Studying Africa at the School of International Studies: Growth and Challenges

Abstract

This article examines the historical and institutional evolution of African Studies in India, with particular emphasis on the Centre for African Studies at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. It outlines the transformation of the field from a small sub-division established in 1955 into an independent academic centre by 2009—a shift that parallels the deepening of India–Africa diplomatic and economic relations. The article highlights the contributions of key scholars and their foundational work, demonstrating a transition from descriptive Area Studies to more nuanced analyses engaging with globalization, diaspora studies and South–South cooperation. It also situates the discipline within the wider academic landscape of Indian universities and underscores the importance of outreach initiatives in bridging academia and policy. In doing so, the article reflects on how African Studies in India has increasingly adopted interdisciplinary and policy-relevant approaches, aligning itself with contemporary global realities. It further points to the growing need for strengthening research capacity and expanding thematic coverage within the field. Overall, the article presents African Studies as an essential framework for interpreting contemporary global dynamics and strengthening international partnerships.

Introduction

As India’s foreign policy engagement with Africa deepened after independence, the need to cultivate an institutional space for African Studies within Indian universities became urgent. The establishment of the Centre for African Studies (CAS) at the School of International Studies (SIS) in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) represents an important development in this regard.

Changing African Politics and Evolving India–Africa Engagement

The past two decades have witnessed significant transformations in African politics, marked by a gradual consolidation of democratic institutions in several countries, the strengthening of continental governance mechanisms through the African Union (AU), and an increasing assertion of African agency in global affairs (World Atlas, n.d.) (Figure 1). While challenges such as political instability, authoritarian reversals and conflict persist in certain regions, there has been a parallel trend of regional integration, economic reform and the emergence of Africa as a critical actor in South–South cooperation frameworks. These changes have contributed to the growing strategic and economic relevance of Africa for India, particularly in the context of its expanding global ambitions and quest for diversified partnerships. As Gieg (2023) argues, India’s engagement with Africa is rooted not only in historical solidarities shaped by anti-colonial struggles and Non-Aligned Movement affiliations but also in contemporary imperatives such as energy security, access to markets and geopolitical balancing. The institutionalization of this engagement through platforms like the India–Africa Forum Summit has further reinforced Africa’s centrality in India’s foreign policy, enabling structured dialogue on development cooperation, trade and capacity-building. The inclusion of the AU in the G20 as a permanent member in 2023 was a milestone in the India–Africa partnership. Scholars such as Taylor (2012) and Bhatia (2021) highlight that India’s approach is often framed as a partnership model emphasizing mutual benefit, contrasting with more extractive or hierarchical engagement patterns historically associated with external powers.

Within this evolving context, Africa–India relations have transitioned from symbolic political solidarity to a multifaceted partnership encompassing economic, technological and developmental dimensions. According to Dubey and Biswas (2016), India’s engagement strategy in Africa is characterized by its focus on capacity-building initiatives, lines of credit, educational exchanges and diaspora linkages, which collectively contribute to a distinctive model of South–South cooperation. Gieg (2023) further notes that this engagement is increasingly shaped by global geopolitical competition, particularly with China, compelling India to recalibrate its strategies while maintaining its normative emphasis on partnership and development.

In response to these shifts, African Studies as a discipline has undergone important transformations, moving beyond its earlier Area Studies orientation to embrace interdisciplinary, policy-relevant and Global South-centric approaches. Scholars are increasingly engaging with themes such as emerging powers, transnational networks and development diplomacy, thereby reflecting the changing realities on the ground. This intellectual shift entails a critical reassessment of power asymmetries, local agency and the implications of external engagement for African societies, positioning African Studies as a dynamic field that both informs and is informed by the evolving contours of Africa–India relations.

Figure 1.

Source: World Atlas: Regions of Africa. Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/regions-of-africa.html

Centre for African Studies: Early Years

The history of CAS is intertwined with the larger trajectory of International Studies in India, particularly the establishment of the Indian School of International Studies (ISIS) in 1955, its merger with JNU in 1970 and the subsequent institutional evolution that shaped the academic landscape of SIS. From its early beginnings as a Division within the Centre for West Asian and African Studies (CWAAS), the African Studies component eventually grew into an independent Centre in 2009. This long institutional journey reflects not only the academic commitment to African Studies but also the broader political, intellectual and diplomatic engagement of India with the African continent.

