Jan 20 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)
Political scientist Kothari dies at 86
New Delhi
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
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Rajni Kothari, a political scientist of commanding stature who tirelessly defended civil liberties, passed away at his residence around 9.45am on Monday . He was 86.Kothari was suffering from urinary tract infection. A family member said he was unwell for the last two years and died of age-related ailments.
Few intellectuals in India have been as admired and revered as Kothari. Foremost academics home and away posted their tributes on social media. Psephologist and former colleague Yogendra Yadav described him as “the first theorist of Indian democracy, the most outstanding political scien tist India has yet produced“ and “a friend philosopher and guide of peoples' movements.“
Prof Ashutosh Varshney, who teaches international studies and social sciences at Brown University, called him a “great political scientist“, a “lifelong fighter for democratic rights“ who “inspired a generation of academics and activists.“
An institution builder, Kothari founded the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (1963), a research institute which did pioneering work in the field of caste, identity and politics. He was also one of the first presidents of People's Union for Civil Liberties and a former Planning Commission member.
Kothari's grand magisterial work was Politics in India. No serious student of political science, home or abroad, could afford to skip it.
(With PTI inputs) For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Few intellectuals in India have been as admired and revered as Kothari. Foremost academics home and away posted their tributes on social media. Psephologist and former colleague Yogendra Yadav described him as “the first theorist of Indian democracy, the most outstanding political scien tist India has yet produced“ and “a friend philosopher and guide of peoples' movements.“
Prof Ashutosh Varshney, who teaches international studies and social sciences at Brown University, called him a “great political scientist“, a “lifelong fighter for democratic rights“ who “inspired a generation of academics and activists.“
An institution builder, Kothari founded the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (1963), a research institute which did pioneering work in the field of caste, identity and politics. He was also one of the first presidents of People's Union for Civil Liberties and a former Planning Commission member.
Kothari's grand magisterial work was Politics in India. No serious student of political science, home or abroad, could afford to skip it.
(With PTI inputs) For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
