News Archive
The Infosys Prize 2023 in Social Sciences is awarded to Karuna Mantena, Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, for her ground-breaking research on the theory and ideology of imperial rule, and their implications for action on the ground.
Barnard has a long-standing tradition of fostering diversity and inclusivity among students, faculty, and staff. On September 6, the College updated its Notice of Non-Discrimination to include “caste” as a protected category.
The new provision, focused on preventing bias and discrimination based on an individual’s caste background(s), creates a more equitable and diverse educational environment for all College community members — especially for those who have historical roots to regions where caste hierarchies have played a significant role in social interactions.
The policy, which will be carried out by the Office of Nondiscrimination and Title IX of CARES, was spearheaded by Barnard’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and professor of history Anupama Rao. Rao, who authored The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India, is also faculty in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) at Columbia, where she leads the Ambedkar Initiative and directs the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society.