The origins of CAS can be traced back to the founding of ISIS, which was established under the aegis of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Sapru House, New Delhi, in 1955. ICWA itself was created in 1943 as a think tank to advise the Government of India on foreign policy matters. ICWA’s Committee, chaired by Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru, had recommended the creation of an academic institution to promote the study of international relations and developmental issues of different countries across the world. The result was the setting up of ISIS in October 1955 with Dr A. Appadorai, a prominent International Relations scholar, as its first Director. Since its inception, ISIS adopted the ‘Area Studies’ approach, setting up specialized divisions focusing on South-East Asian Studies, American Studies, Soviet and East European Studies, and West Asian and African Studies. This institutional framework laid the foundation for African Studies in India.

The first sub-Saharan African country to become independent was Ghana in 1957. Other sub-Saharan countries became independent in the early 1960s, with most of the early decolonization taking place in Anglophone Africa. Recognizing the independence of African countries in quick succession, along with other colonial territories, ISIS in the 1960s established a special programme focused on Commonwealth Studies, which included African Studies. Professor Anirudha Gupta, then a faculty member at ISIS and a Rhodes Fellow, was sent by Professor Appadorai to visit many African countries. His academic exposure was enriched when he served as a Special Fellow at the Rhodes–Livingstone Institute in Lusaka, Zambia (1965–1966)—an experience that provided him with first-hand insights into African societies and political transitions at a critical moment of decolonization. Professor Gupta combined this exposure with his intellectual interest in Commonwealth affairs to carve out a distinct niche in African Studies within Indian academia. His observations and research culminated in the publication of Reporting Africa (1969), a landmark early text that remains a significant contribution to Indian scholarship on the continent.

During these formative years, the Africa-related component was modest, but the seeds of a future academic expansion were planted. The inclusion of Africa in the Department of West Asian and African Studies reflected India’s recognition of Africa’s growing political significance during the decolonization wave of the 1950s and 1960s.

The institutional transformation of ISIS took place in September 1969, when it was merged with the newly established JNU. By June 1970, ISIS formally became SIS within JNU. This merger reflected JNU’s broader vision of combining social sciences, humanities and Area Studies to produce rigorous interdisciplinary research. Within SIS, the earlier administrative units of ISIS were reorganized as independent centres—the Department of West Asian and African Studies became CWAAS. The sub-Saharan Africa Division within CWAAS remained an autonomous unit as far as faculty appointments, student admissions and other academic initiatives were concerned. While African Studies was still administratively tied to West Asian Studies, the formalization of CWAAS within JNU created a fertile ground for future autonomy. The SIS model ensured that regional specializations flourished in vibrant centres with dedicated faculty, research agendas and student enrolments.

Pioneers and Scholars in African Studies

One of the most pioneering and influential figures in the development of African Studies at JNU was Professor Anirudha Das Gupta, whose intellectual and institutional contributions played a crucial role in shaping the discipline during its formative years. During the tenure of Professor A. Appadorai (1987), SIS introduced a programme on Commonwealth Studies, which became an important academic platform for expanding research on post-colonial societies, including those in Africa. Having completed his doctoral work on South Asia at the same institution, Professor Gupta gradually developed a strong academic interest in Africa and became deeply involved in building the programme. He joined SIS in 1967 and served as Dean of the School from 1985 to 1987. Even after his retirement in 1992, he continued to contribute actively to the Centre on reemployment until 1996, reflecting his enduring commitment to the field.

