S. Simon John has a Masters and PhD in Folklore. Presently he is working as an Associate Professor in Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. He has earlier worked in Anthropological Survey for India (Kolkata and Mysore) for ten years and undertaken extensive research projects on folk cultural practices of Tamil Nadu. Later he joined as an Associate Professor at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi and initiated several national research projects and organized a number of national and international programmes. He has completed a number of research projects in collaboration with national institutions and published series of research papers in English and four books in Tamil. The honourable President of India has conferred on him the Young Classical Tamil Scholar Award for the year 2007-08.
1. The Honorable President of India has conferred the Presidential young scholar award instituted by Ministry of Human Resource Development for the year 2007-2008 on 6th May 2011 at Rashtrapathi Bhawan, New Delhi.
2. Won 1000 Euro cash award from Free University, Berlin, Germany for my research paper entitled ‘Human Body, Folk Narratives and Rituals in the volume of ‘Images of the Body in India’ published in the journal Pragrana, Germany.
3. Won a consolation prize in the all India Literary Translation Competition held during August 2007 conducted by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi
1. 2015. Proverbs, Caste and Gender: Studying the Interface between Proverbs and Human Relations, The Oriental Anthropologist, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2015; Pp. 53-64.
2. 2015. Not Just A Game: Reliving The Politics of Hockey, Man In India, 95 (1):37-47.
3. 2014. Isakiamman worship in Tamil Nadu in the volume of Cult of Goddesses, ed. Arputharani Sengupta, New Delhi: National Museum Institute and DK Pub.
4. 2014. Traditional Healing Practices of Tamil Nadu, Journal of South Asian Anthropologist, Vol. 14.(1).
5. 2013.Thc Aravan Cult: Living Traditions of Transgenders in Tamil Nadu, Journal of Anthropological Society, 48(3): 231 to 244 (ISSN No.00194387), Kolkata.
6. 2013. Origin Myth and Rituals: An Ethnographic account of Muttu Pattan. Journal of South Asian Anthropologist. (Vol. 13 (2), pp. 149-156 (ISSN- 0257-7348), New Delhi.
7. 2013. An Ethnographic Account of Sudalai Cult, Tamil Nadu, India, Antrocom (vol. 9. n. 2, pp. 299-307- (ISSN 1973 – 2880) , Italy.
8. 2012. Social Construction of Fear in Isaki Amman Cult in the volume of Emotions in Rituals and Performances, ed, by Axel Michaels & Christoph Wulf, London, Newyork, Delhi: Rutledge Publication. (ISBN: 978.0-415-52304-2).
9. 2011. Human Body, Folk Narratives and Rituals in the volume of ‘Images of the Body in India’ ed by Axel Michaels & Christoph. Wulf, Delhi, London & Abingdon: Rutledge Publication, ( ISBN: 978-0.415-60230-3).
10. 2010. Traditional Knowledge of Folk Crafts in Tamil Nadu, Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, ICCR, New Delhi. (Vol 9(3) ISSN 0972-5938).
11. 2009. Human Body, Folk Narratives and Rituals in the special volume of a Journal Pragrana : The Body in India” Ritual, Transgression, Performativity, ed by Axel Michaels and Christoph Wulf, Centre for historic Anthropology, Berlin, Germany. (ISSN: 0938.0116 ISBN: 978.3-05-004601-3).
12. 2008. Kaniyan: Ritual Performers of Tamil Nadu, South India in the Journal of Asian Ethnology, Japan: Nanzan Institute of Religion and Culture (Vol 67(1) ISSN. NO. 1882-6865).
