Akhil Ranjan Dutta

Professor

MA (Delhi) PhD (Gauhati) MPhil (Delhi)

Political Economy, Social Security, Citizenship

Department of Sociology
Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014
Email: akhilranjan[at]gauhati[dot]ac[dot]in

Akhil Ranjan Dutta, currently a Professor in the Department of Political Science, the Head of the Department of Sociology, and the Director of the Gauhati University Institute of North-East Studies (GUINES), Gauhati University, India, is one of those social scientists of India's Northeast whose research has been motivated by political and cultural aspirations of people at the grassroots. 

 

A familiar face in Assam’s intellectual circle, Professor Dutta is known for his endeavours to build an organic link between academia and the larger society, a passion born of his academic trajectory. His political, cultural and ideological orientations have been moulded by his early encounters with the common citizen’s struggles in the rural setting of his childhood in a remote village of Assam’s Lakhimpur district, his subsequent exposure to the diverse, secular and inclusive academic and cultural atmosphere of Cotton College, Guwahati, and the rich and progressive intellectual setting of the University of Delhi.

 

A reputed scholar in the fields of development studies, human security, and the politics of nationalism, his works primarily focus on India’s North-East. Prof. Dutta holds a Master’s and M.Phil. from the University of Delhi and earned his PhD from Gauhati University for his dissertation titled Neoliberal State and Human Security: A Study of Right to Health in Guwahati City. His research started with his dissertation for the Master degree at Delhi University titled Recent Tribal Upsurge in Assam: A Study of the Bodo Movement (1996). For his M.Phil. Dutta shifted his focus to development debates and wrote his dissertation on Contemporary Discourse on Underdevelopment: The World System Theory (1999).

 

A pioneer in human security studies in India’s North-East, Prof. Dutta’s edited volume Human Security in North-East India: Issues and Policies (2009) received wide academic recognition. His book, Hindutva Regime in Assam: Saffron in the Rainbow (Sage, 2021), has been acclaimed as an important contribution towards the studies on Hindutva politics in India. In 2025, Gauhati University Press published his book titled Contested Urban Space in the Global South: Informality and Street Vending in India and Thailand.

 

Prof. Dutta was a Rotary World Peace Fellow at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (2009), and served as a visiting fellow in Political Science at Jawaharlal Nehru University (2017) and the University of Delhi (2020). He contributes to national and international journals such as Economic & Political Weekly, Social Change (Council for Social Development, Sage), Studies in Indian Politics (CSDS, Sage), Indian Law Review (Taylor & Francis), and Down to Earth etc. In addition, he is a well-known columnist in leading Assamese dailies. Prof. Dutta has co-authored and co-edited the ‘South Asia Poverty Report’ 2020 & 2024 published by the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE). In 2025, he compiled and edited Amalendu Guha: Seminal Writings, published to mark Prof. Guha’s birth centenary and published Asom Aru Asomiya, a collection of essays pertaining to Assam and Assamese national question. In 2017, Prof. Dutta led the Indian Think Tank Delegation to China at the invitation of the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi and the Chinese Embassy in India. Prof. Dutta serves as the Chairperson of the Brahmaputra Institute of Research and Development (BIRD), Guwahati, India. He is also a member of the Scientific Board of the Bandung Spirit, an international community of social scientists and social activists that upholds the goals of the Bandung Conference of 1955 affirming the values of independence, peace, equality, freedom and sustainability. Prof. Dutta also served the Gauhati University Teachers’ Association (GUTA) as its General Secretary for three tenures, as its Vice President for two tenures and as its President for the session 2019-20.

Select Publications (in Journals):

 

1. ‘AIUDF and Assam’s Politics: The Unfolding Dynamics’ (2025, co-authored with Parvin Sultana), Economic & Political Weekly, August 30, 2025 vol Lx no 35, pp 57-64

 

2.‘Hindutva and the Muslim Question in Assam: Underlying Tension and Emerging Dynamics’, (2024, co-authored with Nayanmoni Kumar), Social Change and Development, Vol XXI Special Issue, pp 26-44

 

3.‘Adjudicated Citizenship in Assam, India: Layers of Contestation’ (2024, co-authored with Neelakshi Talukdar), Indian Law Review, 12 December, 2024. 

 

4.‘Assam’s Verdict 2024: Charging Hindutva, Churning Narratives’ (2024, co-authored with Gaurav Das), Economic & Political Weekly. October 12, 2024 vol lix no 41, pp 36-39

 

5.‘In Assam, A Win for BJP on a Rocky Political Terrain’ (2024). Outlook India, 11 June.  available at https://www.outlookindia.com/national/in-assam-a-win-for-bjp-on-a-rocky-political-terrain

 

6.‘Contested Citizenship and Constitutionalism: A Study on Adjudicating Suspected Illegal Migrants in Assam, India’ (Dec 2023- January 2024), Inclusive, (ISSN:2278-9758). Vol II, No. 24, pp 360-71 (Co-authored with Neelakshi Talukdar)

 

7.‘Poor understanding of maternal, infant mortality rates & misuse of law behind Assam child marriage crackdown’, (2023). Down to Earth, 20 February, (available at https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/poor-understanding-of-maternal-infant-mortality-rates-misuse-of-law-behind-assam-child-marriage-crackdown-87809

 

8.‘Muslims and Hindutva in Assam’, (2022), Seminar, October. available at https://www.india-seminar.com/2022/758/758- 09%20AKHIL%20RANJAN%20DUTTA.htm

 

9.‘Assam and the NRC: A Political Reading’, (2020) Economic and Political Weekly, September 26, 2020 Vol lV no 39.  