Professor Gupta’s long association with SIS provided much-needed continuity, stability and intellectual direction at a time when African Studies in India was still in its nascent stage and confined to a limited number of institutions. His scholarly work significantly contributed to the consolidation of the discipline. In his book on Government and Politics in Africa (Gupta, 1974), he offered a detailed comparative and institutional analysis of African political systems, laying a strong foundation for the study of governance and state structures. This was further developed in Politics in Africa (Gupta, 1988), where he expanded his focus to include leadership, ideological debates and the influence of Pan-Africanism in shaping political trajectories. Moving beyond purely political analysis, he co-edited a book on the economic crisis in Africa (Gupta & Ali, 1987), which situated African political developments within broader economic challenges and global structural dependencies. His earlier work—on Indians Abroad (Gupta, 1971)—remains particularly significant for understanding early diasporic linkages and the historical foundations of India–Africa relations, while Reporting Africa (Gupta, 1969) reflects on issues of representation and knowledge production, indicating his engagement with interdisciplinary concerns. Taken together, these contributions highlight Professor Gupta’s pivotal role in advancing African Studies in India through a combination of political analyses, economic critiques and diasporic perspectives, firmly establishing him as a foundational figure in the field.

The expansion of African Studies in the subsequent decades was gradual yet consistent, shaped significantly by the contributions of committed faculty members. Professor Vijay Gupta joined the Division in 1978 and remained associated with it until his retirement in 1998, playing an important role in strengthening teaching and research in African politics. Specializing in African political systems, he guided numerous students, particularly in the field of comparative politics, thereby contributing to the academic consolidation of the discipline. His scholarly work reflects a sustained engagement with key themes such as decolonization, state formation and political transitions in East Africa. On Kenya, he analysed the structural and economic constraints influencing post-colonial governance (Gupta, 1981) and also wrote on the dynamics of its transition to independence (Gupta, 1982). His writings on Africa in the ‘post-Cold War era’ (Gupta, 1996) situated African political developments within the broader context of democratization and shifting global alignments following the Cold War. Together, his contributions significantly enriched the study of African politics in India.

Professor S. E. Saxena was briefly associated as an Associate Fellow with the Africa Division in the early 1980s and contributed to teaching and curriculum development during his short tenure until around 1982. Despite his short association, his scholarly work made important contributions to the study of African politics and international relations. In his book on Africa in Transition (Saxena, 1994), he analysed the political and economic transformations in African states in the post-Cold War period. His work on India and Africa (Saxena, 2003) explored the evolving diplomatic, economic and developmental ties between the two regions. Additionally, his writings engaged with broader themes of Third World solidarity and South–South cooperation, reflecting a sustained interest in changing global political dynamics.

Professor Santosh Mehrotra joined the Division of African Studies in 1989, bringing an important development economics perspective to the study of the continent. He remained associated with the Division until 1994, during which time his work helped link African economic realities with broader debates on development policy and planning. His scholarship reflects a sustained engagement with issues of employment, education and human development. Among his notable works are those on India’s Skills Challenge (Mehrotra, 2014), which examines skill formation and labour market dynamics; Universalising Elementary Education in India (Mehrotra & Jolly, 2005), focusing on education policy reforms; and The Indian Labour Market (Mehrotra, 2019), which analyses structural challenges in employment. Beyond these, he contributed extensively to discussions on poverty, inequality and social policy through various edited volumes and policy reports, reflecting a strong commitment to development planning and the human capability approach.

The present author joined the Division in 1995 after completing his MPhil and PhD under the supervision of Professor Anirudha Das Gupta. This period marked a phase of transition for the Division, as all three senior faculty members had either retired or moved on from JNU, leaving behind a small academic cohort of only four registered students. The present author contributed significantly to the growth and consolidation of African Studies and Diaspora Studies through a wide range of influential publications. His work on African affairs includes those on Indo-African Relations in the Post-Nehru Era (Dubey, 1990), Government and Politics in Mauritius (Dubey, 1997), India and Francophone Africa under Globalisation (Dubey, 2009b), France and Africa (Dubey, 2009a), Trends in Indo-African Relations (Dubey, 2010) and the widely referenced edited volume on India and Africa’s Partnership (Dubey & Biswas, 2016). In recent years, his scholarship has expanded to address contemporary global engagements with Africa, as reflected in his published work on Africa’s External Engagement (Dubey & Solomon, 2025) and Africa’s Asia Engagement in the 21st Century (Dubey & Rajwar, 2025a). In the field of Diaspora Studies, his contributions include publications on Indian Diaspora (Dubey, 2003), Indian Diaspora in Africa (Dubey & Rajwar, 2009) and Indian Diaspora Contributions to their New Home (Dubey, 2011), along with a recent volume on Diaspora in Development (Dubey & Rajwar, 2025b). Taken together, his work demonstrates a sustained engagement with India–Africa relations, globalization processes and diaspora dynamics.

