डॉ. बी. आर. अम्बेडकर विश्‍वविद्यालय दिल्ली
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi
Established by The Government of NCT of Delhi

• PhD in Political Science, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
• M.Phil in Political Science, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 
• M.A. in Political Science, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
• BA in Political Science (Hons.), Cotton College, Gauhati University
   

• Dr Dhar was a Junior Fellow (2009-10) at the Centre for Contemporary Studies, Prime Minister Museum and Library (formerly NMML), New Delhi and a Project Associate Fellow (2008-09) with the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi. She has been a Guest Faculty (2009-10) at the GRS, University of Delhi. She has also completed project consultancy with the UKIERI- British Council and various NGOs.

• Dr. Dhar’s doctoral thesis examined the historical development and contemporary issues of identity-cultural politics, class politics and state-civil society relations taking case studies of cultural organisations of Assam. Presently, her research has been largely inter-disciplinary focusing on issues of Democracy, Identity and Inclusion, Peace and Conflict, Public Goods and Development, and Material Culture. She focusses on the development and political issues of North-east India and has been researching on the region from the beginning of her academic career.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & TEACHING (AUD)

• Dr Dhar has contributed to the curriculum development and has been teaching courses; Peace, Conflict and Development (PG), Indian Development: Thoughts, Debates and Experiences (PG), Introduction to Theoretical Perspectives’ (PG), Environment, Natural Resources and Development (PG), India in World Affairs (PG), Democracy and Conflict in South Asia (PG) and Indian Constitution and Democracy (UG, 2010-17).
   

RESEARCH PROJECT 

• Household Water in Unauthorised Colonies of Delhi and Social Dimensions of Access, Principal Investigator, supported by SMGFR III, AUD, 2022 -23.
• Material Culture, Creation and Use: Perspectives from Inside the Community, in collaboration with AUD faculty, project supported by North East Forum- Centre for Community Knowledge, AUD, 2011-12.
• Tribal Integration and Development since 1980s: State policies on Linguistic-tribal minorities of Assam, project under fellowship at Centre for Contemporary Studies, formerly Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), 2009-10.
• Foreign Education Providers in India, Project leader, supported by UK-Indian Education Research Initiative-British Council, 2007-2008.

RESOURCE PERSON 

• Development of Handbook on Electoral Literacy for Teachers and Teacher Educators, Department of Education in Social Science, NCERT, 2024.
• Development of Guidelines for Higher Education Institutions for the Implementation of ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram, Cell for National Centre for Literacy, NCERT 2023.
• Development of Modules on Managing Student Diversity in Higher Education, CPRHE, NIEPA, 2017
• Evaluation on Environmental, Health and Hygiene Awareness through School Children in Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) II; 2007, 2008 & 2009, in association with ABHAS, New Delhi.
• Team Leader for Impact of Migration on Women, project supported by UNDP-TAHA in association with Damini: Centre for Social Action and Research, 2007.
   

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Member, North-East Forum, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University
• Member, Indian Political Science Association
• Member, Development Studies Association: The Professional Association for Development Research and Knowledge

AWARDS/ DISTINCTIONS

• ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship 2003-05
• Graduate Scholarship from Assam Government in 1993-96

JOURNALS

• Democracy and Identity Politics: Examining the Narratives of Regionalism in Assam. The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 85 Issue 2, April-June 2024: 393-400.
• Navigating Tensions and Stabilising Public Safety with Internet Shutdowns. Indian Public Policy Review, Vol.5, Issue 2, April 2024: 59-67. doi: 10.55763/ippr.2024.05.02.004.
• Literary Associations and Language Activism: Reading the Past and Present Motivations of Asam Sahitya Sabha. History and Sociology of South Asia, Vol.18, Issue 2, 2024: 256-272. doi: 10.1177/22308075231226369.
• Revisiting Hand washing and Water as Basics during Pandemic and Beyond. Children First: Journal on Children’s Lives, Issue 1, August 2022: 87-90. 
• Labelled Unauthorised: Interrogating Water Provisions in Urban Informal Settlements. Inclusive, Vol.2, Issue 19, July 2021: 15-26. 
• Right to Pray:  The Tensions between Gender and Faith Traditions in India. Religions of South Asia, Vol. 14, Issue 3, 2020:  258–284. doi:10.1558/rosa.19328.
• Rethinking Conflict Prevention through Grassroots Activism: Narratives of Women Building Peace in Rural India (Co-authored with D. Poddar). Explorations- E Journals of the Indian Sociological Society, Vol. 4 Issue 2, October-December 2020: 25-48. 
• Gender Violence and Public Protest: The New Face of Indian Activism. The Indian Journal of Political Science, Special Issue, Vol. 76 Issue 3, July-September, 2015: 501-514. 
• Assam’s Ethnic Diversity and Need for Institutional Reform. Journal of Peace Studies, Vol.12, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2005: 62-72.

