Centre for Kachchh and Desert Studies

“Whenever we found people saying firm things, we knew they had not opened up to us. Only when they start saying this can be true, that can also be true, then we found the right people to talk to.” - Komal Kothari (Oral Historian and Ethno-Musicologist)

“Insecurity, uncertainty, doubt. I still often hear that phrase surrounding Native title discussions, and purportedly its use in reference to economic contract. No, it’s insecurity, uncertainty and doubt about something more important than that. Much deeper. About the foundations of the nation, about who belongs, about who we are.” - Kim Scott in Location of Culture by Homi Bhabha

A land of diverse geography, contested borders and affiliations, a cradle of civilization, and osmotic trade migrations that emotes through the ‘fault-line’ of words, art, weaving, embroidery and others. This expression is aimed towards self-assertion or as a collective. The Centre embodies this understanding as an epicenter from where knowledge is generated and thereafter expanding in an inter-disciplinary manner. The initiatives focus on the academic, cultural and developmental aspects of Kachchh expanding its scope to research on the deserts of the world.

The action plan includes:

• Academic Programs
• Repository of Oral History, folk literature and archives
• Publications
• Library Program
• World desert research exchange
• Connecting Kachchh on a global platform based on alternative histories
• Translation projects

Activities Under Centre:

1. 2-day Conference cum exhibit on 'Weaving Stories, traditions and textiles: Celebrating the Cultural Heritage of the Vankar community of Kachchh'
2. CHAKKA JAM- A CULTURAL and ARTISANAL DIALOGUE in Nakhatrana Taluka towards community engagement and cultural exchange
3. 2 day Seminar and month long exhibit on photographic and cultural documentation of Kachchh, 'The Photographic Eye of Jyoti Bhat'
4. Round Table discussion on research perspectives on Kachchh in 'Reconceptualising Civilization'
5. Round Table discussion on 'Remembering the undocumented: Folk practices, Orality and Memory Studies'

Research Projects Under Centre:

1. Longitudnal Research on the Educational Dynamics in Kachchh along with learning enhancement through libraries of Somaiya Gujarat Trust along with College of Education (and for one project with SCEL)
2. Inter-disciplinary baseline cattle research based on the cattle survey of Kachchh along with students and faculty of K.J. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS AND COMMERCE, K.J. SOMAIYA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, K.J. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE from the streams psychology, sociology, Gujarati language, EVS, management studies, history and chemistry.
3. Research on representation of visual and material culture in varied cultural institutions in India and UK to build a museum on Kachchh.