Kamala Kanta Dash

Kamala Kanta DashDirector, Public Policy and Communications at South Asia Community Link Group Australasia

[email protected]

SummaryI have more than 12 years of combined experience of working in volunteer and leadership roles in community

service, social research, skills training, media & communication, teaching, policy analysis and consulting. My

experience includes a wide spectrum of engagement with training and teaching at the school, college and

university levels to analyze and advocate policy issues from the sociopolitical perspectives of human capacity

development to conduct research in broad areas of social sciences; human rights, democracy, regional

integration in South Asia, India's Foreign Affairs, political economy of mining, community policing, social

inclusion, Muslims in India, counter-terrorism policy and practice, Indian Diaspora, South Asian and Indians in

Australia, interfaith and global politics.

My ongoing PhD (2008-2012/13) at Monash University, Australia is a critical analysis of the role of Minorities

and Muslim communities' engagement in public policy making in Australia and India. In addition to this I have

been an active member of the team that has designed, developed and launched an innovative Master Degree

Programme in International Crisis Management (ICM) at Monash Asia Institute (MAI), Monash University.

http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/courses/4051.html

Specialties: CONSULTING: Public Policy, Homeland Security, Police Reforms, South Asia, India's Foreign

Policy and Global Politics

MEDIA: Ground Reporting, Interviews, Policy Analysis, Public Relations and Media Management

SKILLS TRAINING: Life Skills, Social Skills, Study Skills, Theatre and Value Education.

TEACHING & RESEARCH: Public Policy, Political Science & IR, Modern Indian History, Interfaith, Human

Development,Diaspora, Social Exclusion, Human Rights, Social Science Research Methods

ExperienceDirector, Public Policy and Communications at South Asia Community Link Group AustralasiaDecember 2012 - Present (2 months)

I will be responsible for driving, shaping and leading policy, research and community engagement initiatives

in South Asian and Australian communities. Both in Australia and in the South Asian Sub-continent I will

engage with the governments, media, civil society, universities, industry and communities to undertake

research and advocate policy issues that are relevant and important for the respective two regions. I will

prepare policy briefs, press releases and will be the spokesperson of the SACLG for 2012-13.

About SACLG:

South Asia Community Link Group-Australasia (SACLG-Australasia) is a policy, research and advocacy

think tank representing the interest of the South Asian Communities in Australian continent. As a

Page1

non-political, not-for profit organization SACLG provides a strong platform to the South Asian and broader

Australian communities to come and work together in collaboration for a peaceful, cohesive and harmonious

Australia.

Founding Member at Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT)March 2012 - Present (11 months)

Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) is a consortium of researchers and

policy makers drawn from national and international universities, institutes and organizations. GRFDT is

presently based in India and is shaping as the largest such group focusing specifically on the issues related to

diaspora and transnationalism.

The GRFDT works as an academic and policy think tank by engaging national and international experts from

academics, practitioners and policy makers in a broad range of areas such as migration policies, transnational

linkages of development, human rights, culture and gender etc to mention a few. In the changing global

environment of academic research and policy making, the role of GRFDT will be of immense help to various

stakeholders. The engagement of diaspora with various platform need to be reassessed in the present context

to engage them in the best possible manner for the development human societies by providing policy input at

the national and global levels. .

Honorary Editor at BeyondHeadlinesJanuary 2012 - Present (1 year 1 month)

Beyond Headlines has been a leading alternative news portal providing information and analysis that the

mainstream media have chosen to ignore. BH's focus on local events, alternative analysis and RTI exposes

have been great sources for national and international stories. BH has been cited by all leading publications in

India. Ideologically BH has always believed in and has stood among others for inclusive growth, social &

financial inclusion, capacity building, human rights, communal harmony, transparency & accountability in

government and sustainable development.

Moderator at Development Communication OrissaOctober 2011 - Present (1 year 4 months)

Development Communication Orissa is an active yahoo group of more than 500 policy makers, academics

and practitioners who critically engage on key policy debates of Odisha, a rising eastern state of India, on a

monthly basis.

Month Wise Policy Focus and Coordinators:

January :Mining Policy-Dr.Natabar Rout,NRM Specialist, Bhubaneswar

February :Health Policy-Ms.Priya Mohanty Das,UNDP,Baharin

March :Education Policy-Mr.Anup Kumar Mohanty ,Academician,Koraput

April :Forests Policy-Mr.Santakar Chepalia,Development Journalist, Koraput

May : Urban Policy-Mr.Piyush Rout,Urban Planning Expert, Bhubaneswar

June :Water Policy-Mr.Bimal Prasad,Journalist,Naxatra News, Bhubaneswar

Page2

July :Population Policy-Dr. Ramachandra Mishra,Medico,France

August :Fisheries Policy-Dr.Pranay Parida,AFFRO,Bhubaneswar

September : IT Policy- Ms.Chetana Samal,IT Professional,USA

October :Disaster Management Policy- Dr.Pradip Parida,Executive Director, All India Institute of Local Self

Government, Bhubaneswar

November : Industral Policy-Kailash Nayak,Himalayan Institute of Management & Technology,Bhubaneswar

December :Tribal Policy-Pradeep Mohapatra,Udayama, Bhubaneswar

PhD in Public Policy and South Asian Studies at Monash UniversityApril 2008 - Present (4 years 10 months)

Monash is a leading international University, established in Melbourne, Australia in 1958, and is Australia's

largest university with 62,550 students (2010 data). The University has a total of eight campuses: six in

Victoria, Australia (Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, Parkville, Peninsula and Gippsland), one in Sunway,

Malaysia and one in Johannesburg, South Africa. The university also has centres in Prato, Italy and Mumbai,

India.