BOOK CHAPTERS & MODULES

• Student Diversity and Civic Learning (Co-authored) in Nidhi S. Sabharwal & C. M. Malish ed. Modules on Student Diversity and Civic Education, National Institute of Educational Planning & Administration, New Delhi, 2023:1-39.
• Assamese Identity and the Ethnic Dissent: Asom Sahitya Sabha at the Crossroads in Dilip Gogoi ed. Unheeded Hinterland: Identity and Sovereignty in Northeast India, Routledge, Oxon and New York, 2016:144-162
• Weaving and Wearing Ka Jainsem Dhara: Exploring the Cross Cultural Creation of Khasi Attires in Dharitri Narzary Chakravarty and Surajit Sarkar ed. Objects, Identities, Meanings: Insiders Perspectives from North East India, Ambedkar University Delhi, Delhi, 2015: 19-35
• Assam Through the Prism of Reorganisation Experience: Fragmentation of Identities and Political Disintegration in Sudha Pai and Asha Sarangi ed. Interrogating States Reorganization: Culture, Identity and Politics in Contemporary India, Routledge, New Delhi, 2011:282-303.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

• Whom to Blame? Negotiating Vulnerability and Living in Safety in Assam. 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, GENDER.ED. December 7, 2022. https://16daysblogathon.blog/2022/12/07.
• Book review of Michaela Martin, ‘The management of university-industry partnerships in Eastern Asia: Report of an IIEP/ESMU Distance Education Course 2nd-5July 2002’ in Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, Vol 21, No3, July 2007.
   

CONFERENCE PAPERS (SELECTED)

• “Reflections on Water’s Publicness: Access and Provisions in Delhi” in International Conference on Water Purification and Management, organised by Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, held on 6-7 July, 2024.
• “If Not a Right Only a Basic Need: Locating the Household Water Stress in Informal Settlements” presented in a Department Seminar Organised by the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies, held on 16 February, 2023.
• “Democracy and Identity Politics: The Power Sharing in Contemporary India” presented in Southern Political Science Association Annual Conference, organized by the International Political Science Association, at Florida, USA, held on 11-14 January, 2023. 
•  “Activisms of Literary Organisations: The Asom Sahitya Sabha in Contemporary Assam” presented in International Graduate Conference on Art and Literature from Conflict Zones in India, Spain and Latin America, organised by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, held on 26-27 October, 2021.
• “Menstruation—Myths and Taboos: A Gendered Culture of Exclusion in South Asia” presented in an International Online Workshop on Dilemmas of Difference :Research Perspectives in Gender, Body Politics and Ethics, organised by Vasanta College for Women, Varanasi, held on 20-24 July 2020.
• “Right to Pray: Tensions between Gender and Faith” presented in International Conference on Religion and Culture in Conflict and Peace: Reconciliation and Peace Building in South Asia, organised jointly by Lumbini Development Trust and University of Winchester, UK at Lumbini, Nepal, held on 26-27 March, 2019.
• “Civic Learning and Young Citizens: Democractic Engagements in Higher Education” presented in International Conference on Frontiers of Democracy, organised by J.M.Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts University, Boston, USA, held on June on 21-23, 2018.
• “Politics of the Peripheral State: Locating Assam in the Asian Landscape” presented in International Convention of Asia Scholars,  at Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Chiang Mai, Thailand, held on July 20-23, 2017.
• “My Daughter to India’s Daughter: Silence and Protest over Violence” presented in International conference on Elimination of Violence against Women at Aberystwyth University, Mauritius, held on November 25, 2016.
• “Ka Jainsem Dhara: Weaving Borders and Cultures” presented in International Conference on Oral Traditions: Continuity and Transformations, North East India and South East Asia organised jointly by Centre for Community Knowledge of Ambedkar University Delhi(AUD) and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage(INTACH), at Shillong, held on February 1-4, 2016.
• “The Social Significance of Ka Jainsem Dhara: Perspectives on the Costumes of the Khasi Community” presented in International Seminar on Textiles, Collections, Communities, Culture and Trade at KR Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai, held on January 9-10, 2016.
• “Gender and Conflict Prevention: Activism of Women's Peace Brigade” Co-presented in International Conference on Gender, Conflict and Security: Perspectives from South Asia, organised in collaboration with UN Women, at South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, held on April 23-24, 2015. 
• “Gender Violence and Public Protest: The New Face of Indian Activism” presented in National Conference on Re-inventing Politics in India, organised by Indian Political Science Association at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, held on October 25-27, 2015.
• “Decentralised Governance and Rethinking Gandhian Peace: Women as Change Agents” presented in International Conference on Gandhi, Gram Swaraj and Democratic Decentralisation at Kerala Institute for Local Administration(KILA), Thrissur, Kerala, held on 27-29 November, 2014.
• “On the Borders: An Array of Security Threats in North-east India” presented in International Conference on Social Science at University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, held on November 22-23, 2013
• “Development and Human Security in a Conflict Scenario: Challenges in the North-East India” presented in National Seminar on Development, Conflict and Democratic Governance: India’s experience in the North East, organised in association with Council for Social Development- New Delhi, at North Eastern Regional Centre, ICSSR, Shillong, held on June 9-10, 2011.