(available at https://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/2020_55/39/DI_LV_39_260920_Akhil%20Ranjan%20Dutta.pdf )

 

10.‘Assam’s Verdict 2019: Why the Anti-CAB Mobilisations Failed?’ (2019) Economic and Political Weekly, December 28, 2019 pp Vol 54, Issue no 51pp 27-32. available at

https://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/2019_54/51/PE_LIV_51_281219_Akhil_Ranjan_Dutta.pdf

 

11.‘Damming the River, Burdening the Valley: Large Dams on the Brahmaputra’ (co-authored with Priyanka Sharma) (2019) NILIMA: A Journal of law and Policy, Volume II, Issue 2, July, pp.11-30

 

12.‘Preventive Detention under Judicial Scrutiny: AkhilGogoiVs.The State of Assam’ (2018), Economic and Political Weekly, 24 March 2018 pp 20-23 (Indexed in SCOPUS)

https://www.epw.in/journal/2019/51/perspectives/assams-2019-verdict-and-anti-cab-mobilisations.html

 

13.‘Political Destiny of Immigrants in Assam: National Register of Citizens’,  (2018), Economic and Political Weekly, 24 February, 2018 pp 18-21(Indexed in SCOPUS)

https://www.epw.in/journal/2018/8/commentary/political-destiny-immigrants-assam.html

 

14.‘Assam’s Population Policy, 2017: Overstated Numbers and Underlying Agendas’ (2017) Economic and Political Weekly, 2 December 2017, pp 19-21(Indexed in SCOPUS)

https://www.epw.in/journal/2017/48/commentary/assams-population-policy-2017.html

 

15.‘Co-opting the Khilonjiyas BJP’s Electoral Victory in Assam, 2016’ (2017) Social Change, 47(1) ISSN 0049-0857/ISSN Online: 0976-3538, DOI: 10.1177/0049085716683114

 

16.Book Review of K.S. Subramanian, State, Policy and Conflicts in Northeast India. New Delhi: Routledge. 2016. Studies in Indian Politics 4(2) 1–2 © 2016 Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies SAGE Publications sagepub.in/home.navDOI: 10.1177/2321023016665692

 

17.‘The Naga National Struggle, ‘Framework Agreement and the Peace Prospects’, 2015, Space and Culture, India, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.20896/saci.v3i2.151, ACCB Publishing, England, Nov. 2015, ISSN2052-8396(Indexed in SCOPUS) https://spaceandculture.in/index.php/spaceandculture/article/view/151

 

18.‘Civil Societies’ Engagement with ULFA in Assam: A Historical Exploration’, 2014, Studies in Indian Politics, CSDS, Sage Publications, DOI: 10.1177/2321023014526089

 

19.Development, Dignity and Rights: Role of Resistance Movements in the Era of Economic Reforms’, 2014 Journal of Political Science, GU, Vol VIII pp23-47, ISSN 2249-4170

 

20.Book Review, Nani Gopal Mahanta, Confronting the State: ULFA’s Quest for Sovereignty, Sage Studies on India’s Northeast, New Delhi, 2013 in Social Change, Sage, DOI 10.1177/0049085714536814

 

21.‘Forcing the Prison Doors’ : Socio-cultural Mission of Musician Dr. Bhupen Hazarika , Social Change, Vol. 43, No 3, September 2013,  pp 443-60 ISSN 0049-0857/ISSN Online: 0976-3538, DOI: 10.1177/0049085713494302

 

22.‘Healthcare Technology: A Domain of Inequality’, Advances in Applied Sociology (Co-authored with Suman Hazarika), Vol. 3, No 2, publication date  May 29, 2013, pp 85-92, ISSN 2165-4382 (Print), 2165-4336 (online), DOI: 10.4236/aasocio.2013.32011(Google Scholar) https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=32220

 

23.‘Profit from Sickness: The Case of Technology-driven Healthcare’, Advances in Applied Sociology (Co-authored with Suman Hazarika), Vol. 2, No 4 PP. 237-244, Pub. Date: December 13, 2012.ISSN 2165-4328 (Print), 2165-4336 (Online) DOI: 10.4236/aasoci.2012.24031,  (Google Scholar) https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=25386

 

24.‘Neo-liberal Paradigm of Development and Challenges of Health Security India in Comparative Perspective’, Social Change and Development, Journal of OKD Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati, ISSN 0975-4016, Vol.  IX, July 2012, Pp 42-63

 

25.‘JyotiprasadAgarwala: A Revolutionary Cultural Architect of 20th Century Assam’ Social Change, Vol 42, No 2, June 2012, pp 263-280, ISSN 0049-0857/ISSN Online: 0976-3538, DOI: 10.1177/004908571204200207

 

26.‘Indian State’ and Colonial Apparatuses: Can Peace be Achieved in Northeast India by Violating Peoples’ Rights? Indian Journal Of Political Science, Vol. LXXIII, No 2 pp 283-98 , ISSN 0019-5510

 

27.‘NRHM and Health Security in Northeast India: A Datasheet on Achievements and Setbacks’, International Sociological Research, Vol.5 No 1-2, pp 39-47, ISSN , 0974-8393

 

28.‘The Voice and the Subdued Silence: Burmese Refugees and the Migrant Labourers in Mae Sot’, (2012)Journal of Political Science, Department of Political Science, GU Vol. 7, pp 32-47, ISSN 2249-4170

 

29.‘Neo-liberal Development Paradigm and Food Security in India’, Indian Journal of Development Research and Social Action, New Delhi, ISSN 0973-3116 (Vol 8 N0 1-2, Jan –December 2012)Pp 1-18

 

30.‘Critiquing the Theory of Neo-liberal State’ (2005) Social Change and Development: A Journal of OKD Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati pp 183-205

 

31.‘Pagladiya Project: Poor Rehabilitation of Oustees’ (2003) Economic and Political Weekly, Dec. 6 pp 5149-53, Mumbai

 

 

 

Select essays/chapters in Books/Reports

 

1.‘Amalendu Guha: Historian Extraordinaire’ (2025). Introduction to Akhil Ranjan Dutta (compiled and edited). Amalendu Guha Seminal Writings, Bhabani Books, Guwahati.