Monash University is a member of the prestigious "Group of Eight", a group composed of some of the most

research-intensive universities in Australia. Offering a large number of courses across numerous disciplines,

students can choose from many study options including double degrees, part-time study, off-campus learning

and alternative pathways. (Source: Monash University)

My ongoing PhD (2008-2013) at Political and Social Inquiry (PSI) and Monash Asia Institute (MAI) Monash

University is a critical analysis of the role of community engagement in Australian and Indian public policy

with a specific focus on the Criminal Justice System's engagement with Minorities and Muslim Communities

in Melbourne and Delhi.

Senior Editor at Orissa Diary.com2005 - Present (8 years)

OdishaDiary (OD) is the No-1 web-portal on Odisha. OD intends to provide a global platform for our readers

to participate in informed discussions on critical issues of the state so as to inform and influence policy

making in Odisha. The main focus is to promote Odisha's cause through development journalism.

Notable Contributions:

1. Odisha Living Legend Award 2011 and 2012: Worked in close collaboration with the OD Team and

played an important role in establishing the Odisha Living Legend Award in 2011.

2. Odisha Youth Inspiration Award 2012: This was my suggestion to the OD team to add the youth award to

recognise the contribution of the youth and provide a single platform to the Living Legends and the Youth

Inspirations. I developed the punchline for the youth award: To Prepare Future Legends

1 recommendation available upon request

Consultant: Public Policy and Government Affairs at Orkash Servicces Pvt.Ltd.June 2011 - May 2012 (1 year)

Page3

Orkash is a high-end technology driven consulting firm that provides management, technology and policy

solutions. These solutions are based on a unique Orkash Methodology that believes in holistic understanding

of issues and challenges that policy makers, industry leaders and local communities face in India and

emerging markets in the world. Orkash Public Policy and Government Affairs Initiative comprises of

professionals trained in management practices, technological innovations, social science research and policy

analysis.

Position Description:

1. Policy Analysis in the areas of Homeland Security, Policing, Mining and Environment

2. Analysis of Community Perception of politics, economy and industry

3. Translation and Interpretation (Oriya-Hindi-English)

4. Contribute to the Establishment of a Full Fledged Policy Practice at Orkash

5. Develop Engagements with Policy Makers, Academia, Media, Civil Society and Industry Bodies

2 recommendations available upon request

Visiting Fellow at Ravenshaw UniversityJanuary 2012 - February 2012 (2 months)

As a Visiting Fellow under the UGC Merged Scheme at the Ravenshaw Department of Political Science I

lectured and interacted with UG, PG and MPhil/PhD students. The subjects/topics covered during the

interactions range from Social Science Research Methods and Political Thought to understanding

International Relations.

Position Description:

1. Teaching IR, Political Thought and Social Research Methods to UG, PG and HDR students

2. Participate in academic activities like seminars, workshops and conferences

3. Prepare proposals for starting new courses, new centers and research funding

Research Assistant at Monash UniversityApril 2008 - February 2011 (2 years 11 months)

I have worked at Monash as a Research Assistant on different projects related to South Asia with specific

focus on India.

Graduate Teaching Assistant/Tutor at Monash University2008 - 2009 (1 year)

Graduate Teaching Assistant/Tutor on Modern Indian History for the School of Historical Studies, Monash

University.

My classes on Modern Indian History among others included:

1-Brief Overview of Indian Freedom Movement (1857-1947)

2-Narratives of Partition and Impact on Communal Harmony

3-Making of the Indian Constitution- Key Constitutional Debates

4-Independent India- Planning, Politics and Policy

Page4

Associate Faculty and Trainer at Advait Life Education Pvt. Ltd2007 - 2008 (1 year)

Advait Life-Education is a movement towards an evolved, integral and sublime human being through

meaningful life-education. Advait seeks to promote clarity, integrity and wisdom among students and

professionals by addressing the way they are trained or taught. To this effect, Advait harnesses the power of

literature and other works. Advait has been active in conducting Student Development Programs (SDP),

Faculty Development Programs (FDP) and Management Development Programs (MDP). More than 35,000

individuals have so far benefited from Advait’s training and development programs. Source:

http://www.advait.org.in/

My role as a Faculty at Advait was to conduct Sessions on Life Skills and Professional Aptitude Development

of Students of B.C.A, B.B.A, B.Tech and MBA to develop their over all personality and hence develop them

as professionals, good and responsible citizens.

Trainer of Trainers (TOT) at The Prism-The Hindu NIE at New Delhi2005 - 2008 (3 years)

-I worked as a freelancer Trainer with Prism Softech for the 'The Hindu- Newspaper in Education Programme

(NIE)'. at New Delhi.

-In 2005, I joined as a Resource Person (RP) and after a year of committed work received training to become

a Trainer of Trainers (ToT)

-The NIE is designed for School Children from 4th to 12th standard.

--I am trained to conduct workshops and train other RPs in Language Skills, Life Skills and Value Education.

