Prof. K. Palanithurai
Prof. K. Palanithurai is a field activist who works with the community beyond the walls of the university. He studied and worked at Annamalai University, came to Gandhigram University and worked with Gandhian institutions for 34 years and is still standing in the field today. His combined academic work, research work and field work is somewhat different and extensive. He has left his mark in all aspects of the university. He has held all positions from the post of Head of Department to the post of Vice-Chancellor. He has served as the National Professor of the Panchayat Research Institute formed in the name of Rajiv Gandhi. He has written 73 books so far. He has compiled 22 books. He has written a separate chapter in 42 books.
He has written 136 research articles and published them in research journals. He has written 394 articles in newspapers and monthly magazines to bring the public to the development work sites and governance sites. He has prepared 42 research reports and presented them to national and international institutions. Under his supervision and guidance, 19 research students have obtained their PhD degrees. After the formation of the new Panchayat government, he prepared training manuals for training .
Panchayat leaders and trained 8000 village Panchayat leaders to strengthen it. Out of them, 5000 were women and Dalits. International financial institutions, the Central Government and the State Government have provided significant funding for his research and Panchayat training activities. He has served as a member of the High Level Committees for Local Government and Rural Activities of the Central and State Governments. He has prepared and published an Administrative Manual for Local Government Activities in English and Tamil.
He has received research grants from several international institutions for higher studies and has visited countries such as Canada, USA, Senegal, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, etc., and has conducted research and written books. He has participated in hundreds of international, national and regional conferences, seminars and conferences and delivered research papers and special lectures. He has also conducted international, national and regional conferences at Gandhigram Universities. He has delivered 17 foundation lectures at Indian universities. He has served as a visiting professor at the University of Cologne, Germany. The Department of Politics and Development, which he headed, was recognized as a Department of Higher Studies by the University Grants Commission and served as its chairman. He has received the Professor Ram Reddy Award for his research activities, the Justice V.R. Krinayar Award for social activities, the Seventh Generation Award for his work in the field of rural development, and the Republic Day Award for his excellent work in collaboration with the government and local governments. Currently, after retirement, he is working as the honorary director of the Rural Development Initiative run by the Aravinda Society. Contact gpalanithurai@gmail.com