 

2.‘The U-turn of the Great Indian Middle Class: Approaching Contemporary History through the Lens of Asomiya Madhyabitta Shreneer Ithas’(2024), Foreword to Dr. Prafulla Mahanta’s History of the Assamese Middle Class, Purbanchal Prakash, Guwahati.

 

3.‘Temporal Changes, Changing Role of the State and Emerging Issues’ (2024) in Remesh, Dutta, Mohan edited Social Security in South Asia (South Asia Poverty Report 2020) Kathmandu, Nepal.

 

4.‘Poverty and Inequality in South Asia: State Responses’ (2020) in Remesh, Dutta, Mohan edited Migration in South Asia: Poverty and Vulnerability (South Asia Poverty Report 2020) Kathmandu, Nepal

      

5.‘Migrants, Emigrants and Refugees in South Asia: State Responses’ (2020) in Remesh, Dutta, Mohan edited Migration in South Asia: Poverty and Vulnerability (South Asia Poverty Report 2020) Kathmandu, Nepal

 

6.‘Assam Polls: The Hindutva Wave’ (2020) in Paul Wallace (edited)India’s 2019 Elections: The Hindutva Wave and Indian Nationalism, Sage, New Delhi, ISBN 978-93-5388-244-0 (HB)

 

7.‘Conservation Vs. Peoples’ Entitlements: Contestations in Kaziranga National Park’ (2019) in Rakhee Bhattacharya edited Developmentalism as Strategy: Interrogating Post-colonial Narratives on India’s North East, SAGE STUDIES ON INDIA’S NORTH EAST,   ISBN: 978-93-532-8318-6 , pp280-303

 

8.‘Healthcare Technology: A Domain of Inequality’ (Co-authored with Suman Hazarika) (2017) in Gwen Smith edited Recent Theories and Concepts in Applied Sociology, Vol 1, College Publishing House, New York, USA, pp 7-14 ISBN 978-19789-2845-9 available at ebooks.wtbooks.com

 

9.‘ULFA and Indian State: Role of Civil Society in Conflict Resolution’ (2016) in Dilip Gogoi edited Unheeded Hinterland: Identity and Sovereignty in Northeast India, Routledge, New York.’

 

10.‘BJP’s Consolidation, AIUDF’s Polarization and Congress Defeat in Assam’ (2015) in Paul Wallace (ed). India’s 2014 Elections: A Modi-led BJP Sweep, Sage, Los Angeles, London, Washington DC, New Delhi, Singapore, Boston, (ISBN: 978-93-515-0187-9) pp 381-403

 

11.‘Struggle for Life and Livelihood: The Doyang-Tengani Forest Dwellers’ Movement in Assam’, 2012 in Nani G Mahanta & Di  lip Gogoi edited Shifting Terrain: Conflict Dynamics in North-East India, DVS Publishers, Guwahati, pp 33-62, ISBN 978-81-86307-57-1

 

12.‘JyotiprasadAgarawala: A Revolutionary Humanist’, 2012, in Akhil Ranjan Dutta (edited)Culture, Ideology,politics: JyotiprasadAgarwala and His Vision for social transformation DVS, Guwahati pp1-18, ISBN 978-8186307-52-6

 

13.‘Health Security in India’, 2010, in association with Monirul Hussain Human Security in India: Health, Shelter and Marginalization, The University Press Limited, Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies, Dhaka, pp 15-54 ISBN 978-984-8851-144

 

14.‘Disaggregation of the State and Marginalization of Citizenship: The State of Rights to Health Care in Assam’, 2010, Anand Kumar & Manish Tiwari edited Quest for Participatory Democracy, Rawat Publications, New Delhi, pp243-78, ISBN 81-316-0330-X

 

15.‘Globalization and Ethnic Conflicts’, 2005 in Girin Phokan edited Inter and Intra-Ethnic Conflicts in North-East India, South Asian Publishers, New Delhi, pp 40-55

 

1.      Member of the Steering Committee (SC) and the Scientific Board (SB) of the ‘Rise of Asia’, International Conference, Third Episode held in Paris University and Le Havre University, France on 13-15 March, 2019. Co-Chair of the Sessions on Mahatma Gandhi, and also presented a paper on ‘Hind Swaraj: Reading of the Future’.

 

2.      Co -Core author and the editorial board member of the Regional South Asia Poverty Report 2019 titled ‘Migration in South Asia: Poverty and Inequality’, being published by South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE). It is a collective enterprise of the concerned community of the countries across South Asia. The Report is a product of continuous engagement among the authors and contributors of all eight South Asian countries.  

 

3.      On invitation from Chinese Embassy in India, New Delhi and Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi led the Indian Think Tank Delegation to China and visited Beijing, Sanghai and Chengdu of Peoples’ Republic of China from June 25 to July 4, 2017 The delegation visited three Universities in the country- China Foreign Affairs University (Beijing); Fudan University (Sanghai) and Sichuan University (Chengdu) and presented views on the part of India on issues related to India China relationship: Issues of contention and convergence. Spoke on India and China in the Changing dynamics of the world, Symposium at China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing on June 27, 2017; Chaired the session on China’s Foreign Policy and India’s concerns at Fudan Universityon June 29, 2017; and spoke on Beyond border disputes and OBOR/CPEC: Exploring the issues of convergence between India and China at the Centre for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University on July 3, 2017.