Professor S. N. Malakar joined the Division in 1998 and remained an active member until his retirement in 2020, playing a key role in strengthening African Studies at the Centre. His scholarship reflects a strong engagement with agrarian change, rural politics and state–society relations in Africa, as seen in his work on Agrarian Transformation and Political Dynamics in Ethiopia (Malakar, 2006a). He also made important contributions to the study of development and political economy through works such as Development Process and Social Movements in Africa (Malakar, 2008) and State, Democracy and Development in Africa (Malakar, 2012), where he analyses issues of governance, grassroots mobilization and democratic transitions. In addition, his writings extend beyond Africa to broader geopolitical concerns, including India’s Energy Security and the Gulf (Malakar, 2006b) and The Second Coming: US War on Iraq 2003 (Malakar, 2004). Through his teaching, research and mentorship of numerous doctoral scholars, Professor Malakar significantly contributed to the academic and institutional consolidation of African Studies.

African Studies: Early Academic Focus

In its formative years, African Studies within CWAAS largely revolved around the political, historical, economic and foreign policy dimensions of the continent. This emphasis reflected both the contemporary concerns of International Relations as a discipline and the practical priorities of Indian foreign policy, which had begun to build strong connections with newly independent African nations in the 1960s and 1970s.

Initial academic focus was concentrated on Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa, as it was this region that most visibly resonated with India’s own post-colonial experience and its commitment to South–South solidarity. Moreover, India’s growing engagement with sub-Saharan Africa through the Non-Aligned Movement, developmental cooperation and diplomatic outreach meant that the Division’s scholarship found immediate relevance in policy and intellectual circles. This early emphasis helped build the foundations of African Studies in India by anchoring it in the study of political institutions, liberation struggles, governance structures and developmental challenges in Africa south of the Sahara.

As the field matured, the academic scope of African Studies in CWAAS broadened significantly. The establishment of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) in 1963, which sought to foster continental unity and cooperation, created new opportunities for scholars to engage with the institutional and pan-African dimensions of politics in the region. With the transformation of the OAU into the AU in 2002, African Studies at JNU sought to keep pace with these continental shifts, expanding its thematic and geographical coverage. Scholars began incorporating analyses of North Africa, regional economic communities and cross-continental dynamics that linked Africa with West Asia, Europe and Asia.

The present author found the opportunity, after his elevation as a full professor in 2000 and chairperson in 2001, to expand and consolidate the African Studies programme. In 2003, a University Grants Commission (UGC) Area Studies programme was brought into CWAAS, where a robust programme on Gulf Studies had already existed since the mid-1970s. Two UGC Area Studies programmes within one centre were a first in the country. This facilitated the much-needed field trips for students and faculty of the Africa Division to the region, along with seminar and research support.

Over time, the Division’s teaching and research moved beyond classical themes of diplomacy and politics to include questions of development, identity, ethnicity, diaspora, security and globalization. Courses were progressively designed to give students a more holistic understanding of Africa, not merely as a site of foreign policy interest for India, but as a dynamic continent with complex internal transformations. This gradual expansion ensured that the African Studies Division kept itself relevant to both academic debates and policy discourses, while also preparing the ground for the eventual emergence of an independent CAS at JNU in 2009.

Establishment of an Independent Centre for African Studies: 2009

The establishment of an independent CAS within SIS was neither quick nor easy and took decades of persistent effort by its faculty. The first decisive momentum came in 2001, when its faculty initiated the demand for faculty expansion and larger coverage of the sub-Saharan Africa Division as the OAU, which had consolidated continental unity since 1963, made way for the AU. The establishment of the UGC Area Studies programme highlighted the continental coverage and focus of African Studies as a discipline.

