Founded in 1936, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai has evolved into India’s top social sciences university reputed for academic and research excellence. Last year TISS celebrated its platinum jubilee with deserved aplomb Sited on two green campuses in Mumbai’s north-eastern suburb of Deonar, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is widely acknowledged as India’s premier institution for higher education and research in the social sciences. Founded in 1936 as Sir Dorabji Tata Institute of Social Work with 20 students and renamed Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 1944, this pioneer institution was conferred deemed university status in 1964 and awarded a 5-star ‘A’ grade rating by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2010. Last year, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai celebrated its platinum jubilee with aplomb staging a national conference, alumni meet, memorial lecture, art exhibition and other cultural programmes to commemorate its evolution into India’s top-ranked social sciences university reputed for academic and research excellence. Among the institute’s well-known alumni are social activist Medha Patkar; Anu Aga, chairman Thermax Industries; Purnima Mane, president of Pathfinder International and Adil Malia, president (human resources) of the Essar Group. “Last year was a year of celebration, reflection, and consolidation for TISS. In the light of this momentous journey of 75 years, as we survey the entirety of its reach — both geographically and in terms of action and research — one sees the institute’s steady evolution into a premium multifaceted institution. Like the tree that has become our logo, TISS has branched out into diverse areas of action, pedagogy, and research, while being rooted firmly in the fast-changing developmental context. This year also marks a period of reflection reminding us of the increasing social relevance of our institution in today’s world; and at the same time a period of consolidation, in preparation for a new era of unprecedented growth,” says Dr. S. Parasuraman, director, TISS. An alumnus of Pune and Mumbai universities and the International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Parasuraman served as the Asian regional policy coordinator, Action Aid International, Bangkok, before taking charge as director of TISS in 2004. TISS, which receives a Rs.45 crore annual grant from University Grants Commission, is essentially a post-graduate institution with its ten schools (education; management and labour studies; rural development; social work; health systems studies; habitat studies; law, rights and constitutional governance; vocational education; development studies; media and cultural studies) offering over 18 postgraduate, doctoral and certificate programmes to 2,000 students. TISS also boasts four independent centres — human ecology, social exclusion and inclusive policies, lifelong learning and research methodology. Moreover India’s first institute of social work has established collaborative research and student exchange programmes with over 25 universities and consortiums in Africa, Asia, the US and Europe. Its academic and research activities apart, TISS is an important training and capacity building partner of the Union government and international development organisations. Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai is spread across five campuses, two in Mumbai and one…
