Faculty
Ms. Elizabeth Thomas
Assistant Professor
Department of Language & Literature
Prof. Elizabeth Thomas is pursuing her Ph.D. from the University of Humanistic Studies (UvH), Utrecht, The Netherlands. Her doctoral research focuses on developing a genealogy of the social justice discourse and exploring issues of pluralism in contemporary India vis-à-vis the debates around cultural practices. She received her M.Phil. in English from Delhi University in 2006 and has a Masters in English Literature from Hindu College, Delhi University.
Prof. Elizabeth has diverse experience in teaching and research. She was associated as a researcher with the Higher Education Innovation and Research Applications (HEIRA, formerly Higher Education Cell), and the Law, Society and Culture Programmes (LSCP) at the Center for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore, from where she obtained a post graduate diploma in cultural studies.
Prof. Elizabeth is a novice student of Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions, and has research interests in areas ranging from Political Philosophy, Cultural studies, History of Christianity, Postcolonial studies and law and society in India.
- The Gandhi-Ambedkar Debate on Untouchability: Two Critiques of Society in The Difficulty of Being Heathen, ed. Vivek Dhareshwar and Ashwin Kumar A P, Orient Blackswan, India, New Delhi, (Forthcoming)
- Communities in Conflict: Fighting for the 'Sacred Cow' in International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (IJSSH), Volume 2, Issue 1, June 2013, ISSN 2277-7997
- ‘Naming the ‘self’: Indulekha and the representation of a ‘new modernity’ in 19th century Kerala’ in Carmelight, the Interdisciplinary Research Journal of Mount Carmel College, in 2008
- Consultant for curriculum development for MA (English) Programme, English Department, Tumkur University, 2013-14. Designed four core papers for MA part I continued to be taught at the university
- Conducted a micro study (as part of a three member team) for Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore, in April 2007 to ascertain the feasibility of a Faculty Resource Development Programme with a thrust on curricular development and design in Humanities and Social Sciences. The findings of the micro study were to assist CSCS in making recommendations to the Education portfolio of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai
- Member, of the core committee for Optional English curriculum design - Mount Carmel College, 2006-2007
- Instructor and coordinator for the Credit course for Optional English students (30 hrs) on 'Rethinking English Curriculum in the Undergraduate space' as part of the Center for Potential Excellence (CPE) Project in Mount Carmel College, 2007-2008
- Organizer of the Young Researchers’ Workshop 2010 the National Level workshop for beginning doctoral students to showcase and receive critical feedback, from March 25-27, 2010 in CSCS, Bangalore.
- Chief Editor, Prayatna, Quarterly Magazine of Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Students' Movement (MGOCSM), Delhi Diocese (October 2002-December 2003)
- President, Literary Society, Core Member, Student Committee, Maharaja Agrasen College, Delhi University (2001-02).
- Community Practices and the Social Justice Discourse in India, at the International Summer School of Pluralism, Development and Change, 7-24 July, 2016, Azim Premji University
- Contemporary India and the Social Justice Discourse: Examining the Colonial Legacy, at External Speaker Series, School of Policy and Governance, Azim Premji University, 3 September, 2015
- In the Name of Justice: An Enquiry into Conflicts Around Community Practices in India, at the 'Open for Change' event organized by the Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS), in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, from 10-12 October, 2013
- Presented, continuing research work at the PhD graduate week organised by the Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda (CCFU), at the Ankrah Foundation, Mukono, Uganda, from Nov 6-11, 2012
- A critical engagement with Akeel Bilgrami’s essay ‘What is a Muslim: Fundamental Commitment and Cultural Identity' in the National Seminar “Re-Enchantment and Secular Liberalism: A Seminar with Prof Akeel Bilgrami” organised by Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bangalore on January 3- 4, 2011
- Participated and Presented research proposal in the event, “Knowledge and Change: Theory and Practice of Development Dilemmas’ organized by the Hivos Knowledge Programme, Hivos, in the Hague, the Netherlands, from 29 September- 1 October, 2010
- ‘Legal Discourses Around Social Practices: An Enquiry into the Cattle Slaughter Bill’ (Collaborative Paper) at the Second Law and Social Sciences Research Network (LASSNET) Conference held in the Foundation for Liberal and Management Education (FLAME), Pune, India, from 27-30 December, 2010
- ‘Communal Conflicts in the Karnataka West Coast’ in the Pluralism Knowledge Programme Interregional Meeting held in National Law School, Bangalore, November 2009
- Participant and reporter at the interactive conference 'Culture Asia: Connecting Asian Cultural Actors' organised by Hivos, The Netherlands, Open Society Foundations, New York, and CSCS, Bangalore, from 14-16 December,2008 in Bangalore
- Collaborative Micro Study Report on 'The Feasibility of a Faculty Resource Development Programme' in the National Workshop 'General Education in Comparative Perspective: Legacies, Transformations and Innovations' organised by Higher Education Cell, CSCS, Bangalore, July 21- 22, 2007
- ‘The Traveller in the City in Dickens’ Dombey and Son in the 2 day seminar ‘Rites of Passage: Exploring Changes in the Travel Motif’ organized by Department of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi, 3-4 March, 2006