By the mid-2000s, the case for a dedicated CAS had gained urgency, and in 2007, a proposal to carve out a separate centre exclusively devoted to African Studies was passed by the Centre. This proposal was first reviewed by a special committee constituted by the Board of Studies (BoS) of SIS to examine the reorganization of centres. The committee, headed by Professor S. D. Muni, gave its nod, and the proposal also received backing from the BoS of SIS, which acknowledged the growing demand for specialized teaching and research on Africa. The proposal hit a roadblock, however, when it was not endorsed by the university-level committee.

A turning point came two years later, in 2009, when a Review Team from the UGC visited JNU to study its need for expansion. The UGC team visited the centre, and the long-standing case for the establishment of an African Studies Centre was made before them. Faculty members of CWAAS emphasized the inadequacies of the then-prevailing structure, pointing out how Africa’s vast geopolitical, cultural and economic diversity could not be effectively studied without a full-fledged CAS. UGC formally approved the creation of a separate CAS and allotted additional faculty positions to the new Centre and for its existing UGC Area Studies programme. The approval was more than an administrative decision; it was a recognition of the need to provide African Studies the same academic importance in Indian universities as other major regions of the world. As a result of the UGC allocation, on 10 December 2009, CWAAS was officially bifurcated, and CAS was set up as an independent Centre within SIS. African Studies at JNU acquired its own independent institutional space and identity, as well as the faculty support for its future growth. In hindsight, the creation of CAS in 2009 represented the culmination of decades of effort by faculty members who had kept African Studies alive within CWAAS since the 1960s. It was also the beginning of a new phase—one that sought to institutionalize African Studies as a robust and autonomous field of inquiry.

The separation resulted in two significant intellectual and academic shifts. First, African Studies expanded its scope to systematically include North African countries, which had earlier been relatively underrepresented due to the structural location of North Africa within West Asian Studies. This integration enabled a more holistic understanding of Africa as a continent, bridging the artificial divide between sub-Saharan and North Africa and allowing for more nuanced comparative and transregional analyses. Second, the establishment of CAS encouraged a stronger continental focus in both teaching and research, moving beyond fragmented regional approaches toward a more integrated perspective on Africa’s political, economic and sociocultural dynamics. This shift also led to the emergence of new thematic areas such as the AU, regionalism and continental governance, as well as the Global African Diaspora, thereby aligning the Centre’s academic orientation with contemporary global and transnational developments.

Faculty Expansion and Development of Courses

Consequent to the creation of an independent Centre, CAS began to expand further, both in numbers and in diversity of expertise. Dr J. M. Moosa joined in 2013, broadening the scope of the Centre’s engagement with African Studies through his expertise in ethnicity and conflicts in Africa. Dr Gayettri Dixit and Dr Rashmi Rani Anand joined in 2022 and 2023, respectively, both specializing in African geography. In 2024, Dr Sushmita Rajwar and Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gupta joined, bringing expertise in African politics and diaspora. This gradual but consistent expansion of the Centre has diversified the areas of specialization within the Centre to span diaspora studies, international relations, political economy, development and African geography, thereby providing a diversified and richer academic environment.

The range of courses introduced by the Centre indicates a significant broadening and deepening of its academic and research orientation in line with changing global and scholarly trends. Courses such as Colonial Impact and African Nationalism reflect a continued engagement with historical processes, allowing students to critically examine colonial legacies and their lasting impact on African societies. This is complemented by a course on Political System in Africa, which offers a strong foundation in theoretical perspectives, institutional structures and governance challenges, connecting historical developments with contemporary political realities. The course on Africa and the World highlights a growing emphasis on Africa’s position within global affairs, enabling students to analyze the influence of major powers, international institutions and emerging actors on the continent. The inclusion of a Research Methodology course underscores the Centre’s focus on strengthening methodological skills and fostering interdisciplinary research practices. At the same time, courses such as Ideologies in Africa broaden the intellectual framework by engaging with African thought and philosophy, while Government and Politics in North Africa brings attention to sub-regional dynamics and comparative analysis within the continent. Collectively, these offerings demonstrate a shift from a largely descriptive, area-based approach to a more analytical, interdisciplinary and globally oriented framework, reflecting the Centre’s evolving academic priorities.

