Dr. Ashwani Kumar is a professor at the School of Development Studies, TISS Mumbai and a distinguished political scientist, public policy expert, and acclaimed poet whose career spans over three decades in teaching, research, and policy advisory roles across India and internationally. His work focuses on governance, welfare, democracy, migration, and public policy, with significant contributions to MGNREGA, rural development, and electoral governance through leadership roles with the Government of India, the Election Commission, and international institutions. A recipient of the ICSSR Senior Fellowship and several prestigious research grants, he has authored and co-edited influential books and policy studies while leading major national and international research collaborations. Beyond academia, he is a celebrated English-language poet, literary curator, and cultural advocate, with internationally recognized poetry collections, translations, and festival appearances. He has taught and held visiting positions at leading universities worldwide, served on numerous academic and government committees, and continues to contribute to public discourse through regular media commentary, opinion writing, and lectures on Indian politics, governance, and development.
