The Indian Social Science Academy (ISSA) was
established on August 15, 1974 with registered
headquarters at Allahabad. Its major objectives
are:
(1)-To undertake co-operative and multidisciplinary
research in areas having relevance to social
science and to the Indian society; and thereby,
to relate the social sciences theorization to
actual reality.
(2)-To function as a centre of exchange of ideas among
social scientists, physical scientists, chemical
scientists, biological scientists, agricultural
scientists, ecological and environmental scientists
and engineering scientists, philosophers, visionaries,
social activists, planners and administrators.
(3)- To act as a national forum for integrated development
of science in India.
(4)- To hold the annual Indian Social Science Congress
(ISSC), and also State and the Regional Social
Science Congresses;
(5)- To publish multilingual social science journals;
monographs and books in Indian languages.
(6)-To promote multilingual socially relevant social
science teaching and research; and To undertake
evaluation of social science teaching and research in India:
(a)- To collaborate and cooperate with national and
international organisations in the field of
social and natural sciences.
(b)-To
strive to develop unity of Science of Nature-Man-Society
and bring all sciences-physical, chemical, biological,
agricultural., ecological and social together
to form a united whole capable of developing
a holistic theory and holistic methods in Indian
conditions.
The ISSA has undertaken
the following academic programmes in order to
march towards its goals:
(i)- Appraisal and integration of researches, theories and methods.
(ii)- Publication of Journals/monographs and books in Indian Languages.
(iii)- Networking
with Universities, Colleges, research institutes
laboratories, associations and other social
and academic organizations.
Discovery, development and dissemination of Science of
Nature-Man-Society through appraisal and integration
of current researches, theories and methods
was sought to be achieved through the following:
(i)- Indian Social Science Congress.
(ii)-State Social Science Congresses.
(iii)-Research and training Centres
(iv)-Seminars/Symposia/Colloquia/Workshops/Group
Discussions/Public Lectures
(v)- Publication
of Research Journals/Newsletters/ Monographs/Books
in Indian languages.
ISSA
initiated organization of Indian Social Science
Congress (ISSC) in 1976 and as of now 28 sessions
of ISSC have been held in different parts of
India. Its 29 th session is scheduled to be
held on December 26-30, 2005 at Lucknow University,
Lucknow, UP. It also initiated organization
of State Social Science Congresses proceedings
of which are held in the languages of the respective
States. (e.g. A.P. Social Science Congress,
Karnataka Social Science Congress, Bengal Social
Science Congress etc. Third West Bangal Social
Science Congress was held on September 27-29,
2004 at North Bengal University, Darjeeling.
Survey
Research Centre and Rural Development Study
Centre were set up simultaneously for undertaking
coordinated research programmes, data building
and training. A Peoples Centre for Theoretical
And Policy Research has been planned during
the Silver Jubilee year of ISSA.
Well-planned
thematic seminars/symposia/workshops/colloquia
at local, regional and national levels have
been held since the inception of ISSA.
Publication
of quarterly research journals and Newsletters
were initiated with a view to disseminating
scientific knowledge among people. ISSA is publishing
two quarterly journals- Bharatiya Samajik Chintan
in English and Samayik Samajik Chintan in Hindi
at present. A quarterly ISSA Newsletter is also
published. It has also published several books/monographs
during the last 29 years.
ISSA
proposes to publish research Journals, monographs
and books in all Indian languages.
Ever
since its inception ISSA has been engaged in
building co-operation with universities, colleges,
research institutes, laboratories, other academic
and social institutions in India. Several universities
and research institutes are its permanent members.
ISSA
has set up a Young Scientists Division for development
and utilization of creative potentialities of
young scientists of all disciplines. It encourages
young scientists to learn to practice democracy
and to dissent and develop critical thinking.
It
has also been engaged in building regional and
state centres all over India. Andhra Centre
of ISSA holds Andhra Social Science Congress.
Karnataka Centre organises Karnataka Social
Science Congress. Bengal Centre organises Bengal
Social Science Congress. Similar Centres in
other states are being developed. ISSA proposes
to christen respective state centres in their
names-Andhra Academy of Social Science, Karnataka
Academy of Social Science, etc. Panjab Academy
of Social Science And Literature is already
a federal member of ISSA.
Major
thrust of activities of the Indian Academy of
Social Sciences involve building of a holistic
theory of science of Nature- m an-Society through
concerted interactive discourse, dialogue and
exchange among natural scientists, agricultural
scientists, biologists, social scientists, etc.
ISSA places greater premium on Indian languages
for communicating science.