 

States in South Asia: Inequality, Distrust and Polarization, South Asian Thinkers Meet, Colombo, Sri Lanka on March 10-11, 2017, organized by South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) in collaboration with Social Science Association, Colombo and Centre for Labour Studies, National Law University, Bangalore, India

 

5.  Shrinking Space of Civil Society in South Asia (2016), South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), Kathmandu, Nepal on September 2-3, 2016

Rotary World Peace Fellow at the Rotary International Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (2009). As a part of this three month programme, which brought academic and civil society people from all across the globe visited border cities of Thailand including refugee camps and interacted with the international NGOs working on refugees; visited Cambodia and the killing fields and interacted with the NGOs and other organizations working with the victims of Pal Pot regime as well as witnessed the international tribunal on the victims and perpetrators of victims during that regime. 

Select presentations in National Seminars/International Seminars in India

  1. Hiren Gohain: Making of a Public Intellectual, Chair Person’s presentation in the Public Lecture in Honour of Professor Hiren Gohain, organized by Social Science Research Community, India in Cotton University on 8 January 2023

 

  1. Employment and Livelihood (In)Security in South Asia (Editors’ remarks on the SAAPE Poverty Report 2024), South Asia Workshop on ‘Social Protection in South Asia: Employment Crisis, Poverty and Vulnerability, organized by SAAPE, Kathmandu in collaboration with the National Law School of India University, Bangalore on 15-16 December 2022.

 

  1. National Education Policy 2022: Promises and the Social Reality, Dulal Chandra Mahanta Memorial Lecture, organized by Puthimari College Teachers’ Association on 22 November 2022

 

 

  1. Gender Equity and Women Empowerment with Special Reference to North East India , Keynote Address in the ICSSR sponsored National Seminar in Pub Kamrup College on 1 8 November 2022

 

  1. ‘Citizenship Regimes: Law and Belonging’, Conversation with Prof. Anupama Roy (Author of the book) organized by INU Teachers’ Association on September 15 2022

 

 

  1. Citizenship and Discourse of Illegality in Assam, paper presented in the National Webinar in on ‘Divided Humanities, Divided Selves’, organized by Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi in collaboration Foundation on 9 May 2022.

 

  1. Hindutva and the India Republic, Special Lecture delivered at Manohari Devi Girls’ College, Dibrugarh on 25 March 2022

 

 

  1. Hindutva Regime and the Citizenship Debates, invited lecture delivered in the National Seminar on ‘Rethinking Citizenship in a Post-colonial State: Identity and Conflicts in NE India’, organized by the Department of Political Science, Dibrugarh University on 24 March 2022.

 

  1. National Education Policy 2020: Issues of Equity and Inclusion in North East India, National Webinar organized by OKD Institute of Social Change and Development on 28 August 2021

 

 

  1. Constitutional Values and Democracy: Emerging Debates and Concerns, National Webinar organized by the Department of Political Science and the IQAC, Suren Das College on 22nd June 2021

 

  1. Crisis of Civilization and Search for a Secure Future, Special Lecture in the National Webinar organized by the Department of Political Science in collaboration with the IQAC of the Behali Degree College on 14 August 2021

 

  1. “The Moment We Have Arrived At: A Long Term Political Economy Perspective' National Webinar organized by Royal Global University on 13 July 2020
  3. Civic Resistance and Electoral Democracy: 2019 Elections in Assam, lecture delivered in the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi on 4 March 2020 organised under UGC-CAS/SAP

.

  1. Civil Society and the process of democratization in India: Perspective from Northeast, lecture delivered in Zakir Hussain Delhi College on 3 March 2020 organised by the Department of Political Science, Zakir Hussain Delhi college in collaboration with the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi.

 

  1. Contemporary Developments and Gandhi’s Relevance (2019), Special Lecture delivered at Goalpara College on 9 November 2019

 

  1. Ethnicity and Identity in the Age of Neoliberal Globalization (2019), Keynote Address in the National Seminar on Ethnicity and Identity: Search for Peace and Development organized by Sonapur College on 1-2 November 2019

 

  1. Use of Scientific Terminology in Academic Disciplines (2019) at National Workshop on Use of Scientific and Technical Terminologies in Social Sciences, organized by the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India in collaboration with KarmashreeHiteswarSaikia College, Guwahati, April 22.

 

  1. Hind Swaraj: A Reading of the Future (2019) in the International Conference ‘Rise of Asia’ organized by University of Paris and University of Le Havre, France on 13-15 March 2019.

 

 

  1. Immigration, Citizenship and State Responses: A Case of NRC and CAB in India(2019) in the International workshop on “Migration in South Asia: Poverty and Inequality’, organized by South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) and Institute of Public Policy, National Law School of India University (NLSUI), Bangalore, February 24-25.

 

  1. Contested Citizenship in Assam: A Case of NRC (2018), at Creative Theory Colloquium, India International Seminar, New Delhi, September

 

 

  1. NRC and Citizenship in Assam(2018), at Centre for Political Studies (CPS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in the National seminar on NRC, September 4, 2018

 

 

  1. Distortions of History and Syllabus (2018), at Peoples’ Tribunal on Attack on Educational Institutions in India, organized by Peoples’ Commission on Shrinking Democratic Space, Constitution Club, New Delhi 11-12 April

 

  1. Globalization Vs Grasroots Mobilization: Understanding the State Process (2018), Special Lecture in the UGC-SAP National Seminar on ‘Contemporary Social Movements: Macro and Micro Dimensions’ Department of Political Science, North Bengal University, 20 March

 

 

  1. Adjudicated Citizenship: NRC Process in Assam, (2018) special lecture organized by the Department of Political Science, North Bengal University, 19 March

 

  1. Wither Politics: Citizenship Issue in Assam (2018), International Seminar on ‘Resurgence and Reversals of Democracy in South and South East Asia’, organized by the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies & Department of Political Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 9-10 March

 

 

  1. Elections and State Politics: A Case of Assam, Centre for Political Studies (CPS), JNU on March 24, 2017

 

