Matters
Land and Labour in Rural India
Land and Labor in Rural India
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Land and Labor in Rural India

A Heterodox Approach to Research and Coursework

R. Ramakumar is an economist by training and is currently a Professor at the School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. His areas of interest include agricultural economics, and development economics, focusing on poverty and inequality. He was earlier the Dean of the School of Development Studies and the NABARD Chair Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. From September 2016, he has also been serving as a non-ministerial member of the Kerala State Planning Board. He has written two books -- of which the most recent one "Distress in the Fields" (2022) has been acclaimed by reviews as an authoritative account of agriculture in India over the past three decades. He also writes extensively in newspapers and magazines.

In this podcast episode, Professor R. Ramakumar revisits a seminal course on land and labor in rural India taught in 1999 at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development and Research (IGIDR). Professor Ramakumar reflects on the influence of this course on the academic and professional paths of five of its students, including himself. The course, offered by Professors Madhura Swaminathan and V. K. Ramachandran, combined agrarian relations with agricultural economics, creating a unique pedagogical experience. Ramakumar discusses the broader importance of agrarian studies, rooted in economic, social, and political dimensions, and their continued significance in contemporary India. The podcast also touches on the practical challenges of policymaking, with insights from Ramakumar's tenure on the Kerala State Planning Board, highlighting the complexities of policy implementation. Ram and Leela (the host) share personal anecdotes that underscore the transformative impact of this educational experience.

For more podcasts from the series click here; Land and Labour in Rural India

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