13. 2008. Sacred Folk Festivals of Tamil Nadu in the volume of Tribal Development in India,ed by Awadhesh Kumar Singh, New Delhi: Serials Publication ( ISBN: 978-81-8387-198-3)
14. 2008. Looking Back: A Study of Kaan ikkarar in Tamil Nadu in the volume of Tribal Development in India,ed by Awadhesh Kumar Singh, New Delhi: Serials Publication ( ISBN: 978-818387.198-3)
15. 2008.Traditional Folk Arts of Tamil Nadu, in the Journal of Art Land, New Delhi: India International Rural Cultural Centre
16. 2007. Looking Back: A Study of Kaanikkarar in Tamil Nadu in the Journal of Social Anthropology, New Delhi: Serials Publication. (Vol. 4 (2) ISSN. NO: 0973-3582)
17. 2008. Sudalai Katha, in the Journal of Indian Literature (Vol LII (1), New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi(ISSN: 0019.5804)
18. 2007. An Interview with Prof. S.D.Lourdh -An eminent Folklorist and founder of Folklore studies in Tamil Nadu, Pudhuchery: Vain= No15 (15-32)
19. 2006. Malaikuravar: A Basket Makers of Tirunelveli in the volume of ‘Aspects of Tribes in India’, New Delhi: Swarup and Sons
20. 2006. Issues of Folklorists hi the Journal of Folklore, Palayamkottai: Folklore Educational Trust
21. 2006. Sacred Folk Festivals of Tamil Nadu in the Journal of Social Anthropology, (Vol.3 (1) New Delhi: Serials Publication
22. 2006. Folk Arts: An Intangible Cultural Heritage of Tamil Nadu in the journal of Artland, New Delhi: India International Rural Cultural Centre
23. 2005.Folk Heritage Performances of Tamil Nadu in the , Journal of Social Anthropology (Vol.. 2(1), New Delhi: Serials Publication
24. 2005.Media and Folklore in the Journal of Art land, New Delhi: India International Rural Cultural Centre
25. 2004. From Culture to Politics: The changing context of Parai in Tamil Nadu in the Journal of South Indian Folklorist, No. 7, Palayamkottai: Folklore Resources and Research Centre, St.Xavier’s college.
26. 2004. Children Folklore; A Medium of Enculturation in the Journal Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkatta: Anthropological Survey of 1ndia.(ISSN.NO: 0970-3411)
27. 2003. Audiovisual Archiving; Scope and Methodology in the journal of South Indian Folklorist, No. 6, Palayamkottai: Folklore Resources and Research Centre, St.Xavier’s college.
28. 2001. Performing Context of Parai (In Tamil) in the journal of Puthu Visai, Hosur: Tamil-Nadu Progressive writers Association.
29. 2001. Animal Folklore (In Tamil) in the volume of Kalagakarargulam Ethir Kathaiadalaum, Palayamkottai: Kallathi.
30. 1999. Dhuryodhana- a Folk Deity in the journal of South Indian Folklorist, Vol; 2, No. 2,Palayamkottai: Folklore Resources and Research center, St.Xavier’s college
Special Training/Certificate Course/Workshops
1. Participated in a training program on Development Anthropology from 19th March 2012 to 26th March 2012 organized by International school of Anthropology, Anthropological Survey of India, Mysore.
2. Participated in a short term Capacity Building Programme on Cultural Resource Management from 18th to 29th July 2011 organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi.
3. Participated in an International training program on Cross Cultural Studies and Cross Cultural Sensitivity from 6th Oct 2008 to 15th Oct 2008 organized by International school of Anthropology in collaboration with Free University, Berlin, Germany.
4. Participated in an Intensive Residential training program on Visual Anthropology at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata from 29th May 2007 to 17th June 2007.
5. Participated in the International workshop on Documenting creative process of Folklore from 5th February to 19 February 2001 at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, organized by National Folklore Support Centre, Chennai in collaboration with Ford foundation.
6. Participated in the In-Service Training course on Extended horizons of Anthropology: An Interdisciplinary Approach from 5th June 9th June 2000 organized by Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkatta.
7. Participated in the National workshop on Orality and Literacy from 17-08-98 to 22-08-98, organized by Folklore Resources and Research Centre, St.Xavier’s college Tirunelveli.
8. Course on Photography from 11-05-98 to 16-05-98 organized by Folklore Resources and Research Centre, Tirunelveli.
9. One-month course on Performing Folk Arts during October 1996 at Folklore Resources and Research Centre, Tirunelveli.
Organizing Programmes (Folk Festivals, Exhibitions, Seminars etc)
1. Programme Director for a National Capacity Building Programme on Cultural Resource Management organized in Rajiv Gandhi University from 9 to 12 Feb 2015 in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi.