  1. Co-Opting the Khilonjiyas: Assam State Assembly Elections 2016, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi on September 7. 2016

 

 

  1. Participated in the Seminar on ‘Public Provisioning in Basic Services and Infrastructures: Country Experiences and Outcomes’ organized by OKD Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati on 25-26 September 2014 and presented a paper titled Interrogating the State-driven Beneficiary Regime: A Perspective on NRHM in Assam

 

  1. Participated in the Workshop organized by IIT, Guwahati in association with British Council and UNESCO Chair in Delhi on ‘Community Engagement in Higher Educational Institutions’ on 17-18 September 2014 and delivered a lecture on Constructing and De-constructing Communities by the Neo-liberal Policy Regime: The Challenges Towards Engagement of Communities in Research

 

 

  1. Participated in the Political Theory Colloqium 2014, organized by the Foundation for Creative Social Research in Collaboration with India International Centre at New Delhi on 5-6 September 2014 and presented a paper titled Neo-liberal State, Legitimacy and the Beneficiary Regime: Creating New Forms of Violence and Marginalities

 

  1. Delivered R. J. Sridharan Memorial Lecture on 28 June 2014 in Chennai on Development, Dignity and Rights: Role of Resistance Movements in the Era of Economic Reforms organised by All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA)

 

 

  1. Participated in the International Seminar organized by Revenshaw University, Cuttak on ‘Redrawing the Boundaries of International Relations: Going beyond State and Power’ on 20-22 February 2014 and presented a paper on Interrogating the State: Justice, Development and Peoples’ Movements in Northeast India

 

  1. Participated in the national seminar on ‘Responding to the Maoist Threat to Northeast India’ organized by Centre for Development and Peace Studies, Guwahati on February 3-4, 2014 and presented a paper on Equitable Justice, Development and the Rise of the Maoists in India’s Northeast.

 

  1. Periphery of a Nation State: Understanding Political Movements in Northeast India, invited lecture at the International Conference on ‘Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Ideology and Socio Political Movements in Asia’ on 1-3 March 2012, organised by the Department of History, AbasahebGarware College, Pune, Maharashtra.

 

 

  1. Capacity Building in Social Science Research Training Course on SPSS (2009) acted as a Resource person and administered five sessions related to use of SPSS for social science research in North-East India, organized by Indian Council of Social Science Research-North Eastern Regional Centre (ICSSR-NERC), Shillong during 1-10 December 2009.

 

  1. Budgetary Implications of Women’s Health in North-East India (2009), paper presented in the Regional Workshop on ICPD+15-Focus on North-East IndiaFocus, organized by Jagori, New Delhi and North-East Network, New Delhi at Barapani, Shillong on 27-28 November 2009

 

 

  1. Diversity, Conflict and Human Insecurity: Exploring New Frontiers in Open and Distance Learning for India’s North-East (2008), paper presented in the UNESCO, Commonwealth of Learning, Distance Education Council sponsored IDEA Seminar at Gauhati University on 14-16 November 2009

 

 

  1. Reforms in Higher Education: The Challenges for the State Universities (2009), paper presented in the National Symposium on Reforms in Higher Education, organized by North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), Shillong, 29-30 October 2009

 

  1. Issues and Challenges in Implementing NREGS (2009) paper presented in the North-East Regional Interaction on Implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme organized by National Legal Service Authority and Assam State Legal Service Authority at Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati on 26 April 2009

 

 

  1. Why Does the State Fail to Tackle Insurgency in North-East India? (2009) paper presented in the National Workshop on Can Political Science be used as a tool to understand and resolve conflict: The case of India’s North-East organized by the Centre for Development and Peace Studies, Guwahati on 16-17 March 2009

 

  1. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and his Vision for Social Transformation (2009) Paper presented in the International Seminar on Development and Human Civilization in Twenty First Century, Council for Social Development, India International Centre, Delhi, 12-14 February 2009

 

 

  1. Governing Water Supply and Water Accessibility in Rural Assam: Debating the Emerging Policy Regime paper presented in the UGC-NEC sponsored National Seminar on Decentralization of Power and Rural Development in India at Digboi College, Assam on 10-11 November 2008.

 

  1. Impact of Globalization on Ethnic Studies and MILs (2008) Keynote Address at the UGC sponsored National Seminar at BiswanathChariali College, 5-6 September, 2008

 

  1. Role of Media in Conflict and Peace Process in North-East India (2008), paper presented in the Regional Seminar on Role of History and Media in Conflict and Peace Process organized by Tezpur University, Assam on 18th August 2008

 

  1. State of Higher Education under Neo-liberal Globalization (2008) Paper presented in the UGC-sponsored National Seminar in the UGC sponsored National Seminar on Higher Education and Autonomy for the Colleges,Darrang College, 9-10 May 2008

 

  1. Peace Process and Development in North-East India: Locating Gender within multiple contradictions (2008), paper presented in the National Seminar on Peace Process and Development in North-East India: A Gender Perspective organized by Institute of Tai Studies and Research, Moranhat, Dibrugarh, Assam on 26-27 April, 2008

 

  1. Globalization and Its Impact on Gender Relation (2007), a presentation as a Resource Person in the NCW sponsored State level Workshop on Gender Gap in Social Protection in Reference to North-East India, organized by Centre for Women’s Studies, Dibrugarh University, Assam on 4-6 Dec, 2007

 

 

  1. Globalization, Insecurity and the Politics of Youth (2007) Paperpresented in the North-East India Council for Social Science Research, Shillong On Population Dynamics in North East India Date 4-5 June 2007
  2. Civil Society and Communal harmony in Assam: An Analysis in the Context of Neo-liberal Globalization and Social Insecurity(2006) paper presented in the Seminar onCommunal Harmony in Assam: The Role of Civil Societyorganized by OKD Institute of Social Change and Development in Collaboration with National Foundation for Communal Harmony, New Delhi on 23-24 January 2006.

