Dhirendra Kumar Sahoo

Assistant Professor

Dr. Dhirendra Kumar Sahoo is an Assistant Professor (I) in Sociology at the School of Liberal Studies, KIIT, Deemed to be University. He has four years of experience in teaching and research and he has also published research publications in Scopus indexed journal. He completed his Ph.D. in Sociology from Central University of Hyderabad, MA in Sociology and PG Diploma in Rural Development from Pondicherry Central University, and BA in Sociology from Ravenshaw University and qualified UGC-NET and JRF in Sociology.

Before joining KIIT-DU, Dr. Sahoo worked as a Research Associate in the Lok Sabha Research and Information Division at Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliament of India, and as an Assistant Professor at Utkal University and IGNOU, Delhi University. He also worked as a Research Associate at the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi. He has presented research papers at various national and international conferences. Dr. Sahoo was a Visiting Scholar at the School of Advanced Social Studies, Nova Gorica, Slovenia, Europe. His research interests include Science Technology and Society, Sociology of Media and Culture, ICT and Society, Sociology of Development. His curiosity is to understand the intersection between Environment, Technology and Society, and contemporary social issues (focussing on Digital Sociology, e-Governance, Sociology of Modern India, Accessibility, and Inclusion) and critically explore the question of the digital divide, digital inequalities, technology, and human interface in a rural milieu.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

PhD Sociology (University of Hyderabad)
MA Sociology (Pondicherry University)
BA Sociology (Ravenshaw University)
UGC- NET and JRF Sociology

COURSE EXPERTISE

Science Technology and Society
Media Technology and Culture
ICTs and Society
Sociology of Development

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Science Technology and Society
ICTs and e-Governance
Sociology of Modern India
Technology-Human Interface

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Awards and Achievements

Certificate of Excellence (Best Research Paper Award)- 13th Slovenian Social Science Conference, Slovenia, Europe. (2021)
Qualified UGC NET & JRF in Sociology (2014)

Conferences and Workshops

  • Presented a paper entitled “Untouchable Mobile Phone? Digital Inequalities and Caste Exclusions in Rural Odisha” in the International Conference on “Celebrating 100 Years of Sociology in India” organised by Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad held on 01-03 April 2024.
  • Presented a paper entitled “Paradoxes of ICT in Governance: The Rural Experience of Digital Infrastructure” in the International Conference on “Connecting Social, Financial and Human Sciences for Sustainable Development” organised by School of Social, Financial and Human Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar held on 4-6 May 2023.
  • Presented a paper entitled “ICTs and Governance Journey of India: Looking through Common Service Centre” in the International Conference on “Local Governance in India @75: Issues, Challenges, and Contemporary Developments” organised by Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi held on 25-26 March 2023.
  • Presented a paper entitled “Climate Change in India: The Case of Satabhaya” in the International Conference on “Tackling Climate Change through Urban Resilience: Role of Institutions and Public Policies in Canada and India” organised by Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati (IIT Tirupati), held on 24-26 March 2022.
  • Presented a paper titled “Mapping Digital Technology and Social Media: The Impact of the Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) on Youth in India.” in the 13th edition of the Slovenian Social Science Conference: “Digital Society and Sustainability”, organised by Slovenian National Committee of the UNESCO Management of Social Transformations Program (MOST), and School of Advanced Social Studies, Nova Gorica, Slovenia, Europe in cooperation with Slovenian Social Science Association and International Sociological Association (ISA): Junior Sociologists Network held on 11-13 November 2021.
  • Presented a paper entitled “Technology as a way of life: An Analysis of the ICTs with Reference to Odisha.” in the International Conference on “Science, Society and Politics in South Asia” organised by International Office and Centers of Excellence of North-East India Studies, Utkal University, Odisha held on 3-4 March 2020.
  • Presented a paper entitled “Technology and Society as Embedded: The Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) on Rural Beneficiaries in Odisha.” in the National Seminar on “Human Development and Peoples Participation in South Asia: Choices, Options and way Forwarded”, organised by Department of Politics and International Studies, Pondicherry University, held on 18-19 December 2018
  • Presented a paper entitled “Impact of the Evolution of Smartphone and the Changing Landscape of Rural and Urban Areas: A Sociological Outlook of Smart Phone Users in Odisha” in the National Seminar on “Reconstructing Development and its Discontents in India: Problem, Paradoxes and Possibilities”, organised by Department of Sociology, Ravenshaw University, held on 14-15 November 2015.
  • Certificate of Participant & Paper Presented “Development Induced Displacement in Odisha: A Study of Anti-POSCO Movement in Odisha” in 40th All-India Sociological Conference (AISC) of Indian Sociological Society on ‘Development, Diversity & Democracy’ organised by Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, U.P during 29-01 December 2014.

Professional Membership

Community Engagement

Projects & Collaborations

Major Research Project under Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi.
Research Project Title: “Liberalisation, State and Society: Economic, Social and Political Transformation in Rural Odisha”

Patents and Innovations

Peer Review Contributions

Sahoo D. K. and Jena A. (2023) Panchayat: Casteism and mockery in the name of humour. Economic and Political Weekly, 58(17), 65-67. (Indexed in Scopus, Q2)
Sahoo D. K. and Sahoo P. K. (2022) Efficiency, productivity dynamics and determinants of productivity growth in Indian telecommunication industries: An empirical analysis. Journal of Public Affairs, Wiley , 22(1), 1-8. (Indexed in Scopus, Q2)
Sahoo D.K. (2024) Namami Gange to restore of Ganga’s freshwater ecosystem. Third Concept: An International Journal of Ideas, 38(451), 35-38 (Indexed in UGC Care)
Sahoo D.K. (2023) Digital India, Power to Empower: e-Governance and e-Parliament. Journal of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies, 57(1-2), (Indexed in UGC Care)
Sahoo D. K. (2021) Urbanization and water crisis: Need for sustainable water management in smart cities drive. Journal of Shodh Sanchar Bulletin, 11(41) 21-25. (Indexed in Scopus)
Sahoo D. K. (2019) Socialization and other essays: An analytical approach. International Journal of Sociology and Humanities. 1(2), 22-26. (Indexed in UGC Care)