Armaity Desai

Former Director, Tata Institute of social Sciences

Armaity S. Desai, born in Mumbai, India, on 28 April 1934, completed BA (Hons) from Mumbai University (Sociology) (1951–55); diploma in social service administration, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) (1955–57); and MA (1958–59) and PhD (1965–69) from the University of Chicago, both in social work. She served as Chairperson, University Grants Commission, Delhi (1995–99); Director, TISS, Mumbai (1982–95) and from Lecturer to Principal, College of Social Work, affiliated to Mumbai University (1957–82).

She has been the member and office-bearer of several non-governmental and governmental organisations at international, national and local levels; the UN (in Asia); Commonwealth Secretariat committees (for Africa); committees of planning commission and social welfare ministries; Union Public Service Commission; University Grants Commission and academic institutions. Her research areas include social work and social work education and she has contributed to several keynote addresses and publications on higher education. She has several awards, national and international, along with two honorary doctorates awarded to her. 

Biography Beginning as a lecturer, Armaity S. Desai (b. 1934) became Vice Principal and Principal, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan (NN) (1957-82). She was appointed Director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) (1982-95), then Chairperson, University Grants Commission (UGC) (1995-99). Her educational qualifications include: a BA (Hons) in sociology and anthropology, Bombay University, 1955; Diploma in Social Service Administration (family and child welfare), TISS, 1957; an MA, 1959; and a PhD in 1969 from the School of Social Service Administration (SSA), University of Chicago. Practice roles included casework at the Chicago Child Care Society, staff supervision at the University of Chicago Hospitals, and voluntary and leadership roles in Indian social work, focused on child, family and youth. While Director at TISS, she was President of the Association of Indian Universities (1992). International roles have included serving as Vice President, IASSW; President, Asian Regional Association for Social Work Education (later APASWE); work for the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok and Manila, and with the Commonwealth Secretariat, London. What has the award meant to you? The award was not as important for me as the person I have cherished in whose name it was given. I value the award because Katherine has played a significant role in my professional development, and I was the first awardee to be selected, which I cherish. However, I do not talk about my awards. Your work speaks for itself and results in awards or positions. Katherine knew me thoroughly and was familiar with my work. My relationship with her started while I was doing my PhD at the University of Chicago. As an international student, I wanted to take up a topic relevant for me, rather than an American issue. I decided to do a study on the relevance of social work education for international students who came to study in the US. My PhD supervisor directed me to meet Katherine, then Secretary-General of IASSW. After completing my studies, on my way back to India, I met her again in New York to share my study with her. She was happy and took me for a meal in a restaurant. She loved good food and was a great cook.