 

  1. Politicization Vs. De-politicization: Projecting Culture as an Autonomous Category by the Neo-liberal Agenda (2004) paper presented in the Symposium on Depolticization of Culture, organized by the Center for Political Studies, Department of Political Science, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam on May 3, 2004

 

 

  1. Marginalizing the Marginalized; A Study of Right to Health Care in the State of Assam (2004), paper presented in the National Conference on ‘Social Change in North-East: Problems and Prospects’ organized by the Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, at Guwahati on 28-30 April, 2004.

 

  1. Problematizing the Discourse on Constitutional Safeguards for the Indigenous People in the Epoch of Globalization (2004) paper, presented in the Regional Seminar on Constitutional Safeguards for the Indigenous People in North- East, organized by North-East Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on 13-14 March 2004 at Guwahati.

 

 

  1. Disaggregation of the State and Marginalization of Citizenship: A Study of Right to Health Care in Assam (2004) presented in the International Conference on “Global Quest for participatory Democracy”, organized by the Centre for the Study of Social System (CSSS), School of Social Sciences (SSS), JNU, New Delhi on 20-22 Feb 2004.

 

 

  1. Alternative Models of Development” (2003) at the Eastern India Social Science Workshop on Tradition, Development and Justice, organized by the Centre for Study in Social Sciences (CSSS) Calcutta in collaboration with Eastern Regional Centre, ICSSR, on 23-25 June, 2003.

Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta is also the founder President of the SSRC, India-Transcending Boundaries for Sustainable Alternatives

SOCIAL Science Research Community (SSRC), India- Transcending Boundaries for Sustainable Alternatives is a self-sponsored body formed by a group of research scholars based in India and beyond. The pre-eminent goal of SSRC is to bring together a group of Social Science researchers across disciplines from different Universities and Research Institutes of the India and beyond. The idea is to help in doing quality social science research through regular engagement both through formal and informal ways. SSRC, India has also reached out scholars and researchers in the disciplines of fundamental sciences, technology and medicine so as to expand the horizon of social science research through mutually enforcing engagements.

 

Events organized by SSRC, India and chaired by Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta

(i)                 16 June 2020: COVID 19 and Assam: Development, Social Security and Migration (Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta; Speakers: Prof. Binod Khadria, JNU, New Delhi; DR. Joydeep Baruah and Dr. Shaswati Choudhury, OKDISCD, Guwahati)

(ii)                26 June 2020: Research and the Resources: Finding and Interpreting Data (Internal session by Dr. Joydeep Baruah; Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta)

(iii)             3 July 2020: COVID 19 and South Asia: Country Experiences (Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta. Speakers: Mirwais Pasa, Afghanistan, Ammar Jan, Pakistan, S.T.Nalini Thirunavukarasu, Sri Lanka and Padma Prasad  Khatiwada, Nepal; Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta Session Coordinator: Chinmoyee Das)

(iv)             5 July 2020: ‘COVID 19 and Handling of the Migrant Labourers: Kerala Experiences. (Chair: Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, Delhi University, Key Speaker:  Pranjanjyoti Nath, IAS, Kerala Government, Session Coordinator: Dr. Jintu Gohain)

(v)               10 July 2020: COVID 19 and the State Responsibilities: The Legal-Constitutional Dimensions: (Chair, Nilay Dutta, Sr. Advocate, Gauhati High Court. Speakers: Kamal Nayan Choudhury, Eminent Advocate, Gauhati High Court; Shashawati Goswami, Professor, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi & Dr. Shubhradipta Sarkar, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi organized in collaboration with STUDIO NEELIMA, Guwahati)

(vi)             7 August 2020 Covid 19 and Indian Federalism: Speakers: Prof. Balveer Arora, former Professor in Political Science and Rector, JNU; Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, former Professor in Political Science, Delhi University and Prof. Pritam Singh, Oxford University, Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta: Moderator: Dr. Sabrina Iqbal Sircar)

(vii)           12 August 2020 National  Education Policy 2020: Speakers: Prof. Minati Panda, JNU & Prof. Manish Jain, AUD, New Delhi, Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta; Moderator: Dr. Sreeparna Bhattacharjee)

(viii)         28 August 202: COVID 19 and Africa (Prof. Mamadou Fall, Senegal & Prof. Thomals NDaluka, Tanzania, Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, University of Delhi Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta: Moderator: Dr. Monalisha Roy Choudhury, Coordinator: Dr. Juthika Das

(ix)             7 September 2020: Resource Politics (Kashmira Kakati, Ph. D. Kathmandu & Narayan Sarmah, Cotton University; Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta; Moderator: Dr. Bornali Sharma)

(x)               12 September 2020: COVID 19 and Healthcare Professionals (Dr. Rifat Mannan, USA; Dr. Nayana Talukdar, Canada, Dr. Shantanu Baruah, Australia, Dr. Ego Sharma, UK; Chair: Prof. Akhil Ranjan Dutta; Moderator: Prof. Polly Vauquline )

 

 (xi) 5 December 2020: Book Discussion on The Unquiet River- a biography of the Brahmaputra (The Panel: Iftekhar Iqbal, PhD, Associate Professor and Programme Leader, History and International Studies Programme, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Rakhee Kalita Moral, PhD, Associate Professor, Deptt. of English, and Head, Centre for Womens’ Studies, Cotton University, India; Tanmoy Sharma, PhD Candidate, Anthropology and Environmental Humanities, Yale University, USA; ArupjyotiSaikia, Professor of History, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT, Guwahati, India-Author. Chair: Akhil Ranjan Dutta & Moderator: Bornali Sharma, Ph. D, Cotton University, India )

 Ph. D. Research Scholars   (Degree Awarded/Thesis Submitted/Research Ongoing)