-Have Conducted more than 600 sessions(45 minutes to One hour each) in different schools in the National

Capital Region; Delhi, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon.

AIC Australian Studies Fellow at Australia-India Council2006 - 2007 (1 year)

Australia-India Council (AIC) Research Fellowship,

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),

Government of Australia, 2006-2007

Research Proposal: "The State and Civil Society Interface in Fighting Terrorism: A study of Indian and

Australian Approaches"

Universities Visited: Curtin University of Technology, University of Western Australia (UWA), University of

South Australia (UniSA), Monash University, Australian National University (ANU), University of New

South Wales (UNSW)

Research Assistant at Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityAugust 2003 - July 2007 (4 years)

I joined School of International Studies, JNU as an MPhil/PhD student in 2003. Along with my MPhil

research I worked on a number social science projects (like India-Japan Relations and India's Look East

Page5

Policy) both for faculties within and outside JNU.


Orissa Higher Education Fellow at Department of Higher Education, Government of OdishaAugust 2003 - July 2005 (2 years)

Orissa Higher Education Scholarship for M.Phil at School of International Studies, JNU (2003-2005).

Research Assistant at Centre for Market Research and Social Development (CMSD)2002 - 2003 (1 year)

1-Study of Community Perceptions on Political Developments

2-Fieldwork and Data Collection in West Bengal, Gujarat and Delhi

3-Public Policy Analysis

Team Leader -Field Research at AMC Research Group2001 - 2003 (2 years)

AMC Research Group is an Evaluating and Consulting Agency for the National Literacy Mission, Ministry of

Tribal Affairs, Department of Science and Industrial Research all from the Government of India and some

public enterprises notably the BPCL and IOCL.

-I enjoyed the work in the projects of Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) of Faridabad-Haryana and Post

Literacy Programmes (PLP) of Barmer -Rajasthan and Varanasi-UP.

The Job included-

-Proposal Writing

-Training Lead of the Field Research Team

-Interviews and Report Writing


Volunteer ExperienceStudent Convenor at National Service Scheme, JNUAugust 2003 - December 2006 (3 years 5 months)

National Service Scheme, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Govt. of India, popularly known as

NSS was launched in Gandhiji's Birth Centenary Year 1969, in 37 Universities involving 40,000 students

with primary focus on the development of personality of students through community service. Today, NSS

has more than 3.2 million student volunteers on its roll spread over 298 Universities and 42 (+2) Senior

Secondary Councils and Directorate of Vocational Education all over the country. From its inception, more

than 3.75 crores students from Universities, Colleges and Institutions of higher learning have benefited from

the NSS activities, as student volunteers.Source: http://www.nss.nic.in/

Page6

EducationMonash UniversityPhD, Public Policy and South Asian Studies, 2008 - 2013Activities and Societies: Monash Students Association (MSA)Monash Association of Debaters (MAD)


Centre for Civil SocietyCertificate in Public Policy for Young Leaders, Public Policy, 2012 - 2012Grade: AwardedActivities and Societies: 1. Field Visits (Researching Reality and Policy Solutions): Health and Hygiene inDelhi, Access to Quality Education, MCD Demolition and Governance, Livelihood of Rickshaw pullers andAuto-Rickshaw drivers.2. Socratic Dialogue on "Justice without Government: The Merchant Courts of Medieval Europe and theirModern Counterparts"3. Policy Debates: Right to Education, Livelihood, Environment Protection, Reservation,Suicide, Drugs,Immigration, Prostitution

Centre for Civil SocietyCertificate in Public Policy for Journalists, Public Policy Analysis, 2012 - 2012Grade: AwardedActivities and Societies: 1) Documentary Film Analysis,2) Group Work and Presentation on Farmer Suicides,3) Policy Presentation on Controlling Air Pollution,4) Policy Debates oni) Censorship of Films and TV Programmes,ii) Food Security Bill, iii) FDI in Media,iv) Legalization of Drugs, v) 25% Reservation in Education

Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityMaster of Philosophy (MPhil), International Relations, 2003 - 2005Grade: First DivisionActivities and Societies: 1. Yoga Centre, Department of Physical Education2. National Service Scheme, Office of the Dean of Students, 3. Campus Development Committee, Office of theVice Chancellor4.Odisha Sanskrutika Parishad (OSP)5. India Japan Round Table (IJRT)6. JNU Student Union Election Committee, JNUSU7.Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), JNU

Ravenshaw UniversityMA, Political Science and International Relations, 1998 - 2000Grade: First DivisionActivities and Societies: National Service Scheme (NSS)Awarded as the Best Volunteer NSS in 2000

Utkal UniversityBachelor of Arts (BA), Political Science and Philosophy, 1994 - 1997Grade: Honours with Distinction

Page7

Activities and Societies: National Service Scheme (NSS), Community Development Camps, College CricketTeam, Taekwondo

CertificationsDialogue Across Divided Communities in VictoriaCentre for Dialogue, La Trobe University, Australia December 2012

Healthy Relationship AmbassadorSpectrum Migrant Resource Centre, Victoria, Australia December 2012

Student AmbassadorMonash Open Day License :Monash University August 2010

Trainer of Trainers (TOT) in Human Rights EducationAmnesty International License :Amnesty International India August 2007

Trainer of Trainers (ToT) for The Hindu Newspaper in Education (NIE) ProgrammePrism Softech Pvt Ltd, India August 2005

Developing Volunteers for Disaster PreparednessNational Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) License :Department of Science and

Technology, Government of India September 2004

Peer Educator HIV/AIDSAll India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi License :Centre for Community Medicine,

AIIMS September 2004

Certificate in Yoga EducationDepartment of Physical Education, JNU License :Jawaharlal Nehru University, India July 2004

Certificate of Appreciation-Election Committee MemberJNU Students' Union Election Committee (JNUSU-EC) License :JNU, India 2003

Page8

Honors and AwardsBest Volunteer Award- Community ServiceNational Service Scheme, Ravenshaw, Cuttack, Odisha, India

May 2000

Best Volunteer Award in National Service Scheme (NSS) Annual 10 Day Camp, Ravenshaw, Cuttack,

Odisha, 2000.