Nevertheless, the Centre continues to face a critical gap in faculty expertise, particularly in economics, anthropology and sociology, which are essential for fostering a genuinely interdisciplinary and comprehensive engagement with Africa. It is hoped that in the coming years, these areas will be strengthened through future recruitment and academic collaboration.

Diaspora Studies at CAS

Professor Anirudha Das Gupta pioneered Indian diaspora studies in JNU. His book Indians Abroad: Asia & Africa, published in 1971 by Macmillan, was the first book from the International Studies perspective. He published several research articles on Indians in Africa, Sri Lanka and other parts of the world and guided several PhD theses on the Indian diaspora in Africa, including that of the present author. Alongside its long-standing focus on politics, foreign policy and economic development, the Africa Division within CWAAS began to devote increasing attention to the Indian diaspora in Africa and, by extension, to the global Indian diaspora. This shift was not accidental; it paralleled important developments both in India’s foreign policy and in international academia. On the one hand, the Government of India began to articulate diaspora as a central component of its external engagement, recognizing the overseas Indian community as a valuable bridge for economic, cultural and diplomatic relations. The 1990s witnessed the institutionalization of diaspora diplomacy through initiatives such as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and later the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) scheme, which underscored the importance of engaging with people of Indian origin across the world. On the other hand, in academic circles, the 1990s marked a global rise of scholarship on migration, transnationalism and identity, with Diaspora Studies emerging as a vibrant interdisciplinary field.

Within this context, JNU’s African Studies Division carved out a niche for itself by building on its legacy of Diaspora Studies, systematically integrating the study of the Indian diaspora in Africa into its teaching and research. The diasporic experience in East and Southern Africa, shaped by histories of indentured labour, trade and post-colonial nation-building, offered rich ground for comparative and critical inquiry. Over time, the Division became one of the leading centres in India for diaspora scholarship, pioneering courses and research projects that connected African realities with broader global patterns of migration and identity politics.

This growing expertise was institutionalized after the creation of CAS in 2009. One of the hallmark initiatives was the launch of a major UGC research programme titled Diaspora in Development: Comparative Assessment of Harnessing Globalization. The project, supported under the ‘University with Potential for Excellence’ (UPE II) scheme by JNU, aimed to critically evaluate how diasporic communities contribute to developmental processes in their countries of origin as well as their countries of settlement. The programme brought together questions of globalization, transnational flows, remittances, cultural capital and policy frameworks into a single comparative framework. Diaspora Studies remains one of the strongest areas of research at CAS, positioning it as a leading unit not only in African Studies but also in the broader comparative scholarship on global diasporas. There are more than a dozen PhD theses and MPhil dissertations each that have focused exclusively on the Indian diaspora. At the school level, CAS faculty offer several courses on Diaspora Studies at the Master’s level, including one on Diasporas in International Relations.

Outreach Through Research and Publication Dissemination

At CAS, faculty members have not only pursued individual research but also initiated large-scale collaborative projects with international partners. These projects addressed critical themes such as Africa’s role in global governance, trade and investment flows, South–South cooperation, climate change and migration. The Centre organized several international conferences, workshops and symposia, attracting scholars from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia. These events created valuable intellectual linkages and ensured that African Studies in India remained connected to global academic debates.

A landmark achievement of this period was the launch of two peer-reviewed academic journals launched by the African Studies faculty in 2007—Africa Review (initially published by Routledge, London and now by Brill, Netherlands) and Insight on Africa by Sage Publications. The journals provided an institutional platform for both established and emerging scholars working on African Studies and comparative South–South relations. Within just 4–5 years, both journals secured indexing in prestigious databases such as Scopus and Web of Science, and soon attained Q1 rankings with steadily rising impact factors every year.