 

  1. Dr. Suman Hazarika (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Governance of Health Technology
  2. Dr. Dibyajyoti Dutta (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: PDS and Food Security
  3. Dr. Pankaj Bora (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: MNREGA and Livelihood Security
  4. Dr. Juthika Das (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Assam Congress in the Nationalist Framework
  5. Dr. Surashree Pathak (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Conflict and Livelihood Security
  6. Dr. Bidisha Borah (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Violence Against Women and Access to Justice
  7. Dr. Emon Bordoloi (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Juvenile Justice
  8. Dr. Priyanak Sharma (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Ecological Security
  9. Dr. Atri Baruah (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Development and Peoples' Resistance: A Study of KMSS
  10. Dr. Banasmita Sarmah (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Representational Politics and Assam Legistative Assembly
  11. Dr. Neelakshi Talukdar (Degree Awarded) Research Theme: Contested Citizenship in Assam
  12. Dronali Talukdar (Thesis Submitted) Research Theme: State as an Exception: Assam Under Emergency
  13. Happy Saha (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Foreigner's Tribunals & Citizenship
  14. Gracy Basumatary (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Minority Hegemony
  15. Tonmoy Baruah (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Development Politics in Ethnic Homeland
  16. Nayan Kumar (Thesis Submitted) Research Theme: Miya Identity
  17. Parvin Sultana (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: AIUDF and Assam's Politics
  18. Sanghamitra Dev Roy (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Urban Marginality
  19. Jyotisman Baruah (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Cultural Nationalism and Hindutva Politics
  20. Gaurav Das (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Hindutva in Assam: An Ideo-charismatic Paradigm, Tentative
  21. Sanghamitra Choudhury (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Neo-liberalism and Neo-patriarchy, Tentative
  22. Tridib Bhagabati (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Nationality politics in Assam and Ambikagiri Raichoudhury, Tentative
  23. Salil Biswas (Ongoing) Reseach Theme: Caste Politics in West Bengal: A Case of the Matua Community, Tentative 

           

Books

 

Solely Authored

Contested Urban Space in the Global South: Informality and Street Vending in India and Thailand, 2025, Gauhati University Press

 

Asom Aru Asomiya-1, 2025, Purbanchal Prakash, Guwahati

 

Hindutva Regime in Assam: Saffron in the Rainbow, 2021, Sage Publications, New Delhi 

 

Sambhawana: Asom Bidhan Sabha Nirbachan 2016,  Rainbow Publishers, Guwahati, India

 

Asomor Jatiya Jivanat Lakshminath Bezbaruah Aru Ananya Rachana, 2015,  Katha, Guwahati

 

Biswayanar Ali-DomojaatSamaj-Sabhyata (In Assamese) (Society and Civilization at the Crossroads of Globalization), 2009,  Padatik Prakashan, Guwahati, India

 

 

Compiled and Edited 

 

Aamalendu Guha Seminal Works, 2025 (Compiled & Edited), Bhabani, Guwahati

 

The Conscientious Statesman: Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya in Assam Legislative Assembly (Compiled and Edited), 2015, Gaurisankar Bhattacharyya Memorial Committee, Guwahati, India

 

Indian Politics: Issues, Institutions and Process (Edited), 2013, Arun Prakashan, Guwahati, India

 

Culture, Ideology, Politics (Edited), 2012, DVS Publishers, Guwahati, India

 

Political Theory: Issues, Concepts and Debates (Edited), 2011, Arun Prakashan, Guwahati, India

 

Human Security in North East India: Issues & Policies (Edited), 2009, Anwesha, Guwahati , India

 

 

Translation  

 

Parivartannar Samasya (Assamese Translation of the Book by B P Singh-The Problem of Change, Oxford University Press), 1999, National Book Trust (NBT), New Delhi, India

 

Teaching Experience

 

1.      Lecturer in Political Science, Goalpara College, Assam: 15 November 1997 to 28 February 2001

2.      Lecturer in Political Science, Gauhati University, Assam: 1 March 2001 to 31 December 2007

 

3.      Reader in Peace and Conflict Studies, Gauhati University, Assam: 31 December 2007 to 31 May 2010

 

4.      Reader in Political Science, Gauhati University, Assam: 1 June 2010 to 30 December 2010

 

5.      Associate Professor in Political Science, Gauhati University: 31 December 2010 to 30 December 2013

 

6.      Professor in Political Science, Gauhati University: 31 December 2013 onward.

 

7. Rotary World Peace Fellow, Rotary International Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (2009)

 

8. Visiting Fellow, Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (March 2027)

 

9. Visiting Fellow, Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, University of Delhi (march 2020)

 

 

Positions held

 

1.      Head, Department of Political Science, Gauhati University: 01-01-2019 to 31-12-2021

2.      Chairperson, Departmental Research Committee (DRC), Department of Political Science, Gauhati University: 01-01-2019 to 31-12-2021

3.      Chairperson, Departmental Advisory Committee (DAC), Department of Political Science, Gauhati University: 01-01-2019 to 31-12-2021

4.      Coordinator, UGC-SAP (DRS II) 2015-2020, Department of Political Science, Gauhati University

5.      Member, Gauhati University Court: 22-12-2020 to 31-12-2021

6.      Member, Town Advisory Committee (TAC), Gauhati University: 2016 onwards

7.      Convener, 28th Gauhati University Convocation, 2020

8.      Member, Academic Council, Gauhati University since December 2031

9.  Member, Board of Studies, Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong (2021-2024)

 

 

Corporate Life

 

President, Gauhati University Teachers' Association (2019-20)

 

Vice-President, Gauahati University Teachers' Association (2012-13/2013-14)

 

General Secretary, Gauhati University Teachers' Association (2007-08/2010-11/2011-12)

 

President, Social Science Research Community (SSRC), India- Transcending Boundaries for Sustainable Development