2. Coordinator for a National workshop on Multidisciplinary Survey, Research and Documentation of Rock Art of North East India organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi from 1st to 2nd Dec 2014 at NEHU, Shillong.
3. Chief coordinator for a major National festival Jaya Utsav: Celebrating living Traditions of Mahabharata that consisted of performances (by 1200 artists and craftsmen), seminar, exhibition, demonstrations, film festival, book exhibition, crafts bazaar etc. Organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi from 10 Feb to 10 March 2010.
4. Chief coordinator for a major National festival Akhyan; A Celebration of Masks, Puppets and Picture Scroll men traditions of India that consisted of performances (by 800 artists and craftsmen), seminar, exhibition, demonstrations, film festival, book exhibition, crafts bazaar etc., Organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi from 20 Oct to 20 Nov 2010.
5. Chief coordinator for a major National festival Indigenous Theatre festival of North East India that consisted of performances (by 600 artists and craftsmen), seminar, exhibition, dertionstrations, film festival, book exhibition, crafts bazaar etc. Organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi from 2-30 April 2011.
6. Coordinated the cultural programmes and a mega rally consisting of 3000 folk artists in the first world classical Tamil conference held at Coimbatore from 19th June 2010 to 27th June 2010: organized by Govt. of Tamil Nadu.
7. Coordinator for a major International festival entitled Intercultural dialogue between South East Asia and North East India that consists of Performances (by 600 artists and craftsmen), seminar, exhibition, book exhibition, crafts bazaar etc. Organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi from lst Feb to 20th March 2010.
8. Coordinated three days exhibition on Tribes of India: Cultural Diversity, Technology and Development at AICAS, Palakkad, Kerala from 15th Feb to 17th February 2009, organized by ASI.
9. Coordinated three days exhibition on Cultural Heritage of Dravidian Tribes in Dravidian University, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh from 26th, Feb to 28th Feb 2009, organized by ASI.
10. Actively involved as a member of the organizing committee of a weeklong mega festival of fork arts known as Chennai Sangamam, organized by Tamil Maiyam in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Tourism department during January 2007, 2008 and 2009, 2010 & 2011.
11. Actively involved as a member of the organizing committee of Children’s festival known as Come on Kidz from 10-07-2007 to 15-07-2007, at Chennai Trade center, Chennai organized by Goodwill communications, Chennai.
12. Have organized a Two days Photo exhibition on Tamil Folk Goddess at National Museum Institute, New Delhi on 23rd and 24th September 2005.
13. Have organized a photographic exhibition on Tamil Folk Heritage at Anthropological survey of India, Mysore from October 2005.
14. Have organized an exhibition on Tamil Folk culture At Various schools of Tamil Nadu during February 2000.
15. Have organized a Five days Exhibition on Tamil Folk deities at Folklore Resources and Research centre, St.Xaviers college, Tamil Nadu from 8th Feb to 13th Feb 1999.
16. Have designed and exhibited a Permanent exhibition complex on Tamil Folk Deities at Indira Gandhi National Museum of Man kind, Bhopal during April 1999.
17. Organized a Photographic exhibition on Tamil Folk Arts at the FOSSILS conference at Mangalore in the year 1998.
List of Papers Presented in Select Seminars, Workshops, Conferences
1. Care of Cultural Objects in the ‘workshop on Conservation of Cultural Objects in Satras’ held from 31-1 April 2015 at Majuli organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi.
