The International Project Workshop titled “Education, Nation-Building, and Social Justice: A Study of Universities in India, South Africa, and the USA”, hosted by the Department of Sociology, School of Social sciences at the University of Hyderabad and funded by the Institute of Eminence (IoE), was held on January 27th–28th, 2025. This event brought together a distinguished cohort of academic scholars and researchers to critically engage with the transformative potential of higher education in addressing institutional inequalities and fostering social justice. The workshop unfolded through eight academic sessions, each dealing with the complex intersections of education, equality and equity. These discussions foregrounded the lived realities of marginalized communities, offering both empirical observations and theoretical insights in analysing the role of universities as sites of both inclusion and empowerment.
The workshop commenced with an inaugural session chaired by Prof. Satyapriya Rout (Department of Sociology), who set the thematic tone for the event. Prof. Nagaraju Gundemeda, the coordinator of the workshop and Head of the Department of Sociology outlined the workshop’s objectives, emphasizing the comparative framework, spanning India, South Africa, and the USA. This was followed by remarks from Prof. Jyotirmaya Sharma (Dean, School of Social Sciences) and Prof. Ghansham Krishna (Director, IoE), who underscored the urgency of fostering inclusive academic spaces. The keynote address by Prof. Bandana Purkayastha (University of Connecticut-USA) provided a global perspective on social justice in higher education, highlighting entrenched structural inequalities and the persistent challenges in implementing inclusive policies. Additionally, Prof. S. Srinivas Rao presented a compelling analysis of first-generation students’ experiences in Indian universities, illustrating the paradox of higher education as both a site of privilege and a catalyst for change.
The second session, moderated by Prof. P. H. Mohammed (MANUU), was specifically dedicated to discussing the ongoing research project that served as the foundation of this workshop. Led by Prof. Nagaraju Gundemeda, the Project Investigator (P.I) and his research team (Dr. Trilok Chandan Goud, Dr. Abhas Kumar Ganda, Mr. Anirudha Naik, Ms. Afiya Fathima, and Ms. Ananya Mukhopadhyay) shared preliminary findings from their study of universities in India. The discussions engaged deeply with comparative methodologies, conceptual frameworks, and empirical challenges, while also engaging with key themes such as the social ecology of academic spaces, state intervention in higher education, representation, and the socio-economic barriers confronting marginalized students on the campuses. The study also highlighted the diverse means and methods adopted by the first-generation students to access the diverse spaces in higher educational institutions despite of the multiple socio-economic barriers.
In the third session on Gender, Higher Education, and the Struggle for Inclusion, chaired by Prof. Aparna Rayaprol (Department of Sociology), scholars examined how caste, class, and religious identity intersects to shape women’s experiences in higher education. Speakers illuminated the gendered dimensions of exclusion, particularly in conflict-ridden regions, where women navigate deeply entrenched socio-political and economic barriers. They pointed out that institutional cultures often reinforce hierarchies, making university spaces difficult to access for marginalized women. Despite these challenges, many students resist exclusionary norms, reshape their educational journeys, and actively advocate for more inclusive academic environments.
The final session of the first day, led by Prof. Raghava Reddy (Department of Sociology), explored disability and social justice in higher education. The presentations have critically pondered over the lack of institutional accommodations, inadequate policy implementation, and the compounded marginalization of students at the intersection of disability, gender, and economic disadvantage. Drawing on real-life case studies, the session emphasized the resilience of first-generation disabled students, illustrating their struggles against systemic biases and the scarcity of institutional support structures.
The second day began with an illuminating session convened by the former professor of the Sociology department, Prof. E. Haribabu, which threw lights on social justice in the American higher education context, particularly through the lens of race and ethnicity. This panel also took up the comparative insights from Kerala and Bihar, unravelling the nuanced experiences of marginalized communities and their underrepresentation in academia. These presentations posed critical questions about the role of social policy, the limitations of current research methodologies, and the need for a more intersectional approach to understanding educational inequalities.
In the sixth session on Dalit and Adivasi participation in higher education, steered by Prof. Arun K. Patnaik (Department of Political Science), discussants critically engaged with epistemological and ontological reflections on reservation policies, accentuating both their transformative potential and inherent limitations. The session also underscored the persistence of discrimination in university spaces while acknowledging how students from marginalized backgrounds have, over time, carved out pathways for empowerment and systemic change. This was subsequently followed by the thought-provoking seventh session led by Prof. Ajailiu Niumai (Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive policy) in which presenters have tried to grapple with the educational experiences of religious minorities and backward-class students. The panel deliberated the role of affirmative action and state policies in mitigating educational disparities, emphasizing that universities must actively cultivate inclusive spaces to foster the contours of educational equity and social justice.
The workshop’s final session, facilitated by Prof. Anurekha Chariwagh (University of Hyderabad), has been replete with lived experiences of first-generation learners. Students and faculties shared powerful testimonies, shedding lights on family struggles, cultural adaptation, financial constraints, institutional alienation, and more importantly, their unwavering resilience. These narratives rendered a human dimension to the academic discourse on social justice, highlighting the triumph of perseverance over adversity.
In his vote of thanks, Prof. G. Nagaraju expressed his appreciation to all participants and resource persons for reflecting on the need to practice and embody a pedagogy of hope one that fosters equitable, inclusive, and transformative academic spaces.
By weaving together empirical research, theoretical reflections, and lived experiences, the workshop cultivated a profound and multi-dimensional exploration of social justice in higher education. It not only illuminated the deep-seated barriers that hinder equity but also celebrated the resilience and agency of marginalized students. Through these critical engagements, the workshop envisioned a future where universities transcend their role as mere institutions of learning to become truly inclusive spaces of empowerment, transformation, and hope.
Prof G. Nagaraju expressed his sincere gratitude to the Prof. Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao, Vice-Chancellor (UoH), Prof Jyotirmaya Sharma (Dean, School of Social Sciences) and Prof. Ghansham Krishna (Director, IoE) for their encouragement and support. He also extended gratitude towards the esteemed faculty members and staff of the Department of Sociology and office staff of the Dean, School of Social Sciences.