The Indian Sociological Society (ISS) has presented the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Chandrashekhar Bhat in appreciation and recognition of his meritorious services, accomplishments, and contributions to the discipline and the profession of Sociology on 28th December, 2023 at the 48th All India Sociological Conference (AISC) in VIT, Vellore. Prof. Chandrashekhar Bhat began his teaching career in 1973 at the University of Mysore, soon after the completion of his doctoral studies at the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University. He moved to the newly established Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the central University of Hyderabad in 1979 as one of the founding members of the Department. His contribution during the three-decade long service in building one of the well recognized and leading departments of sociology as Head, UGC-SAP Coordinator and a member of UGC Subject Panel on Sociology has been considerable. Prof. Bhats pioneering research and expertise in sociology of migration and diaspora studies were mentored particularly by Professor M.S.A. Rao at the Department of Sociology, Delhi University and Prof. Adrian C. Mayer under a Post-Doctoral program at School of Oriental and African Studies, London University, U.K. Prof. Bhat has introduced for the first time in India, a course on Overseas Indians as early as 1985 at the Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad.
Further, Prof. Bhat has the distinction of establishing Indias first interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Indian Diaspora (1996) at the University of Hyderabad, under the UGC Area Studies Program, and also the privilege to introduce study and research in diaspora studies, when the very term and concept of diaspora itself was less known in academics circles. As early as Nov. 1st & 2nd 1994, Prof. Bhat had the privilege of hosting the First International Conference on Indian Diaspora at the University of Hyderabad, which was sponsored by the University Grants Commission, and also facilitated the High-Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), to finalize its Report by organizing a workshop to recommend new policies to officially bridge India and Indian Diaspora. The High-Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora has put on record their high appreciation Prof. Bhats contribution to their endeavor.
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, sponsored Prof. Bhats visit as cultural ambassador to People of Indian Origin Diaspora countries – Guyana and Trinidad – on the occasion of the Commemoration of 100th Anniversary of Legislation to End the Indian Indentureship in March 2017.
