Somaiya Vidyavihar University has appointed Dr. Ganesh Devy, a Padmashri Awardee, as Dean & Senior Professor of Eminence in the Faculty of Language & Literature and Director of the Centre for Civilisation Studies. Dr. Devy brings a wealth of experience and academic rigor to the institution, having received his education from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and Leeds University in the UK.
In his illustrious academic career spanning five decades, he has held esteemed positions such as Professor of Literature at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and Professor of Humanities at the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information Technology University at Gandhinagar, among others. He has also been an Honorary Professor at the Centre for Multidisciplinary Research at Dharwad and the Obaid Siddiqui Chair Professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences—TIFR, Bangalore.
An exceptionally versatile scholar, Dr. Devy writes in English, Marathi, and Gujarati and has authored or edited 110 books covering subjects from Literary Studies and Anthropology to Philosophy, History, and Education. His works are not only referenced in educational institutions in India but have also found prominence in universities in the USA, UK, France, Germany, and Australia. Several of his works have been translated into various Indian and international languages.
Dr. Devy is a recipient of multiple prestigious fellowships, including the Rotary Foundation Fellowship, Commonwealth Exchange Fellowship, and Fulbright Fellowship, among others. His body of work has been honored with several awards such as the Prince Claus Award, Linguapax Award, and Sahitya Akademi Award, to name a few.
One of his monumental contributions to the academic world is the initiation and leadership of the ‘People’s Linguistic Survey of India,’ the largest language survey ever conducted, covering over 700 living languages and involving nearly 3000 field linguists. He is also the founder of the Bhasha Research Centre at Baroda and the Adivasi Academy at Tejgadh in Gujarat, as well as The Himlok Museum at Kyelang in Himachal Pradesh.
Dr. Devy’s appointment promises to usher in a new era of academic excellence and interdisciplinary learning at Somaiya Vidyavihar University.
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