About Us
Learn more about the Foundation for Agrarian Studies through our work, people, journey, impact, and presence across research and public platforms.
Who We Are
The Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS) is an independent research organisation committed to multidisciplinary theoretical and empirical enquiry in agrarian studies. It engages in rigorous scientific study of the socio-economic conditions of contemporary rural society, and the interplay of agricultural science and technology and society. Such studies can lead to evidence-based policy aimed towards progressive transformation of rural India.
The Team
Madhura Swaminathan
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
Madhura Swaminathan
Madhura Swaminathan is Professor and Head, Economic Analysis Unit, Indian Statistical Institute Bangalore Centre. She is one the Trustees of the Foundation. Webpage
V. Namasivayam
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
V. Namasivayam
Namasivayam is currently a member of the Kerala State Planning Board. He has over 37 years of consulting experience of which over two decades have been spent on leading several large, complex, multi-year reform engagements in various sectors, with a special focus on the electricity sector.
Parvathi Menon
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
Parvathi Menon
Parvathi Menon is a writer, and former journalist. She was Resident Editor of The Hindu, Bengaluru, and also served as the London Correspondent of The Hindu.
V. K. Ramachandran
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
V. K. Ramachandran
V. K. Ramachandran is retired Professor and former Head, Economic Analysis Unit, Indian Statistical Institute Bangalore Centre. He currently serves as the Vice Chairperson, Kerala State Planning Board. He is one among the Trustees of the Foundation. He is also the Editor of Review of Agrarian Studies. Webpage
Sarita Alexander
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
Sarita Alexander
Sarita is a special teacher and certified trainer in QST for autism spectrum disorders. She has been working at the Spastics Society of Karnataka from 2007, and is currently the Head of the Autism Spectrum Unit.
Our Team
The Foundation for Agrarian Studies team is made up of a core group of research and coordination staff, as well as scholars working with data from the Foundation Archive.
Madhura Swaminathan
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
Madhura Swaminathan is Professor and Head, Economic Analysis Unit, Indian Statistical Institute Bangalore Centre. She is one the Trustees of the Foundation.
V. Namasivayam
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
Namasivayam is currently a member of the Kerala State Planning Board. He has over 37 years of consulting experience of which over two decades have been spent on leading several large, complex, multi-year reform engagements in various sectors, with a special focus on the electricity sector.
Parvathi Menon
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
Parvathi Menon is a writer, and former journalist. She was Resident Editor of The Hindu, Bengaluru, and also served as the London Correspondent of The Hindu.
V. K. Ramachandran
Trustee, Foundation for Agrarian Studies
Parvathi Menon is a writer, and former journalist. She was Resident Editor of The Hindu, Bengaluru, and also served as the London Correspondent of The Hindu.
Our Journey
Since its establishment in 2003, the Foundation for Agrarian Studies has developed as an independent research organisation committed to agrarian studies in India. Over the years, its work has expanded through sustained field research, collaborative projects, and engagement with scholars and institutions. A major milestone has been the India-wide Project on Agrarian Relations in India, launched in 2005, which has built a detailed database on village India. This section traces the Foundation’s growth through its major initiatives, activities, and institutional milestones.
Impact
FAS has made long-lasting contributions to academic and policy thinking on rural India and has helped create networks of young scholars. Through primary data archives, publications, public events, and outreach, it has strengthened evidence-based discourse on agrarian questions and rural livelihoods.
Presence
Academic and popular writing by FAS team, and media coverage of the Foundation