Note: The National Service Scheme (NSS) is an Indian government-sponsored public service program

conducted by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India which was begun in

1969. Its primary aim is personality development through social (or community) service. The NSS motto is

"Not me, but you". (http://nss.nic.in/index.asp)

Gold Medal in Debate CompetitionSchool of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi, India

April 2006

First Prize (Gold Medal) for Best Performance in the Debate Competition of SIS Golden Jubilee Celebration,

2006: Topic: India in South Asia: A Benign Power or Big Brother

Member, Campus Development Committee (CDC), JNU, New DelhiVice Chancellor's Committee on Campus Development

I was the (non-political) students' representative at the CDC (2005-2006). This is a voluntary yet prestigious

responsibility. JNU Teachers' Association, JNU Staff Association and JNU Students' Association are

represented to discuss and decide on the campus development issues. All Members are nominated by the Vice

Chancellor.

Special Citation-Script and DirectionAmity International School, NCR Delhi

2006

Award: Special Citation

Play: Great Sage Dhadhichi

Category: Script and Direction

Competition: NCR Inter-School Theatre Competition, 2006

School Team: Summer Fields School, Kailash Colony, New Delhi

Venue: Amity International School

Note: I was working with the school as part of the NIE Team. The school approached me to train the school

team to participate in the 2006 inter-school theatre competition. I wrote the script and directed the play "Great

Sage Dhadhichi" which won the overall third prize and a special citation for the script and direction.

Page9

The Youth Organiser Award for Community ServiceOdisha Sanskrutika Parishad (OSP or Odisha Cultural Council in JNU)

April 2008

Odisha Sanskrutika Parishad (OSP) has a long tradition of being a platform for all Odia students on JNU

campus. In JNU’s scheme of diversity, Odisha occupies a proud place. At present there are about 400 Odia

students forming part of the most talented student community of JNU apart from a sizable Odia faculty.

Odisha Sanskrutika Parishad (OSP), as a cultural organization was formed long back by Odia students and

faculties of JNU to promote sociocultural, literary and other intellectual activities. Today, the OSP has

travelled beyond cultural bonding and has done great services as during natural calamities in Odisha. Besides,

it works to protect the common interests of Odias in JNU.

Team Leader of JNU National Service SchemeNational Integration Camp, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, India

October 2004

Led the JNU National Service Scheme (NSS) Team to the National Integration Camp, Lucknow, organized

by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, 14-20 October 2004.

National Service Scheme: http://nss.nic.in/index.asp

Test ScoresIELTS (Academic)June 2007 Score:7.5 out of 9

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s proven English test. IELTS is jointly

owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations

(Cambridge ESOL). Over 1.7 million candidates take the test each year to start their journeys into

international education and employment.IELTS is recognised by more than 6000 institutions in over 135

countries.

Official Website: http://www.ielts.org/

PublicationsMy Dear BraveheartBeyondHeadlines December 29, 2012

Authors: Kamala Kanta Dash

This is a poem dedicated to the 23 year old girl "Damini" who was gang raped and brutally attacked in Delhi.

She died in a Singapore Hospital after a week long struggle in Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital. Her painful

struggle for survival and death has come to epitomize the age-old struggle against violence/crime against

women in India. She, as the "India's Daughter", has now become a symbol for the millions of women and

men who have hit the streets demanding the Indian State to deliver justice and enact stricter laws to deal with

violence against women and especially in the cases of rape.

Page10

BeyondHeadlines Congratulates Honorary Editor KKDash for Joining Australian Think TankBeyondHeadlines December 23, 2012


Mr. Dash has been with BeyondHeadlines (BH) for more than a year and works as the Honorary Editor to

guide us in the process. As a firm believer in the values of democracy and secularism, he has strong

credentials in community service, media and policy analysis. We at BH have been happy to have his guidance

and support. He played an important role in shaping Initiative for Nation’s Service and Affirmative Action

Network (INSAAN), an India based International Foundation. The name INSAAN was his suggestion as he

felt that we Indians have not been doing enough to promote Insaaniyat, “the intrinsic human quality that

connects all of us.” Ideologically rooted in the ideas of social inclusion, communal harmony and interfaith he

chose to work on the Muslim Community(ies) of Delhi for his PhD and wanted to understand Muslim

Community Engagement in Public Policy with a specific focus on Police-Muslim Engagement.

