As December approaches, anticipation builds for the critical conversations that will emerge from the Discussion on “Economics and Technology from a gender perspective and the history of women philosophers”. Dr. Ranjana Kumari, an eminent advocate for gender equality and social justice, will deliver the Welcome Address, taking place at 27th November, 2024. As the Director of the Centre for Social Research in India, Dr. Kumari has been at the forefront of transformative activism, academic research, and public policy reforms aimed at dismantling systemic barriers faced by women across India and the globe. Dr. Kumari’s journey into social activism began in 1976, when she was deeply moved by the tragedy of a dowry death near her home. This event not only inspired her seminal publication Brides Are Not for Burning but also catalyzed her lifelong fight against dowry practices, dowry-related violence, and female foeticide. Over the years, Dr. Kumari has tackled numerous pressing issues, from advocating for women’s participation in governance to combating human trafficking. As Coordinator of the South Asia Network Against Trafficking (SANAT) in Persons and a member of multiple Indian governmental advisory boards, her work has significantly shaped policies protecting women and children. Her achievements in gender and political studies are further exemplified by her academic contributions. Her books, including Gender, Work, and Power Relations, Women in Politics, and Reign She Will, illuminate the systemic barriers and societal norms that hinder women’s empowerment. These works resonate profoundly in the contemporary discourse on women’s rights and equity.
The upcoming event will also be inaugurated by Sandeep Kumar Dubey, Program Director of Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) in India. His colleague Judith Weinberger-Singh, Resident Representative and Project Director of the HSF India, has been working on the interface between economic development, international cooperation and political innovation. Born in Zwiesel, Bavaria, she has pursued a career that combines her Bavarian roots with global impact, particularly in India.
After graduating from high school in 2010, Ms. Weinberger-Singh completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Passau and later graduated with distinction from the University of Glasgow with a Master’s degree in Business and Economics with a focus on internationalization. Her professional career began at the German Business Desk in consulting, where she worked in Delhi and Dubai. From 2017 to 2021, she worked as Head of Projects and Associate Director at a European non-profit organization in New Delhi to strengthen economic and political relations between India, the EU and its member states.
In Bavaria, Ms. Weinberger-Singh worked as Head of District Development in Regen, promoting regional innovation and sustainable growth through close collaboration with government agencies, ministries and international stakeholders. In addition, she led development initiatives at district level with a forward-looking approach to economic policy.
We also appreciate her commitment to promoting Indo-German cooperation. She has been an honorary ambassador of the German India Startup Exchange Program (GINSEP) since 2019, a founding member of the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) India-EU Business Council and was recognized as one of the Europe India 40 under 40 Leaders by the Europe India Centre for Business and Industry (EICBI) in 2020.
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