Tag Archives: Dr. Muzaffar Assadi

Prof. Muzaffar Assadi Elected As President Of Indian Social Science Academy

Shirva (Udupi Taluk) / Mysore: KARNATAKA:

Mysore/Mysuru: 

Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, former acting Vice-Chancellor and currently Dean of the Faculty of Arts and senior-most Professor at the University of Mysore, was elected unopposed  as the President-Elect of the Indian Social Science Academy for the year 2024-2025. He was formerly its Vice-President.

Indian Social Science Academy (ISSA) was founded in 1974 with the goal of evaluating, integrating and disseminating scientific knowledge about man, society and nature in relation to India’s specific circumstances and fostering harmony between social sciences, natural sciences and technology. ISSA is the only institution in the world that defines science as social and encompasses all fields of natural, social and behavioural sciences.

ISSA organises the Indian Social Science Congress (ISSC) every year with the goal of discovering, developing and disseminating science of Nature. The UGC, DST, ICSSR, ICHR, ICPR, INSA, ISRO, CSIR and ICMR are supporting ISSA.

Prof. V.K.R.V. Rao, one of the greatest economists in India and founder of the Delhi School of Economics, Institute of Economic Growth, and Institute of Social and Economic Change in Bengaluru, is among its former Presidents.

A Professor in the Department of Studies in Political Science, Prof. Assadi is also the Chairperson of  the Department of Studies in Public Administration, University of  Mysore and in-charge Chairperson, Department of English.

Prof. Assadi is a native of Shirva, Udupi Taluk, and a former student of St. Mary’s Institutions and Hindu Higher Elementary School in Shirva. He graduated from Mangalore University,  JNU, New Delhi  and University of Chicago.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / (headline edited) / April 10th, 2023

New book focuses on caste system among Muslims

Shirva (Udupi District) / Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

Muzaffar Assadi’s book examines the ways in which the social space was documented during colonial times

The cover of the book written by Muzaffar Assadi.  

Muzaffar Assadi, professor of political science in the University of Mysore, has brought out a new book on caste among Muslims, a relatively unexplored area.

In the book Alpasankyakaru Mattu Jati Vyavaste: Asmite, Vasahatushahi Mattu Meesalati (Minorities and Caste System: Identity, Colonialism and Reservation), the author argues that Islam, one of the semitic religions known for its established rules and framework, is now tested against the remnants of caste practices.

Multiple factors

The book, which runs into 264 pages and is published by Bengaluru-based Bahuroopi, explores practices of caste that are not just the result of conversion but inherent in the logic of trade, the class interest of retaining property, social mobility from Central Asia, social identity, and political expansionism.

The author says that colonialism, while documenting various castes, did make a distinction between Hindu social order and Muslim social order. In the latter case, social space for internal mobility, spaces for enlisting as ‘Ashrafs’ (Sheikh, Sayyed), and for continuing traditional occupation was available. And social hierarchy and social distancing continued to perpetuate.

Noting that colonialism created new castes, Prof. Assadi pointed out that the larger agenda of documenting, enlisting caste was ultimately meant to hegemonise, control, and dominate. The book focuses significantly on the way Muslims became subaltern classes during the colonial rule.

“With the experience derived from colonial encounters, Indian Muslims were castigated and condemned again and again for their social backwardness. This was backed by enlisting hundreds of castes among Muslims, although enlisting remained incomplete,” the author argues.

Post-Independence

The legacy continued after the Independence with reports on backward classes/ethnographic studies identifying and enlisting social groups, known for practising caste. “This culminated in identity politics, demand for affirmative action and reservation policy,” Prof. Assadi notes.

The author painstakingly unearths issues of caste among Muslims by referring to material from history, including the colonial census reports, gazetteer, travelogues, missionary works, police records and writings of Muslim scholars. The book comes at a time when there is a demand to re-enumerate castes and a growing urge for enhanced reservation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Naghesh Prabhu / Bengaluru – November 28th, 2021

Special Officer of Raichur University

Dakshina Kannada , KARNATAKA :

Muzaffar Assadi, Professor, Department of Studies in Political Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, has been appointed as the Special Officer of Raichur University, Raichur.

The government has decided to carve out Raichur University from Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi, keeping in view the interest of students and academic scholars.

The notification issued by the government has directed Gulbarga University to provide office, salary, staff and vehicle for the Special officer.

Prof. Assadi obtained his doctoral degree from JNU, New Delhi. He hails from Dakshina Kannada district. He has published articles in several academic journals.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – March 28th, 2018