2. Human Body, Belief Systems and Healing: Exploring Folk Healing Practices of Tamil Nadu in the Naional Seminar on ‘Folk Medicine and Traditional Healing in India: Theory and Practice’ held from 26-27 March 2015 at Shillong organized by CCS- NEHU and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
3. A Celebration of Social Identity and Community Participation: Studying the Murung Festival of the Apatani of Ziro Valley in the International seminar on North East India in the Cultural imaginations History, Land and People held from 7-8 January 2015 at Kolkatta organized Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
4. Cultural Ecology of Indigenous Communities of Arunachal Pradesh in the National Seminar on ‘Ecology and Progress in North East India: Anxiety, Hope and Belonging in the Literary Consciousness’ held from 9-10 September 2014 at Shillong organized by CCS- NEHU and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
5. Migration Myths and Associated Rituals Among Apatani of Ziro Valley in the National Seminar on ‘Diaspora and Folldore: Exploring the Changing Dimensions of Folklore in Tribal Diaspora’ held from 27-28 March 2014 at Shillong organized by NEHU and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
6. The Departure of Soul: Study of Performing Traditions Associated with Funerals of Idu Mishmi in a National Seminar on People’s Art of North East India’ held during 5th-7th March 2014 at Rajiv Gandhi University, organized by IGRMS and Dept. of Anthropology, RGU.
7. Bamboo Revelations: Traditional Cultural Expressions Associated with Bamboo among the Apatanis in a National Seminar on ‘People’s Art of North East India’ held during 5th-7th March 2014 at Rajiv Gandhi University, organized by IGRMS and Dept. of Anthropology, RGU.
8. Folklore and Tribal Studies in a National workshop on ‘Interdisciplinary Approaches to Doing Studies of Tribes’ held during 13-14 March 2014 at Diphu organized by Tribal Studies Centre, Assam University, Diphu Campus.
9. Marriage, Mourning, and Widowhood: The Aravanis and the Aravan Cult in a National Seminar on ‘Folklore, Oral Discourse and Public Sphere with Special Reference to Northeast’ held during February 5-7 2014 in Imphal, organized by Indian Folklore Congress, IGNCA and Manipur University.
10. Demonic Myths and Rituals: Study of Sudalai Cult in Tamil Nadu in the National Seminar on The idea of the Demonic in Indian Traditions’ held from 16th to 18th Sep 2011 at Mumbai organized by Sahitya Academy, New Delhi.
11. Living Traditional of Transgender Community with special reference to Aravan Cult of Tamil Nadu in the national seminar on ‘Food gathering to cyber culture: the trajectory of human development’ held during 21-22 September at Mysore organized by Anthropological Survey of India, Mysore.
12. Vow, offerings and rituals: Traditional emotions of the cult of goddesses in Tamil in the International conference on ‘Emotions in South Asian and European Rituals’ held during Jan 2010 at Goa organized by Heidelberg University Germany.
13. Human Body, Rituals and Ethics in the International Symposium on Ethics, Culture and Population Genomics organize by Indian Society of Human Genetics from 17th March to 20th March 2009 held at IGNCA, New Delhi.
14. Narratives, Rituals and Performance: Study of Kaniyan Koothu in Sudalai Worship in Southern Tamil Nadu in the National Seminar on ‘Oral Literary Criticism’ organized by Sahitya Academy held at North Eastern Hill University, Shillong on 9th and 10th Sep 2008.
15. Magical Healing and Tribal Feast of Kanikar in Southern Tamil Nadu in the National seminar on ‘Problems and Issues of Tribal Health in India’, Organized by Department of Anthropology, Pondichery University, Pudhucheri on 8&9th Feb 2007.
16. Tamil Folk Deities in the National Seminar on ‘Tamil Religious Traditions’ organized by Department of Religion, Madurai Kamaraj University from 1st Dec to 3 Dec 2005.
17. Cult of Isaki Amman in the National Seminar on ‘Cult of Goddess’ organized by National Museum institute, New Delhi from 23rd Sep to 24 Sep 2005.
18. Audio Visual Archiving: Scope and Methodology at the School of Anthropology, Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata, 2001.
19. Archiving Folk Deities in the National seminar on Tamil Folk Deities titled Sanangalin Samihal organized by Folklore Resources and Research Centre in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Museum of Man kind during Feb 1999.
20. Malai Kuravar: A Basket Makers of Tamil Nadu in the National Seminar on ‘Folk craft’ organized by Centre for Tamil Folklore Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai on December, 1998.
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