Oral history interview with Dharam Ghai, 2001
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- Name
- Ghai, Dharam P (Interviewee)
- Weiss, Thomas G. (Thomas George), 1946- (Interviewer)
- Title
- Oral history interview with Dharam Ghai, 2001
- Abstract
- Childhood in British-colonial Kenya; middle-class upbringing in Nairobi, Kenya; discussion of minoritarian status as South Asian in "semi-apartheid" Kenya and ensuing early appreciation of multilateralism and forms of economic cooperation through impartiality, non-discrimination and affirmative politics; university education at Oxford University during Mau-Mau rebellion in Kenya; discussion of inc reased exposure intellectual and cultural life, and first friendships with students from developing countries and the Commonwealth; discussion of violent nature of Kenyan independence during time at Oxford University; economics professor at Makerere University College in Uganda during independence struggle and early work on development economics; discussion of multidisciplinary East African Institute of Social Research and subsequent development projects; eventual position as director of East African Institute of Social Research and subsequent movement away from teaching; commentary on work for the World Bank funded Pearson Commission, December 1969 to August 1970, discussion of the Robert McNamara funded Pearson Commission's role in building support for development assistance; discussion of extensive work with least-developed countries (LDCs); discussion of the ILO report on employment in Kenya and subsequent change in understanding of value of informal sector, and minimum standard of living; discussion of gender studies influence on the ILO and subsequent adoption of convention of home based work, and rural women migrant workers; in late 1970s director of ILO: Rural Employment Policies Branch and subsequent expanded work on women workers; 1987, director of UNRISD (UN Research Institute for Social Development; discussion of global conferences and their importance in increasing awareness and sensitivity to gender, the environment, and population issues
- Collection Name
- United Nations intellectual history project (UNIHP)
- Subjects
- Minorities--Kenya; Development economics; Economic development; Informal sector (Economics)--Kenya; Women in development; Women--Employment--Kenya; Developing countries Economic conditions; Ghai, Dharam P; United Nations Officials and employees; United Nations Research Institute for Social Development; International Labour Office. Rural Employment Policies Branch; United Nations History; East African Institute of Social Research (Makerere University College); Commission on International Development
- Format
- oral histories; sound recordings
- Genre
- Interviews
- Date
- 2001
- Note (Biographical)
- United Nations -- ILO World Employment Programme; Research Institute for Social Development; Pearson Commission on International Development
- Note
- Interviewed by Thomas G. Weiss on February 7 and February 9, 2001
- Note (Provenance)
- Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, Gift, 2009
- Language
- English
- Library Location
- Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content - Catalog Record
- 13683869
- Also In
- Oral History Archives at Columbia
- Time-Based Media
- Time-Based Media
- Persistent URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-q2ps-js94
- Related URLs
- Available digital content for this interview.