Himanshu Upadhyaya
Areas of Interest & Expertise
- Pastoralism
- Commons
- History of Science and Technology
- Environmental Policy and Governance
- Environmental and Social Movements
- Public Finance and Accountability
- Environmental Auditing
- Linguistics Ecology
- Indian Sign Language
- Deaf Studies
Biography
Himanshu Upadhyaya’s doctoral research in Science Policy from Jawaharlal Nehru University, looks at the symbiotic relationship between crop cultivation and cattle rearing in late colonial and post-colonial India. He has previously worked as an environmental activist and researcher. Since 2002, when he shifted from academic research to environmental activism and advocacy, he has studied social and ecological issues around large irrigation dams, hydropower and mining projects, ecological impacts and governance, public finance and accountability. He also has keen interest in pursuing scholarly studies in linguistic ecology, Indian Sign Language and Deaf studies.
Courses
Environmental Justice in India
What is environmental justice and how is it made real in India?
Social Interventions
This course enables students to understand deliberated and strategic actions for social change by analysing the subjects, sites and modes/modalities of social action.
Ecology and Development in India
The history and socio-economic impact of development interventions on ecological systems.
Publications and Writings
Peer-reviewed publications
- In Press. To Crossbreed or to Select from Indigenous Stock, that was the Question, in a volume edited by Prof Deepak Kumar and Dr. Bipasha Raha, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi
- In Press. Large Dams as ‘Temples of Modern India’: An Obituary to Technological and Political Dreams and Plea for Gandhian Ethics, in a volume edited by Prof Savyasachi, Routlege, New Delhi
- 2015. Disempowering the Community: A Policy Brief on the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance and Bill, Oxfam India, New Delhi.
- 2012. IFIS, Tourism and Accountability: Emerging Trends (How IFIs influence accountability of the state to its people), EQUATIONS, Bangalore.
- 2010a. (co-authored with S. Parasuraman and Gomathy Balasubramanian) Sardar Sovar Project: The War of Attrition, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 45, No 5, pp. 39 – 48.
- 2010b. Gandhi, Gujarati Spellings and Ideology of Standardization; Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 45, No 24, pp. 26 – 33.
- 2010b. Livestock Economy in India: Policy Paper to integrate concerns of livestock holders from rainfed areas in NREGA, Rainfed Livestock Network, Anand.
- 2008. Performance and Development Effectiveness of Sardar Sarovar (Narmada Dam) Project, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Book reviews
- 2014. The CAG memoirs: A committed crusader’s log India Together September 24, 2014
- 2007a. Analysing Polavaram Project Review of Perspective on Polavaram: A Major Irrigation Project on Godavari, edited by Gujja, Biksham et al., published by Academic Foundation, New Delhi Down To Earth, January 30, 2007
- 2007b. Imaginary Homelands: Imagined Community A Review of Sanjay Kak’s Documentary Film, Jashna — E — Azadi Combat Law, Vol 6, Issue 3, May — June 2007
- 2007c. Review of Dr B P Mathur’s book Government Accountability ad Public Audit, published by Uppal Books Reengineering the Comptroller and Auditor General India Together August 1, 2007.
- 2007d. Before Deluge: Coping with Floods in Climate Change Review of International Rivers Network Report Down To Earth, Vol 16, Issue dated August 31, 2007
- 2007e. Coastal Zone Management Notification: Better or Bitter fare Review of report by Manju Menon, Sudarshan Rodrigues and Aarti Sreedhar Down To Earth, Vol 16, Issue dated October 30, 2007
- 2004a. The Nowhere People: Responses to Internally Displaced Persons Review of an edited volume by Siby Thakaran, Published by Books for Change, Bangalore Dams, Rivers and People Vol 1, Issue 12, January 2004 http://www.sandrp.in/drp/jan_feb04.pdf
- 2004b. Jaikwadi: A dam that failed to deliver Review of a book by Vijay Diwan Dams, Rivers and People Vol 2, Issue 2−3−4, March — April — May, 2004