Indian Researcher Joins Australian Think Tank as Director Public PolicyIndiaEducationDiary December 22, 2012


South Asia Community Link Group is a policy, research and advocacy think tank representing the interest of

the South Asian Communities in Australian continent. As a non-political, not-for profit organization SACLG

provides a strong platform to the South Asian and broader Australian communities to come and work together

in collaboration for a peaceful, cohesive and harmonious Australia. Mr. Farrukh Hussain, the President of

SACLG, recently was awarded the Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in Community Service by

Premier Ted Baillieu, Government of Victoria and its Secretary Mr. Deepak Vinayak, earlier in the year, was

appointed as the People of Australia Ambassador by Ms. Julia Gillard, the Prime Minister of Australia.

How to deal with Patriarchy and Crime Against Women?BeyondHeadlines December 21, 2012

Authors: Kamala Kanta Dash, BeyondHeadlines

INSAAN proposes to start Indian Men’s Alliance Against Patriarchy

Dear Friends,

We at INSAAN (Initiative for Nation's Service and Affirmative Action Network) and BeyondHeadlines are at

severe pain to accept the horrible tragedy of the young girl who was gang raped and brutally attacked in

Delhi. In the time of pain and anger we stand in solidarity with her, her family and everyone else who has felt

the unspeakable pain. We thought we need to do something. Can we do something together that will have an

impact on the wider society especially on our youth? We want your feedback.

BeyondHeadlines Announces a Series on Young LeadersBeyondHeadlines December 12, 2012


BeyondHeadlines since its inception has strongly felt the need to acknowledge and promote the incredible

work that young women and men are doing throughout India. In the coming days we are going to publish

profile stories of brave and inspiring young minds who have contributed to their respective fields. Readers are

Page11

requested to nominate candidates from the following categories. Nominations are welcome from both Urban

and Rural India. Nevertheless, we will be keen to know more about the works of young minds who come

from a rural background and/or who are working in rural areas. Nominations from women and minority

communities are especially welcome.

BeyondHeadlines Special on Human Rights DayBeyondHeadlines November 17, 2012


World Human Rights Day is on 10th December. BeyondHeadlines is celebrating the Day to reflect on the

recent developments, debates, policies and practices in Human Rights both in India and at the global level.

You are requested to send your ideas, comments and/or contribute special articles on any theme related to

Human Rights. Some of the guiding topics are mentioned below.

BeyondHeadlines will publish a series of articles starting from the first week of December. Your opinions,

comments and articles will be used in BeyondHeadlines‘ editorial analysis and feature stories. If you do not

want your name to be mentioned in our publications please categorically inform us when you email your

writings.

OdishaDiary Senior Editor KK. Dash Featured on prestigious Monash Magazine in AustraliaOdishaDiary (www.orissadiary.com) October 30, 2012


Kamala Kanta has been working with OdishaDiary (OD) since its inception in 2005 and has been one of the

core team members in shaping the journey of OD in last seven years. Last year he along with the innovative

OD team played an important role in establishing Odisha Living Legend Award, a novel way of recognising

great individual and community contributions to Odisha in different walks of life. This year in 2012 Mr. Dash

along with our editor Mr. Rashmi r. Parida conceptualised and added a brand new idea "Odisha Youth

Inspiration Awards" to the already famous Living Legend Awards. The Youth Inspiration Awards are

targeted at the young achievers of the state of Odisha which aims at making them the future legends by

providing a single platform to the Legends and the Youth Inspirations.

Getting to know... Kamala Kanta DashMonash University October 31, 2012

Authors: Kamala Kanta Dash, Monash University

A PhD degree at Monash trains a student in conducting cutting-edge research, developing innovative teaching

methods, providing impactful policy and consulting service and I am proud to say that Monash makes you

highly competitive and prepares you for a global role.

Ravenshaw University launches Odisha's first ever MPhil programme in International StudiesIndia Education Diary August 19, 2012


The curriculum has been designed by leading young scholars and senior experts in the subject and especially

has kept in mind the latest national and global developments. An International Advisory Committee for

International Studies comprising of researchers and experts from India, Australia and the United States has

Page12

been formed to guide and mentor the teaching learning process. Students will be able to have online

interaction with the members of the committee on a regular basis. The University has planned lectures and

workshops on critical national and global issues by young and distinguished scholars for the benefit of MPhil

students.

What explains Muslim under-representation in UPSC?TwoCircles.net August 8, 2012

Authors: Kamala Kanta Dash, Afroz Alam Sahil

Muslims are 16% of the total population in 2011 but they only have 6-7% of the total employment. Only 3%

are in the civil services. Last year, 31 Muslim candidates were successful in the UPSC examination out of

920 who qualified. In the entire country there were 108 Muslim IAS officers out of 4790 IAS officers in 2010

and 109 IPS out of 3209. This data speaks for itself and presents the dismal share of the Muslims in the

country’s premier servic

Protest through Reading…Beyond Headlines July 18, 2012


One Protest was going on outside the Jamia Nagar Police Station and the other was within the boundaries of

the same police station. While the former was a Local Community Protest against Delhi Police’s arrest of a

Muslim youth, the later has been a silent protest against community’s major problems of education,

empowerment and confidence.

Politics of Terror: Targeting Muslim YouthsBeyond Headlines July 10, 2012


The public meeting attracted massive participation of people across communities and party lines. The session

started with the family members of the victims of counter-terror policing sharing their life stories. This was

followed by brief intervention and expression of solidarity by a galaxy of speakers. A captive, inquisitive and

restless audience filled the Deputy Speaker Hall with a lot of emotions ranging from anger, frustration,

disappointment and finally to encouragement and voluntary willingness to continue the struggle against social

discrimination, unlawful detention and demand for adequate compensation.

