Society, Social Work Education and the Tatas Achievements of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (1936–50)

Based on archival records available in Tata Central Archives, Pune (hereafter TCA), the present paper is an attempt to study the role of Tatas in opening Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and making path breaking contributions for social sciences and community education in India. In doing so, the effort would be made to understand the need and efficacy of such an institution/education in Colonial India. How far Tatas were successful in introducing a new model of education being admixture of the British and American model? The attempt would also be made to see its curriculum design and how far it helped understanding the complex reality of the Indian society on the ground? Last but not the least, it would examine as to how the institution helped solving the refugee crisis arising out of partition of India?