Testimony about CKS
As one of the founding members of the Centre for Karbi Studies (CKS), it is both a profound privilege and a deep honor to collaborate with the dedicated and passionate individuals who form the backbone of this esteemed research and academic organisation. The CKS, since its inception (2015), has emerged as a inspiration of research excellence and cultural preservation, reassurance an environment where intellectual curiosity and scholarly rigor flourish. Under the visionary leadership of our Director, Dr. Dharamsing Teron, the Centre has become a pivotal force in advancing research and scholarship focused on the Karbi people and their rich cultural tradition in Northeast India. The CKS has become a vital platform for indigenous scholars, empowering them to engage in meaningful research that not only preserves but also amplifies the Karbi perspective in academic and global discourse. The Centre’s work extends beyond conventional research, encompassing initiatives that bridge academia and community engagement. Through its various programs, seminars, workshops, publications, and collaborative projects, the CKS has been playing a transformative role in documenting and disseminating knowledge about the Karbi people, ensuring that their voices, stories, and agency are preserved for future generations.
In my journey with the CKS, I have been continually inspired by the collective passion, intellectual rigor, and shared vision of its members. I am confident that, under Dr. Teron’s leadership, the CKS will continue to be a cornerstone for Karbi Studies, nurturing the next generation of scholars and preserving the invaluable legacy of the Karbi people.
Academic Profile
Vulli Dhanaraju is a Professor in the Department of History at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya, India. He previously served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Assam University (a Central University), Diphu Campus, and currently holds the position of Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Karbi Studies, Diphu, Assam, India. He received his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of History at the University of Hyderabad, India. In addition to his primary discipline of History, Professor Dhanaraju possesses a wide range of academic qualifications, which includes: M.A in Sociology; M.A in Folklore and Culture Studies; PG Diploma in Human Rights (PGDHR); PG Diploma in Archival Science & Manuscriptology (PGDASM); PG Diploma in Museology (PGDM); and PG Diploma in Folklore and Culture Studies (PGDFCS). He has also successfully cleared the UGC-NET examinations in three subjects including History, Sociology, and Folk Literature. From 2008 to 2010, he was a Teen Murti Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi.
Academic and Research Interest
Professor Dhanaraju’s scholarly expertise includes oral history, tribal studies, and environmental history, which he integrates into his pedagogy for postgraduate and doctoral students at the university. Presently, he is conducting research and documentation on Karbi history, ontology, and epistemology in collaboration with Dr. Dharamsing Teron, Director of the Centre for Karbi Studies. Simultaneously, Prof. Dhanaraju is developing a comprehensive curriculum for Karbi Studies and formulating an indigenous methodological framework to guide researchers and students engaged in Karbi-focused scholarship. His work is instrumental in theorising Karbi Studies as a distinct academic discipline rooted in Karbi ontology and epistemology. He wants to build the Centre for Karbi Studies as a distinguished intellectual organization in Northeast India in association with Dr.Teron.
Publications
Professor Dhanaraju has made significant contributions to the study of tribes and marginalized communities through his authored and edited works. His distinguished publications include Debating Tribal Identity: Past and Present (2015); Regional Environmental History: Concepts and Issues in the Indian Subcontinent (2016); Caste, Tribe, and Gender: Politics of Self and the Other (2020); Karbi History: Past and Present (2020) with Dharamsing Teron; Problems and Prospects of Sixth Schedule: Towards Tribal Autonomy and Self-Governance (2022); and The Mythistory of Kajir Ronghangpi: The Making of Kaziranga National Park (2024) with Dharamsing Teron. Professor Dhanaraju has also contributed extensively to scholarly writings. His articles and papers can be accessed on academic repositories, including Academia.edu, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate.
