After Sraffa: The Indian Understanding of Economic Theories and Development

Piero Sraffa’s pathbreaking book Production of Commodities by Means of Commodities (1960) inspired several reviews and books by Indian economists. The notable ones are by Krishna Bharadwaj, P. R. Brahmananda, Gautam Mathur, Sukhamoy Chakravarty, Arun Bose, A. K. Dasgupta. Sraffa’s ideas were variously employed to understand agriculture, economic growth, and development. An Indian edition of the classic was also published.

In this workshop, we will engage with the Indian reception to Sraffa’s economic thought. What are the findings based on the correspondence from Sraffa’s archive? Was there any intellectual connection between Sraffa’s work and the Indian Input-Output Association? How did Indian journals receive Sraffa’s 1960 work? When and how did Sraffa’s ideas enter the syllabi of Indian universities?

YSI, in association with the Indian Society of History of Economic Thought (ISHET), and in collaboration with University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad and Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, is organizing a two and half days long workshop on:

(i) Sraffa and Indian economists (based on published and archival materials);
(ii) Krishna Bharadwaj and Sraffa;
(iii) On the Indian edition of PCMC; and
(iv) Sraffa in the syllabi of Indian universities.

The workshop invites applications from two sets of scholars – (a) the advanced-level students, who have engaged with Sraffa’s economic thought and/or the Indian reception to Sraffa (Stream 1) and (b) graduate students who wish to be introduced to Sraffa’s political economy in some detail and plan to employ the method in their future work (Stream 2). Therefore, on one hand, this workshop will provide a platform for Masters’ and PhD students who engage with Sraffa’s political economy in their research to present their work and obtain feedback from senior scholars. On the other hand, the workshop will introduce graduate students to Sraffa’s political economy who wish to employ it in their future work. The workshop will also invite a set of senior scholars who will deliver lectures on the theme of the workshop and engage with the young scholars.

The workshop is particularly directed towards researchers and students with an interest in classical political economy (CPE), Sraffian political economy, history of economic thought, and economic development from a CPE perspective.

Format of the workshop:
The workshop, on one hand, will be geared towards providing feedback to young scholars on their work, which engages with Sraffa’s economic thought, and, on the other hand, to introduce graduate students to Sraffa’s political economy that they can employ in their future work. The workshop will comprise of a set of plenary talks by invited scholars, a set of presentations by young scholars to present their work based on the theme and obtain valuable feedback from the senior scholars.

The invited speakers will draw from a pool of both senior and junior scholars.

How to apply?

Stream 1:
The young scholars applying for stream 1, i.e., advanced students who wish to present their work that engages with aspects of the Indian reception to Sraffa’s economic thought and get feedback from senior scholars need to submit an abstract by December 31st 2023.

All papers must include an abstract of no more than 750 words.
If selected, full articles must be submitted by the deadline for full paper submission.

Stream 2:
Graduate students who wish to be introduced to Sraffa’s economic thought and plan to employ it in their future work need to submit a 700 to 1000 words-long letter of motivation by December 31st, 2023. The letter should specify their research interests and how this workshop may be useful for them to develop their future work.

Important dates:
Deadline for submission: 31st December 2023.
Acceptances: 7th January 2024.
Deadline for full papers: 10th February 2024.

Registration fees for scholars (to be paid at the event venue):
For BA/MA students: Rs. 500
For PhD students: Rs. 1000
For assistant professors and above: Rs. 2000
This fee is to partly defray food expenses and conference collateral.

Application for young scholars:
17 young scholars will be selected in response to a call for papers.

Venue:
The workshop will be conducted in University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India.

Hospitality and bursary:
Stay for 3 nights
Accommodation will be offered to the selected young scholars
Meals during conference
Limited travel stipends available for young scholars based within India

Organizing Team:
Ashwath (YSI)
Limakumba Walling (University of Hyderabad)
Alex M. Thomas (Azim Premji University)