Arun Kumar

Research information

 Arun Kumar is a Lecturer in International Management at the University of York's School for Business and Society.

Previously trained in architecture and rural development management, Arun worked for seven years with some of the leading funding bodies, NGOs, think tanks, independent research centres and advocacy groups in India. His work focussed on questions of social inclusion, programme planning and evaluation, and social accountability. In 2012, tired of travelling Arun moved to Lancaster for his doctoral research on the history of elites’ philanthropy and development in India. Shortly after completing his PhD, Arun joined the University of York in May, 2016. He is also affiliated with the Newcastle Centre for Research on Entrepreneurship, Wealth and Philanthropy at Newcastle University.

Arun’s research is interested in probing the politics, conceptions, and expressions of modernity in postcolonial India. In particular, he focuses on the histories and practices of development and management, separately and together. At present, he is working on three related areas:

1/ Organized philanthropy and development

2/ History of management education

3/ Management of development, particularly M&E.

His prior and on-going research has been supported through competitive research grants from the Economic History Society (2017-18) and Rockefeller Archives Center, USA (2015-16).