Deshkal Society
Deshkal Society (देशकाल सोसाइटी) is an Indian non-governmental organisation (NGO). It works to realise a vision of socially and economically inclusive growth and to ensure dignity, equality and justice for all. Their special concern has been for the Dalits of Bihar, where this society has worked more on the education of their children, ownership rights on land and problems of employment.
The organisation was started in 1995 by a group of teachers, journalists and young researchers. Initially, it was aimed to bring out a Hindi magazine focused on liberal and logical thinking.
This NGO has worked with UNICEF Bihar, NITI Aayog, MHRD, Ford Foundation, IGNCA, and Nalanda University.
History
In 1995, Deshkal India was started as a Hindi magazine. Initially, it aimed to expand a liberal and thoughtful society. The founder of this society is Sanjay Kumar,[1][2] a scholar and practitioner who shaped this society to work for the social diversity, inequality, and education for all.[3]
This society has worked for rights of marginal sections, education for all and inequality. Under Dr Sanjay Kumar, this society had worked for educational framework of Dalit child community(2002–2005) with the aid from MHRD, Govt of India.[4][5] It also worked with UNICEF in Bihar (2015–2016).[6] A report from this society, which received assistance from the NITI Aayog, in 2014 suggested modifying the Bihar Privileged Persons Homestead Tenancy Act 1947 in -order to establish a housing policy that is both sustainable and egalitarian.[7]
Works
Homestead rights
This has worked for access to land and secure ownership rights over it for the marginalised community in the Gaya region of Bihar. In this regard, they filed 2,492 applications that included 425 applications for raiyati land, 1,536 for ghairmazarua khas land (common land for special use), and 531 for ghairmazarua aam land (common land for general use).[8]
Inclusive education
Deshkal Society support inclusive education in Bihar by raising the academic attainment and school attendance rates of kids from rural areas. They work for the efficacy of schools by implementing inclusive teaching and learning methodologies. By facilitating children from marginalised communities' enrolment, retention, and involvement and attending to their various needs, they contribute to their social inclusion.[9]
Dalit Studies
Deshkal society pushed the idea of 'Dalit Studies' in the Indian university education system. This society made a point of "how unaware the general public is of Dalit culture and living circumstances. Different subject curricula fail to address issues that stem from Dalit people's unique historical experiences". In this course, the Ford Foundation helped them to create a forum where the discussion related to a new need for content material, nature, scope and method related to Dalit culture and studies.[10]
Bodh Gaya Global Dialogue
"Bodh Gaya Global Dialogues" is an event organised by the Deshkal Society regularly. The global dialogues cover a mosaic of parallel sub-events, including plenary sessions, panel discussions, children's programs, cultural events, film shows, award functions, book launches, and heritage walks, to bring the many themes of sustainable development, rich history, culture, and heritage of the place into the public discussion.[11][12][13]
Publications
- The Social Context of Learning in India Achievement Gaps and Factors of Poor Learning, 2023; Routledge(London), ISBN 9781032646091.[14]
- Marginalized Self: Tales of resistance of a Community, 2020; Primus Books, ISBN 978-9389933802.[15]
- Dynamics of Inclusive Classroom: Social Diversity, Inequality and School Education in India, 2017; Orient Black Swan, ISBN 9789352870134.[16]
- School Education, Pluralism and Marginality, 2012; Orient Black Swan, ISBN 9788125045311.[17]
- Interrogating Development: Insights from the Margins, 2010; Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780198066415.[18]
Deshkal publication
Deshkal has its own publication unit from which dozens of books related to social and cultural issues have been published.[19] It has also published several maps of Dum Dum, a locality of Kolkata which has been acknowledged in media reports.[20]
- Dalit Studies in Higher Education Vision and Challenges, 2005; Deshkal Publication, ISBN 81-902865-0-1.[21]
- Asserting Voices Changing Culture, Identity and Livelihood of the Musahars in the Gangetic Plains, 2002; Deshkal Publication, ISBN 81-902865-0-1.[22]
See also
References
- ^ "Bihar elections: Rupture of a coalition of extremes". The Indian Express. 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Women Emerged as the 'Silent Majority' in Bihar Elections. What Comes Next?". The Wire. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "The Social Context of Learning in India: Achievement Gaps and Factors of Poor Learning". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ for Scientific Research, Netherlands Organisation. "Reconstructing contents and methods of teaching for dalit chil (5.4.39)".
- ^ "Deshkal Society". deshkalindia.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Deshkal Society". deshkalindia.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Why Gujarat's Jaggu Bhai, A Dalit, Faces A Fine 45 Times Greater Than His Monthly Electricity Use". article-14.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Ghai, Rahul; Mishra, Arvind Kumar; Kumar, Sanjay, eds. (2020). The marginalized self: tales of resistance of a community. Delhi: Primus Books. ISBN 978-93-89933-80-2.
- ^ Kumar, Sanjay (2014). "Inclusive Classroom And Social Diversity In India: Myths And Challenges" (PDF). Journal of Indian Research. 2 (1): 126–140.
- ^ Savyasaachi (2004). "Dalit Studies: Exploring Criteria for a New Discipline". Economic and Political Weekly. 39 (17): 1658–1660. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4414922.
- ^ "2nd Edition of Bodh Gaya Global Dialogues | IGNCA". ignca.gov.in. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "6th Edition Bodh Gaya Global Dialogues 2024". Nalanda University. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Guv hails historicallegacy of Nalanda". The Times of India. 2024-03-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "The Social Context of Learning in India: Achievement Gaps and Factors of Poor Learning". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "The Marginalized Self: Tales of Resistance of a Community". PrimusBooks. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Orient BlackSwan". orientblackswan.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Orient BlackSwan". www.orientblackswan.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Interrogating Development: Insights from the Margins". global.oup.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "All writings of Deshkal Society, Delhi". Rekhta. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Basu, Anasuya (19 April 2019). "Fresh push to protect treasure trove in Calcutta's Dum Dum". The Telegraph.
- ^ Arun Kumar; Kumar, Sanjay, eds. (2005). Dalit studies in higher education: vision and challenges. [Dalit studies. Delhi: Deshkal Publication. ISBN 978-81-902865-0-3.
- ^ Arun Kumar; Kumar, Sanjay, eds. (2005). Dalit studies in higher education: vision and challenges. [Dalit studies. Delhi: Deshkal Publication. ISBN 978-81-902865-0-3.