Subsequently, African Studies faculty launched a very popular global Book Series in collaboration with Springer–Palgrave Macmillan in 2017–2018, titled Africa’s Global Engagement: Perspectives from Emerging Countries. It is one of the first Springer series on African Studies initiated in India, containing research emerging from CAS. Through these academic initiatives like conferences, journals and the Springer series, the Centre has successfully expanded its intellectual outreach.

The Centre faculty has remained closely connected with the Ministry of External Affairs from the very beginning of its programme. They participated in its consultative meetings, programmes and important initiatives like India–Africa Forum Summits. A very good number of students of African Studies at JNU have become senior officials in MEA and have engaged with the Centre faculty on several issues. The Centre regularly hosts interactions with several visiting political and cultural dignitaries from Africa. Similarly, as part of its outreach, the African Studies Division - and later Centre - closely worked with the African Students Association of India and organized meetings and interactions on their issues.

Institutional Contributions: The Nelson Mandela Chair

One of the most enduring institutional strengths of CAS has been the establishment of the Nelson Mandela Chair, as a tribute to Mandela’s global legacy and his deep connections with India. The Chair was funded by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) with the vision of fostering sustained academic and cultural dialogue between India and Africa.

The Nelson Mandela Chair was designed to invite distinguished African scholars to JNU for teaching, research and academic interaction, typically for one or two semesters. This initiative has served as a bridge between Indian and African academia, enabling the exchange of ideas, methodologies and perspectives on Africa’s politics, economy, society and culture. Through this Chair, Indian students and scholars have been exposed to first-hand African scholarly traditions, enriching the Centre’s teaching and research landscape.

Since 1996, several eminent African scholars have held the Nelson Mandela Chair, leaving a lasting intellectual imprint on CAS. Among them are: Professor Francis Wilson, first Visiting Professor, former V. C. of the University of Cape Town and leading South African economist, who contributed significantly to discussions on inequality, poverty, and development in post-apartheid South Africa. There were several others who followed him, including Professor Chris de Wet, from Rhodes University, noted for his work on rural development, displacement and resettlement in Africa, Professor Peon Coetzee from Potchefstroom, Professor Owen Sichone from University of Pretoria, Professor Ridwan Laher, Professor Hussein Solomon, a political scientist from South Africa, who offered critical insights on African security, terrorism and governance from the University of Free State, and Professor Denis Venter, a renowned scholar of African politics and international relations, whose work further expanded CAS’s comparative and global perspectives. Some joined from Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania for short periods. Their engagement not only enriched the teaching programs of the Centre but also helped forge academic partnerships between JNU and African universities.

Outreach Through Network Building: African Studies Association of India

A landmark development in the institutionalization of African Studies in India was the formation of the African Studies Association of India (ASA) in 2003, led by faculty members and students of African Studies in collaboration with colleagues from Delhi University, Mumbai University, the University of Hyderabad and several other institutions across the country (African Studies Association, 2025). It was an outreach initiative of the CAS faculty to other scattered faculty members of African Studies across the country.

In India, dedicated institutional engagement with African Studies outside JNU remains limited but significant, with a small number of universities playing a significant role in sustaining and expanding the field. The University of Delhi hosts one of the oldest Departments of African Studies, located in the Faculty of Social Sciences, which was established in December 1954 at the initiative of the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It was formally inaugurated by him on 6 August 1955 with the objective of fostering greater awareness and understanding of Africa. The Department engages in interdisciplinary teaching and research, offering MPhil (till some years ago) and PhD programmes, along with Certificate and Diploma courses in the Swahili language. Beyond its academic role, the Department serves as an important platform for strengthening mutual understanding, cooperation and friendship between India and African countries, thereby extending its mandate beyond knowledge production to actively contributing to India–Africa relations.

