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3:30 pm, Seminar Hall Andaman & Nicobar Islands Pankaj Sekhsaria DST-Centre for Policy Research, Dept of Humanities and Social Science, IIT-Delhi. 09-03-17 Abstract About the talk: The presentation will look at the islands from a multi-disciplinary perspective and deal with the challenges and experiences both as an activist and a writer in working in the islands and bringing up issues for consideration and for debate. About Pankaj: Pankaj Sekhsaria is the most consistent chronicler of contemporary issues in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one of the best known. His writings on the environment, wildlife conservation, development and indigenous communities have provided insights and perspective on the life of the islands for over two decades. 'Islands in Flux - the Andaman and Nicobar Story' (HarperCollins India, 2017), Sekhsaria's new book on the islands is a compilation of his writings on key issues in the islands that includes ecological, geological and legal issues over forest and environment protection and of the rights of the islands indigenous communities. The book is an important, consolidated account that is relevant both for the present and the future of this beautiful but very fragile and volatile island chain. Sekhsaria is also the author of 'The Last Wave' (HarperCollins India, 2014), his debut novel that is a story also based in the Andaman Islands. He has edited/written two other books on the islands as well. Pankaj Sekhsaria is a member of the environmental action group, Kalpavriksh where he has worked extensively on issues of wildlife conservation the environment and tribal rights, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was part of a team that took matters related to the environment and the tribal communities of these islands, first, to the Calcutta High court in 1998 and then to the Supreme Court as part of the larger Godavarman case. He has a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Maastricht University, the Netherlands and is currently Senior Project Scientist at the DST-Centre for Policy Research, Dept of Humanities and Social Science, IIT-Delhi.
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