Nominations Invited for Kabir Puraskar for Communal HarmonyBeyond Headlines June 5, 2012


Kabir Puraskar was established in 1990 to recognize and award acts of exceptional “physical/moral courage

displayed under circumstances of danger to the life of the rescuer in saving the lives and properties of

member(s) of another community, caste or ethnic group during communal riots, caste conflicts or ethnic

clashes.”

Delhi-based global diaspora think tank released newsletter 'Roots and Routes'India Education Diary May 18, 2012

Page13


Roots and Routes, the monthly Newsletter of the Global Research Forum for Diaspora and Transnationalism

(GRFDT) was released by Dr. A. Didar Singh, former Secretary of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

(MOIA), Government of India and Guest of Honour Ambasador Paramjit Singh Sahai at a Seminar on

"India's Diaspora Policy and Advocacy" held at the School of Social Sciences in JNU on 12 May 2012.

The inaugural April issue has the welcome message from Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian

Affairs (MOIA) Government of India. The Minister has lauded the efforts of the GRFDT and has wished the

forum a great future. To quote him "I appreciate the efforts of the Forum, to connect, highlight and enlighten

on various aspects of diaspora and transnationalism. I hope this initiative would yield to greater cooperation,

understanding and benefit the society at large."

Discrimination against Muslim Children in Delhi Private Schools AdmissionsBeyond Headlines May 14, 2012


A group of parents whose children have been denied admission to pre-primary classes in a number of private

schools in Delhi through a Special Leave Petition (SLP) have approached the Supreme Court to intervene to

ensure fair and inclusive practices in admissions. The petition has not only identified this practice as unfair

and worrying in the context of children’s education, but in the context of a larger worry, that is leading to

increasing ghettoization of Muslims in Delhi. The petitioners have gone further and have asserted that they

now strongly believe that the attempts to marginalise students from the Muslim localities and from the

Muslim Community in particular are nothing but deliberate. This is a dangerous situation of deliberate

exclusion and the government and the Supreme Court need to take immediate steps to intervene and set it

right.

Odisha: BJD MP BJ Panda says coordinated policy approach needed to deal with Maoist Menacewww.orissadiary.com April 28, 2012

Authors: Kamala Kanta Dash, rashmi ranjan parida

Biju Janata Dal Lok Sabha MP Baijyant 'Jay' Panda says a coordinated policy approach is the need of the

hour to deal with the Maoist menace. In the backdrop of recent instances of Maoist abductions, the state and

the centre have fallen short of a tactical response.

Sand Mafia in Nitish Kumar’s Shining BiharBeyond Headlines March 12, 2012


The media, both in Bihar and Delhi most often assert and want us to believe that Bihar is changing and in fact

transforming to a developed state. No wonder, this media portrayal has attracted positive attention of global

investors and researchers. But very few have looked at the impact of corruption and organized crime on

Bihar’s environment, local community and overall human development. At a time when illegal mining in

Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand etc has been part of a national

political and policy debate on mining, the sand mining mafia in Bihar seems to have missed the critical eye of

our national media.

University of Pennsylvania Lecture on Sand Mafia in Bihar

Page14

Beyond Headlines February 9, 2012


The lecture “The Baloo Mafia: An Ethnographic Exploration of the Political Economy of Sand Mining in

Bihar” by Dr. Witsoe, as the official CASI release mentions, will focus on the changing political and policy

discourse in Bihar under the Nitish Kumar government and how there has been, if at all, a successful shift

from the caste empowerment to economic development. Acknowledging the recent growth story of Bihar, Dr.

Witsoe, is going to discuss the story of Baloo Mafia (Sand Mafia) in the backdrop of such changes leading to

a construction boom and the increased demand for sand. Dr. Witose will focus on the district of Bhojpur in

the northwestern part of Bihar.

IGNOU’s ‘Beyond Classroom’ Model wins Award for Best Teaching PracticesBeyond Headlines February 8, 2012


IGNOU’s ‘Beyond Classroom’ model has been globally recognised. For this approach IGNOU has recently

won an award for the ‘Best Teaching Practices’ at the India Today Aspire Education Summit 2012, held in

New Delhi. The Indira Gandhi National Open University popularly known as IGNOU is the world’s largest

university having more than 4 million students worldwide. Internationally, the university operates in more

than 35 countries of the world through its partner institutions. IGNOU materials are known for their

conceptual clarity and higher quality of research. In India, these materials are extremely popular for students

preparing for civil services and other competitive exams.

US Consulate Hyderabad keen to deepen ties with OrissaORISSA DIARY October 17, 2011


Officials of the United States Consulate General Hyderabad met Orissa Diary team members during a recent

visit to Bhubaneswar to discuss issues of economic development, disaster relief and investment in Orissa. The

Consulate team included Mr. Paul C. Mueller, Economic Affairs Associate and Mr. K. Srimali, Political and

Economic Specialist.

NIC Meeting: No Consensus on Challenges to Internal SecurityBeyond Headlines September 10, 2011


The 15th National Integration Council (NIC) discussed the pressing issues of terrorism, communalism,

radicalisation of youth and possible steps to deal with these challenges to internal security but could not reach

at any consensus.