 

Chairperson (Hon.), Brahmaputra Institute of Research and Development (BIRD), Guwahati, India

Date of Birth: 1 March 1973

Native Place: Village: Gobindapur; P.S.: Dhakuakhana;  District: Lakhimpur, Assam, India

 

Parents: Late Padmawati Kalita (Mother) and Thaneswar Kalita (Father)

 

Nationality: Indian

 

Official Address

Department of Political Science

New Academic Building

Gauhati University

Guwahati-781014, Assam, India

 

Residential Address

Quarter No 20

Gauhati University Campus

Guwahati-781014, Assam, India

 

Email

akhilranjangu@gmail.com/akhilranjan@gauhati.ac.in

 

Mobile No: +91-94357-3168/+91-6900721552

 

Educational Qualifications: 

 

H.S. L.C. (1988): Dhakuakhana Higher Secondary School, Lakhimpur, Assam

 

H.S.S.L.C. (1990): Cotton College,Guwahati (8th position in the Council)

 

B.A. (1993): Subject: Political Science; Cotton College, Guwahati (First Class First position under Gauhati University)

 

M.A. (1996): Subject: Political Science; University of Delhi

 

M. Phil. (1999): Subject: Political Science; University of Delhi)

 

Ph.D. (2006): Subject: Political Science; Gauhati University

 

Special Training in Peace and Conflict Studies (2009); Rotary International Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies; Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

 

Spouse: Mouchume Dutta Borah (PGT at Assam railway Higher Secondary School, Panbazar, Guwahati, India)

 

Children: Aranyak Dutta (Loy) and Arohan Dutta (Raag)

 

Important links

 

Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Akhil_Dutta

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=akhil+ranjan+dutta&oq=akhil+ranjan+

Gauhati University: https://www.gauhati.ac.in/member/akhil-ranjan-dutta?aid=2&did=8

EPW:  https://www.epw.in/author/akhil-ranjan-dutta?0=ip_login_no_cache%3D70d985a7d4610fe5f5a493e9ad7e5a04

 

  1. ‘Temporal Changes, Changing Role of the State and Emerging Issues’ (2024) in Remesh, Dutta, Mohan edited Social Security in South Asia (South Asia Poverty Report 2020) Kathmandu, Nepal. (Forthcoming)

 

  1. ‘Poverty and Inequality in South Asia: State Responses’ (2020) in Remesh, Dutta, Mohan edited Migration in South Asia: Poverty and Vulnerability (South Asia Poverty Report 2020) Kathmandu, Nepal

      

  1. ‘Migrants, Emigrants and Refugees in South Asia: State Responses’ (2020) in Remesh, Dutta, Mohan edited Migration in South Asia: Poverty and Vulnerability (South Asia Poverty Report 2020) Kathmandu, Nepal

 

  1. ‘Assam Polls: The Hindutva Wave’ (2020) in Paul Wallace (edited)India’s 2019 Elections: The Hindutva Wave and Indian Nationalism, Sage, New Delhi, ISBN 978-93-5388-244-0 (HB)

 

  1. ‘Conservation Vs. Peoples’ Entitlements: Contestations in Kaziranga National Park’ (2019) in Rakhee Bhattacharya edited Developmentalism as Strategy: Interrogating Post-colonial Narratives on India’s North East, SAGE STUDIES ON INDIA’S NORTH EAST, ISBN: 978-93-532-8318-6 , pp280-303

 

  1. ‘Healthcare Technology: A Domain of Inequality’ (Co-authored with Suman Hazarika) (2017) in Gwen Smith edited Recent Theories and Concepts in Applied Sociology, Vol 1, College Publishing House, New York, USA, pp 7-14 ISBN 978-19789-2845-9 available at ebooks.wtbooks.com

 

  1. ‘ULFA and Indian State: Role of Civil Society in Conflict Resolution’ (2016) in DilipGogoi edited Unheeded Hinterland: Identity and Sovereignty in Northeast India, Routledge, New York.’

 

  1. ‘BJP’s Consolidation, AIUDF’s Polarization and Congress Defeat in Assam’ (2015) in Paul Wallace (ed). India’s 2014 Elections: A Modi-led BJP Sweep, Sage, Los Angeles, London, Washington DC, New Delhi, Singapore, Boston, (ISBN: 978-93-515-0187-9) pp 381-403

 

  1. ‘Struggle for Life and Livelihood: The Doyang-Tengani Forest Dwellers’ Movement in Assam’, 2012 in Nani G Mahanta & Di lip Gogoi edited Shifting Terrain: Conflict Dynamics in North-East India, DVS Publishers, Guwahati, pp 33-62, ISBN 978-81-86307-57-1

 

  1. ‘JyotiprasadAgarawala: A Revolutionary Humanist’, 2012, in Akhil Ranjan Dutta (edited)Culture, Ideology,politics: JyotiprasadAgarwala and His Vision for social transformation DVS, Guwahati pp1-18, ISBN 978-8186307-52-6

 

  1. ‘Health Security in India’, 2010, in association with Monirul Hussain Human Security in India: Health, Shelter and Marginalization, The University Press Limited, Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies, Dhaka, pp 15-54 ISBN 978-984-8851-144

  

  1. ‘Disaggregation of the State and Marginalization of Citizenship: The State of Rights to Health Care in Assam’, 2010, Anand Kumar & Manish Tiwari edited Quest for Participatory Democracy, Rawat Publications, New Delhi, pp243-78, ISBN 81-316-0330-X

 

  1. ‘Globalization and Ethnic Conflicts’, 2005 in GirinPhokan edited Inter and Intra-Ethnic Conflicts in North-East India, South Asian Publishers, New Delhi, pp 40-55

Facilities & Resources

Facilities
Resources
Some Important Links (Outside GU)