly appointed Executive Director, Askari Zaidi, expressed his gratitude to the CSPS leadership for showing faith in him to connect CSPS with a larger community of supporters and well-wishers. GC member Prof. Arvinder A. Ansari commended the center’s Gender Studies program and recommended expanding and diversifying the program by including new research projects and issues.
GC member and former DGP Andhra Pradesh Dr. Anwarul Hoda spoke briefly about taking a few research projects about minority education in the coming months. He expressed his satisfaction over the progress the centre has shown despite several challenges. Among those present, including via Zoom, were special invitees Dr. Javed Wani, Assistant Professor Ambedkar University, New Delhi, Dr. Mohammed Sinan, University of Edinburgh Dr. Sheeba Naaz, Kings College London; Executive Director CSPS, Askari Zaidi, Research Fellow Dr. Mohammad Osama, Dr. Sumaiyah Ahmed, Jamia Hamdard, and Program Officer Kashif Ahmad.
The members and special invitees congratulated Prof. AK Ramakrishnan on retiring from a long, bright teaching career at Jawaharlal Nehru University and wished him the best. The Chairperson, Wajahat Habibullah, underlined that CSPS has started working at a time when support for research education and research projects has been shrinking, and young scholars face difficulties in advancing their research careers; as a result, the CSPS has an immense responsibility to identify these challenges. The members and special invitees were grateful to the CSPS leadership, Chairperson Wajahat Habibullah, and Vice Chairperson Prof. AK Ramakrishnan for guidance and continued patronage of the CSPS and its team.