Anna Suspends Fast, To Continue His Struggle For Electoral ReformsBeyond Headlines August 28, 2011


Anna Hazare who has become a national icon in last few weeks, suspended his fast at Ramlila. Calling the

support through the ‘Sense of the House’ in the Parliament a half-victory, he has declared to do fast again, if a

strong Lokpal Bill is not passed in the coming months. Expressing satisfaction, Mr Hazare thanked the

Parliament to have reached a consensus on Team Anna’s three point demand. He has declared his plans to

Page15

continue the struggle to bring electoral reform where there will be provisions to stop people with criminal

background to entre in to legislatures, both Parliament and state assemblies. ‘Recall’ and ‘Reject’ are going to

be the focus of next phase of this movement.

Experts appreciate Tata Steel's rehabilitation policy in Kalinganagar project of OrissaORISSA DIARY June 13, 2011


Academicians, researchers and experts acknowledged the quality of work being done in rehabilitation at Tata

Steel's Kalinganagar project. Key dignitaries and experts like Mr. Nila Madhab Mohanty (retd. IAS), Sarat

Das, Ravi Pani and others said this at an evening seminar on Kalinganagar: Past and Present organized by

Odisha Forum in New Delhi on Saturday, 11th June 2011.

FEATURE ARTICLE: Policing the national capital: Commonwealth Games, community engagementand the threat of terrorism in DelhiSouth Asia Masala: Australian National University, Canberra August 5, 2010


The Delhi Police are prepared more than ever before to face any terrorist attack. However, to succeed in their

initiative to police terrorism they need a sustained community engagement policy. Counter-terrorism at

present is facing a twofold challenge; one is the structural challenge that includes appointments, salary,

procurement of weapons and high technology based surveillance systems and the second is the ideological

challenge that has trapped the police in a repressive colonial model of policing which, in turn, has not allowed

the police to develop belongingness with the people. The new amendment in the Delhi Police Act 2010 must

target both these institutional and ideological aspects of reform.

Census and caste: debating caste enumeration in Census 2011South Asia Masala: Australian National University, Canberra June 11, 2010


The caste census is long over due and its must be done so as to dissuade unhealthy caste politics based on

rumours and fabricated statistics. The politics of caste has been played since independence and is gaining

momentum over the last two decades. This development has mostly benefited a certain section within the

lower castes, leaving a large number of them at the mercy of a hierarchical and casteist society.

Shashi Tharoor’s ‘new India’: Foreign policy, citizen engagement and new mediaSouth Asia Masala: Australian National University, Canberra April 30, 2010


In India an informed citizen in their private capacity does not get any chance to contribute to public policy:

the bureaucracy implements policy and the politicians approve it to be implemented. There is virtually no

culture of public debate in any policymaking. The government is reluctant to consult the academicians for

policy formulation and feedback. Academia and bureaucracy share a high level of mutual indifference and

distrust. It is a gross failure on the part of the Indian state that it has been unable to engage its citizens in

public policy discourse. Interestingly, the foreign ministry has a division of public diplomacy that hardly

provides any opportunity for the Indian public to play a role in policy consultation. When apathy of the

educated for the political system seems to have got deeper and wider, Shashi Tharoor’s frank opinion-sharing

Page16

on twitter attracted many to discuss their views on politics and foreign and security policy.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games and crisis management in DelhiSouth Asia Masala: Australian National University, Canberra April 22, 2010


With a mission to deliver the ‘Best Ever Commonwealth Games’, the 19th Commonwealth Games (CWG)

from 3rd to 14th October 2010 is set to transform many facets of public life in Delhi. The Indian government

has prepared a budget outlay of more than Rs.10,000 crore (about US$2 billion) with the aim of turning Delhi

into truly a ‘global city’. This makeover includes a massive overhaul of infrastructure, public transport and

security services in Delhi. In addition, the Chief Minister Ms. Sheila Dixit has put strong emphasis on

changing the public culture of Delhi and has urged Delhiites to behave and be exemplary hosts to all the

dignitaries, visitors and guests.

Fighting Terror: Politics, Police and Community Engagement in IndiaThe Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) April 4, 2009


The national anti-terror fatwa of Deoband and Jamiat in Delhi in 2008 can be considered as the first major

step in condemning and denouncing terrorism to be un-Islamic, in isolating fringe radical elements and

declaring unquestioning loyalty to the Indian state. After this historic offer of engagement has the Indian

state taken any initiative to engage the community? The answer is a resounding “No’.

Counter Terror Policing and Community Engagement in the Indian MetropolisSociety for the Study of Peace and Conflict August 8, 2008


The counter terror strategy of the government has been more towards response and recovery than to prevent

the attack. Prevention of terrorism has been neglected in the counter-terror discourse at least in India which

has been suffering from last two decades. More importantly the police force which is the key in managing law

and order in the mega cities lacks a coordinated and sustained citizen engagement programme. It has not been

possible on the part of the police leaders of the country to engage people and let the citizens feel police as the

part of the community.

