Doing Sociology interviewed Dr. Rudolf C. Heredia on ‘Collective Violence as the New Normal: History, Memory and Dialogue’. Rudolf C. Heredia has his doctorate in sociology from the University of Chicago (1979), and taught sociology at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, where he was the founder director of the Social Science Centre during 1980–1992, and director again in 1994–2003. He has also been long associated with the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi where he held the position of Editor of the journal Social Action. Dr. Heredia has written extensively on education, religion and violence. He has authored several books including Changing Gods: Rethinking Conversion in India (2007) and Taking Sides (2012). In this interview Dr. Heredia talks about his theorization of collective violence in the South Asian context, particularly India. He also takes us through his academic journey of over 50 years from being a researcher, to a teacher to a thinker.

The discussion is moderated by Dr. George Jose, Visiting Associate Professor of Anthropology in NYU Abu Dhabi.