Similarly, the University of Mumbai hosts a well-established Centre for African Studies, which stands as one of the few dedicated institutions in India focusing exclusively on African affairs. The Centre traces its origins to the African Studies Programme introduced by the UGC in 1971–1972 as part of its broader Area Studies initiative; it was later upgraded into a full-fledged Centre in 1984. The Centre has developed into an important hub for interdisciplinary teaching and research at the postgraduate and doctoral levels. It offers an MA in African Studies, including options for interdisciplinary combinations with other social science disciplines, along with its PhD programme. In addition, the Centre conducts certificate courses in International Trade (Africa) and the Swahili language, thereby integrating academic training with practical and linguistic skills. Its research and teaching programmes span both classical and contemporary themes, including governance and democracy, India–Africa relations, emerging powers in Africa, diaspora studies and issues such as energy security and the Indian Ocean region. Beyond formal teaching, the Centre actively contributes to academic and policy discourse through seminars, conferences and collaborative initiatives, reinforcing its role as a key institution in advancing African Studies in India.

Additionally, Jamia Millia Islamia engages with African Studies through the MMAJ Academy of International Studies (formerly the Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution), where Africa-related courses are offered at the postgraduate level within International Relations and Area Studies frameworks, often emphasizing peace, conflict and Global South perspectives. Beyond these, elements of African Studies are also integrated into broader International Relations and Political Science curricula in universities such as the University of Hyderabad and Savitribai Phule Pune University, though not always as dedicated centres.

Overall, in India, African Studies is primarily offered at the postgraduate and doctoral levels, with limited undergraduate exposure, and remains concentrated in a few specialized institutions. However, its presence is gradually expanding through interdisciplinary programmes, research collaborations and increasing policy interest in India–Africa relations.

The motivation for ASA’s creation stemmed from the recognition that African Studies in India suffered from limited faculty strength and scattered academic resources. The creation of ASA marked an important shift: African Studies, which had long existed in fragmented pockets within Indian academia, now had a formal subject association that could consolidate resources, provide networking opportunities and strengthen the discipline’s visibility within national and international academia.

Through its activities, ranging from conferences and research collaborations to policy dialogues and student mentoring, it has significantly expanded the reach and relevance of African Studies. Positioned at the intersection of academia, policy and international engagement, ASA served as the nerve centre of Africanist scholarship in India and linked researchers of African studies at JNU to those across the country.

The Centre has built strong institutional linkages with both Indian and African stakeholders. At the governmental level, CAS collaborates closely with ICWA and ICCR. CAS also maintains regular interactions with African embassies and high commissions in New Delhi, serving as a platform for dialogue between diplomats and academics on contemporary Africa. In addition, the Centre engages with a range of Delhi-based think-tanks and research institutions, thereby ensuring that academic insights are connected to real-world policy and diplomatic discussions.

Conclusion

The history of CAS at JNU reflects the dynamic interplay between academic inquiry and the broader political, diplomatic and cultural imperatives of India’s engagement with Africa. From its modest beginnings in 1955 within ISIS to its incorporation as a division under CWAAS, and its subsequent emergence as a full-fledged independent Centre in 2009, CAS has traversed a remarkable institutional journey. This trajectory not only signifies the growing importance of African Studies in India’s academic landscape but also underscores the institutionalization of Africa as a critical area of research in the Global South.

The Centre owes much to the pioneering vision of its early scholars, like Professor Anirudha Das Gupta, who laid the foundations for African Studies in India at a time when such scholarship was both intellectually challenging and geopolitically significant. Over the decades, the gradual expansion of faculty strength, despite resource constraints, has enabled the Centre to diversify its thematic focus and establish itself as the leading hub for African Studies in the country.

Looking ahead, CAS faces both opportunities and challenges. While the inclusion of geography and diaspora studies has enriched its disciplinary profile, there remain gaps in the areas of economics, history, anthropology and sociology. Strengthening these disciplines is essential for building a truly interdisciplinary framework capable of addressing the complexities of Africa’s societies, economies and cultures. It is hoped that in the years to come, through new faculty recruitments, research collaborations and policy linkages, CAS will be able to fill these gaps and consolidate its academic profile.

The future of CAS lies in sustaining its dual mission: advancing rigorous, innovative and interdisciplinary scholarship on Africa, while simultaneously contributing to the contours of India’s evolving partnership with the African continent. Its journey so far demonstrates how academic institutions can grow as vital bridges between regions as well as responsive public institutions that reinforce intellectual critical inquiries.