Prof. (Dr.) Bir Pal Singh

Professor in Panchayat Administration & Nyaya Panchayat
Chairperson, Centre for Tribal Studies and Research
National Law Institute University, Bhopal (M.P.), India

M.A. (Anthropology), M.A. (Sociology), UGC-NET, Ph.D. (Anthropology), Lucknow University, India

E-mails: birpalsingh@nliu.ac.in , directorde@nliu.ac.in 

Professor Singh is presently having more than twenty-four years of teaching experience. Before joining here at National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal in September 2006, he was a Guest Lecturer with Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work departments at the University of Lucknow. He has also taught at the Institute of Management Sciences, University of Lucknow as Faculty of M.B.A. (H.R. & I.R.). He holds a post-graduate degree both in Anthropology and Sociology with a specialization in social-cultural anthropology and political sociology respectively. As a student of Anthropology, he submitted his M.A. dissertation on ‘Development Prospectus among the Bhils of Mount Abu’ in Rajasthan. Keen to know the cultural environment of isolated masses of the country especially the tribals, led him to complete his doctoral work in Anthropology on the topic ‘Continuity and Change among the Tharus of Lakhimpur Kheri District in U.P.’ The work details the present status of the Tharu tribe and changes which they are facing in their socio-cultural aspects in contemporary India.

He has working experience in National and International Projects including UNDP-NLIU, Ministry of Justice, Government of India Project titled ‘Examining and Strengthening Informal Justice Systems in Madhya Pradesh’ and “Role and Status of Customary Laws in the Development of Baiga, Bharia and Saharia PVTGs of Madhya Pradesh: A Socio-Anthropological Studies” awarded by ICSSR, New Delhi under the Major Research Project. He has worked among the major tribal groups of India like Bhil, Bhilala, Gond, Bharia and Tharus, etc. Apart from academic duties, and administrative responsibilities such as Member of the Executive Council (2017-20), Member of the Academic Council (2016-19), Assistant Proctor, Warden Boys Hostel, Member, IQAC, Member, Examination Committee, Chairman, Internal Examination Audit Committee, Member, ICC, Member Grievance Redressal Committee, Faculty In-Charge, Legal Aid Clinic, and Faculty In-charge, Cell for People United for Law, Education and Rehabilitation (PULER), etc., he is also engaged in research and training activities. As Co-coordinator, he has conducted ten training programs on Laws related to Women and Children for Government and Non-Government Officers of Madhya Pradesh (on a convergence basis), organized by the Centre for Gender and Health Laws of NLIU, Bhopal in collaboration with the Directorate of Women Empowerment, Dept. of Women and Child Development, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal. He has also conducted five Training Programs as Co-coordinator on the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 for the members of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Madhya Pradesh, organized by the Centre for Gender and Health Laws of NLIU, Bhopal in collaboration with the Directorate of Women Empowerment, Dept. of Women and Child Development, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal.

He has more than forty publications which have been published in the journals of International and National reputes viz. American Anthropologist, Environment and Social Psychology, The Eastern Anthropologist, The Oriental Anthropologist, Gender Forum, Indian Journal of Dalit and Tribal Studies and Social Action, and Journal of Social Anthropology, etc., and chapters in books with leading publishers like Cambridge University Press, Vietnam National University- HCMC Press, and Rawat Publications, etc. He has also published four books- Social Inequality and Exclusion of Scheduled Tribes in India, published by Lambert, Germany, Tribal Culture and Society, published by Mittal Publications, New Delhi, Affirmative Action in India: Issues and Perspectives (ed.), published by Mittal Publications, New Delhi, and Empowerment of Tribal Women in India: Issues and Perspectives (ed.), published by Mittal Publications, New Delhi.

Besides delivering lectures on Tribal and Customary Law, Law and Social Transformation, Gender and Law, Laws related to the Weaker Sections, Law and Development, and Research Methodology, etc. in different academic institutions(UGC HRDCs of Central Universities, State Universities, National Law Universities, IIMs, IIFM, etc.) and academically involved with State Public Service Commission of some of the States, he has participated in more than one hundred fifty conferences/ seminars/ workshops in the capacity of the paper presenter, resource person, key speaker, chairing the session, and organizer, etc. He is the life member of many key academic/ research bodies like the Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society (EFCS), Indian Sociological Society, Indian Society of Criminology, Indian National Confederation & Academy of Anthropologists (INCAA), and United Indian Anthropology Forum (UIAF), etc.

His main areas of teaching/research are Sociological theories, Social-Cultural Anthropology, Tribal and Customary Law, Sociology of Law, Legal Anthropology, Caste and Law, Gender and Law, Law Relating to Affirmative Action, Law and Social Transformation, Law and Rural Development, and Law and Urban Development.