SAARC: Towards Greater ConnectivityThe Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) January 16, 2008

Authors: Kamala Kanta Dash, Aparajita Mazumdar, Sameer Suryakant Patil

Connectivity is a vital imperative for South Asia’s future and its acceptance at the highest political levels will

be an essential component in the region’s development

LanguagesOriya (Native or bilingual proficiency)Sanskrit (Professional working proficiency)Hindi (Native or bilingual proficiency)

Page17

Urdu (Elementary proficiency)English (Full professional proficiency)

Skills & ExpertisePublic PolicySouth AsiaInternational RelationsPolitical SciencePolicy AnalysisSocial ResearchHuman RightsPolicingInternational DevelopmentPolitical SociologyComparative PoliticsUnited KingdomUnited StatesUnited NationsIndiaPolicy Making in IndiaIndian Foreign PolicyPolice Reforms in IndiaIndian DiasporaCorporate Social ResponsibilityFood SecurityParliamentary ProcedureCommunity EngagementCriminal JusticeCommunity PolicingInternational Terrorism and Counter-TerrorsimEnvironmental PolicySociology of MiningAustraliaAustralian Public PolicyAustralian Foreign PolicyIndians in AustraliaPolice Reforms in AustraliaIndia Australia RelationsTeachingTraining SkillsLife SkillsEducation and Skills DevelopmentPolitical ConsultingSocial MediaTeacher TrainingProject PlanningStaff DevelopmentHuman Relations

Page18

Media AnalysisSocial Impact AssessmentDiasporaPolicy Writing

InterestsTeaching, Training, Yoga, Theatre, Volunteering, Research,

Community Service

Page19

Kamala Kanta DashDirector, Public Policy and Communications at South Asia Community Link Group Australasia

[email protected]

6 people have recommended Kamala Kanta

"I know Mr. Kamala for last 14 years. He is a brilliant academic, researcher, journalist, humanist and above

all a nice human being. He is indeed a friend for me for all time. From my college days to my professional

journeys, he is always with me. He is a dynamic chap with greatest thoughts. We both implemented a nice

idea that is annual Odisha Living Legend Awards in 2011. He has exceptional ability to implement idea into

reality. Truely he acts like an octopus, like Dravid did for Ganguly during his captaincy. Above all a nice

individual to describe him."

— rashmi ranjan parida, Editor, www.orissadiary.com, www.eindiadiary.com,www.indiaeducationdiary.com, www.eindiaeduc, Odisha Media Info Service Pvt Ltd, worked with KamalaKanta at Orissa Diary.com

"Kamala Kanta Dash's knowledge and expertise in the public policy domain has been quite an asset for the

public policy practice at Orkash. His approach to go deep into the subject with a focus to come up with a

solution to the problem, is amazing. Dash brings an element of activity into the group and working on a

project with him is truly a great learning experience."

— Sachet Kaura, Analyst, Orkash - Public Policy and Strategic Affairs, worked directly with Kamala Kantaat Orkash Servicces Pvt.Ltd.

"I have worked alongside Kamal for almost over 2 months for a project wherein apart from the interaction

with him during meetings, con-calls I got to work with him closely during the field-trip as well. During my

engagement with him I have found him to be a sincere and dedicated person, who is honest towards his work.

He did bring in a lot of value to the project with his extensive networks and I have found him committed

towards the project deadlines and deliverables. On the personal side, I have found him to be very warm in his

interaction with colleagues and his high energy levels often drive the conversations do does his work-life.

Strengths - High energy, Industrious nature, Networking, Excellent writing and good communication skills"

— Shailesh Lohia, Consultant, Orkash Services Private Limited, worked directly with Kamala Kanta atOrkash Servicces Pvt.Ltd.

"I know Mr. Dash from 2000 onwards and following his academic and social service journey closely since

then. I have seen his growth from a student volunteer and field researcher to a community worker and policy

analyst. He has worked hard to improve his skills in training school children, researching international

relations, teaching social sciences and consulting in policy matters. His work as a journalist and researcher

has been recognized both in India and Australia. I strongly hope his PhD at Monash on Muslim community

Page20

engagement in public policy in Australia and India will have practical relevance for policy makers and

academics in both countries and elsewhere. I am very pleased to know that he continues to invest time,

energy and resources to sharpen, upgrade his knowledge and leadership skills in social and policy sciences.

Such an accomplished person in his work and erudition with a sensational amount of charisma, Mr Das will

be an asset for any set up."

— Maitreya Buddha Samantaray, Student, Jawaharlal Nehru University, worked with Kamala Kanta atJawaharlal Nehru University

"I know Kamala as a Knowledgeable, hard working and sincere employee. He has the ability to face and sort

out the problem arising in the work place. He deserves achieve great heights in life"

— nihar das, Senior Researcher, AMC Research Group, managed Kamala Kanta indirectly at AMCResearch Group

"I know Kamala since 2008. He is a dynamic and active researcher. He is friendly, sociable and has been part

of various global networks of policy researchers. His PhD in Public Policy and Asian Studies, which is a

critical evaluation of the role of community engagement in Delhi and Melbourne, will be an important

contribution to policy making both in India and Australia.His experience in media and social activism gives

him a unique platform to bring in new ideas to his research. He is kind, honest and ethical in his personal and

professional life. He will be an asset to any institute he works for."

— Daulat Desai, Doctoral Research Fellow, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, studied with KamalaKanta at Monash University

Contact Kamala Kanta on LinkedIn

Page21

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=17896626&authType=name&authToken=C2F9&goback=%2Enpv_17896626_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1

Documents

Kamala Kanta Dash