Speaker
Dr. Ganesh Devy
Scholar | Author | Public Intellectual
Dr. Ganesh Devy is a distinguished scholar, writer, and public intellectual, renowned for his contributions to literature, linguistics, and cultural studies. Writing in Marathi, Gujarati, and English, he has dedicated his career to exploring India’s linguistic and literary heritage. He was the driving force behind the People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI), a monumental project that documented over 700 languages across 50 volumes.
With a literary career spanning decades, Dr. Devy has authored or edited over 100 works in diverse fields, including literary criticism, history, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, and education. Some of his notable books include In Another Tongue (1992), After Amnesia (1992), Of Many Heroes (1997), A Nomad Called Thief (2007), The Crisis in Knowledge and Education (2018), and India as a Linguistic Civilization (2024). His work has been widely recognized, earning him prestigious honors such as the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Durga Bhagwat Award, the Prince Claus Award, the Linguapax Award, and the Padma Shri.
Dr. Devy has been associated with esteemed academic institutions, including M. S. University of Baroda, DAIICT Gandhinagar, CMDR Dharwad, and NCBS-TIFR, and currently serves as the Director of the Somaiya School of Civilization at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai.
Sessions
Day 1 - 14th March, Friday @ The Nilgiri Library, Outdoor
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
In this thought-provoking inaugural address, Dr. Ganesh Devy explores the evolving identity of an Indian in a diverse and dynamic nation. Drawing from cultural, linguistic, and historical perspectives, he will examine what defines Indian identity in contemporary times.