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T. K. Oommen

Tharailath Koshy Oommen (16 October 1937 – 26 February 2026) was an Indian sociologist, author, teacher and Professor Emeritus at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was awarded Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award in 2008 for his services to the fields of education and literature by the President of India.

Oommen was the 12th president of International Sociological Association (1990–1994).

Background

T. K. Oommen was born on 16 October 1937, the second son to Saramma and Koshy of the Keerikattu family at Tharailath, Venmony, Alleppey, Travancore. After early schooling in Alappuzha, Oommen obtained his BA in economics from Kerala University, Thiruvananthapuram in 1957 and MA in sociology from Pune University in 1960. He continued at Pune University for his doctoral research and obtained PhD in 1965 on Charisma, stability and change: an analysis of Bhoodan-Gramdan movement in India under the supervision of Prof. Y. B. Damle.

Oommen resided at The National Media Campus in Haryana. He died on 26 February 2026, at the age of 88.

Career

Oommen started his career as a lecturer in Social Sciences at Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi University (1964–70) where he worked as the Reader in Sociology (1970–71). He then moved to the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS), Jawaharlal Nehru University as Associate Professor (1971–76) and later became the Professor of Sociology (1976–2002).

During 2003–2006, he was involved with the following projects:

  • He was the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Gujarat Harmony Project, to explore the possibility of reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims after the 2002 communal carnage in Gujarat.
  • He was a member of the Prime Minister's High Level Committee, to study the Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India, popularly known as the Sachar Committee.
  • He held the Chairmanship of Ford Foundation on Non-traditional Security.

In 2007, he was made Professor Emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Positions held

T. K. Oommen held various positions at International Sociological Association during the period 1986 to 1994. He was the Association's first president from the Global South.

  • 1986 Secretary General, XI World Congress of Sociology, New Delhi
  • 1986–90 EC member
  • 1990–94 President (He was only person from Asia and Africa to hold the post)

He also held other positions during his career:

Oommen was also U.G.C. National Lecturer in Sociology, 1985–86, visiting professor, Dept. of Sociology, University of California (Berkeley), USA., Fall, 1990, visiting professor, Maison des Sciences de L'homme, Paris, June–July 1992, visiting professor, Wissenshaftszentrum, Berlin, May–July 1993 and June 1994, visiting fellow, Research School of Social Science, Australian National University, Canberra, December 1993 and senior visiting fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, Budapest, October 1994 Ã¢Â€Â“ July 1995.

Awards and recognitions

Oommen received many awards for his services to the social milieu.

Books and publications

References

Further reading

External links