Dr Monica Das

Managing Trustee

Fakir Mohan Foundation (FMF), New Delhi

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PHOTOS
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About me

PROFESSIONAL PATH

I am Monica Das, a teacher by profession, a thinker by nature, writer by reflexes, music practitioner by passion, a die-hard believer in the principle of harmony in society, an indulgent hopper in trying out things that are fascinating, a spontaneous responder to aesthetic experiences and a humble humanist by choice.

The path I traversed has been fairly wide, enough to enrich anyone, Born into an illustrious family by God’s grace. I draw my lineage from Vyasa Kavi Fakir Mohan Senapati. Spent delightful days of my childhood in the house which he built. Cradling within its walls where souls thrive on positive influences, where the air is charged with education, culture, and aesthetics helped me to get a jump start to my journey into the future. This is not to say that I managed to reach the skies. My life panned out only to be a modestly successful one. The significant fact is that I lived a life almost on my own terms without compromising on the balance in life. The odds in my life I handled myself and by and large stood my ground.

Experiences

Educationist, Writer, Filmmaker and Social Activist/Feminist Economist

  • Assoc. Professor of Economics, Delhi University (Retd.)
  • Fellow at Developing Countries Research Centre (DCRC), Delhi University
  • Member International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE)
  • Managing Trustee Fakir Mohan Foundation
  • Visiting Scholar at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 2000-2001
  • Currently member of jury for Self Financed Commissioning Progams,
    Doordarshan (Government of India)
  • Ex Member Film Preview Committee, Doordarshan, Govt. of India
  • Formerly Member, Classical Dances of India Grading Committee
  • Vocal Artist All India Radio (AIR) till 1989
  • Founder member of Odissa Forum (ODF), New Delhi. Formerly Vice-President (ODF), Currently member Governing body.

INTERESTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

GENDER STUDIES
BOOKS

  • Authored/Edited book titled ‘Her story so far’ – Tales of the girl child Published by Penguin. Officially released on the Girl Child day (24th. September 2003) Two hundred copies of the book were purchased by (CEFL), Govt. of India and have been sent to two hundred educational institutions in India.
  • Authored/Edited book titled 'The Other Woman' Published by Harper Collins, 2010
  • 'Memoirs and more of an Insider' Published by Authors Press, New Delhi
  • Odia translation of the book 'Memoirs and more' Published by Athena Publishers Bhubneshwar
RESEARCH PAPERS/CONFERENCES

  • Presented research paper on ‘The Impact of underage marriages in India and its impact on HDI (Human Development Index)' at the International conference of IAFFE at Boston University, Massachussets, USA, in June 2009
  • Invited to Oxford, England by IAFFE (International Association for Feminist Economics) for presenting a paper on ‘The girl child – a study in perspective’ at the conference held in August 2004
  • Was invited by the Hawke Institute, University of Australia, Adelaide to speak to a group of faculty members of the Department of Gender Studies, about my book on the ‘Girl child in India’ in April 2004
  • Presented a paper on ‘The frail femme in fiction and reality’ at the conference held in the American University, Washington DC, June 2005
  • Was a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada in the year 2000 – 2001 at the Center for Research on Women’s Studies and Gender Relations. The University grants Commission funded my travel for the purpose and the fellowship was from UBC Vancouver Canada
  • Presented a paper at the conference on “Lived Environment of Girls and women” held at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada in the year 2001
  • Delivered a lecture on "Girl child labour" with special reference to Orissa, at the Portland State University, Oregon, USA in Dec. 2000
  • Participated in a workshop on female pedagogy and was on the panel on academics working with NGOs at the center for Research in Women’s Studies and Gender Relations, UBC, CANADA
  • Presented a paper at the RamKheng University, Bangkok for the International conference co-sponsored by IAFFE( International Association for Feminist Economics), in June 2007; Also chaired session here
  • Presented a paper ‘Gender Perspectives’at the National Conference on ‘Narratives of Women and the Indian Nation’, held at the Sadbhawana Bhawan, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Nov 2007
  • Presented paper at the IAFFE conference held at Hangzhou, China in 2011
  • Attended the workshop on Statistical Applications for Gender Studies at the Statistical Institute of Beijing, China, 2011

FILMS


  • Directed a telefilm on the life and works of Fakir Mohan Senapati, the eminent literateur of India Telecast on the National Channel in January 2003 the first time; several repeat telecasts thereafter Won the award as the best docu-drama of the year at the DD Annual Awards function held at Bombay in November 2003
  • In September 2005, DVDs of the above film titled ‘Anwesan’ were produced by the Doordarshan Archives. It was officially released by the Chief Minister of Orissa and the CEO of Prasar Bharti. I was felicitated by the chief minister on the same occasion
  • Was invited by OSA, to Dallas, Texas, USA to screen my film ‘Anwesan’ on 4th July 2004
  • Screened at the Habitat Center on 31st August 2003.
  • Was on the Prasar Bharti (Govt. of India’s) Film preview Committee
  • Have authored the write- up on Odissi dance which accompanies the CD brought out for Door- Darshan Archives. It is part of Door – Darshan’s special series commemorating 100 years of recorded music in India. It was released in the month of June 2003 at the Habitat Center, New Delhi.

Education

ACADEMIC CAREER

I received my education at premier institutions like the St. Joseph’s Convent, Barabati Girls School at the Bagha Jatin Memorial Hall. I did my intermediate in science from Lady Brabourne College, Calcutta University. Thereafter did my graduation in Economics Honours from Sambalpur University, Odisha. My post-graduation studies were in Allahabad University from where I completed my Masters in Economics and got the second position in the Univerisity. Allahabad University was considered the most coveted educational institution those days. This was followed by long years of teaching in a Delhi University college.

I finished my Ph.D., rather late in the day, in the middle of my career. The Ph.D. thesis was on Agricultural Economics. I started working under Prof. Baidyanath Mishra but finally ended up with Dr Tejammul Haque as my guide in Delhi. He was the chairperson of CACP, Ministry of Agriculture, Shastri Bhawan, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Apart from his guidance, my deep thanks to him for assisting me in getting secondary data which added immense value to my work.

Then came an offer to be a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. It almost landed on my lap, out of the blue or should we say by Providence. This opened up many windows for me. I traveled to many places around the globe for presenting papers at Universities happened. I have provided the details below. This was courtesy IAFFE ( International Association for Feminist Economics) of which I am a member.