About the Chair Professor

With over 25 years of international experience spanning West Asia and India, Prof. Harsh Pati Dobhal currently serves as the Dr. Ambedkar Chair Professor (appointed October 2025). His work focuses on the intersection of social justice, marginalisation, media, security, and developmental issues.

Building on his previous roles—including Visiting Professor at Doon University and Head of Mass Communication at Sharda University—he specialises in curriculum design, faculty mentorship, and supervising research that bridges theory with social advocacy. His career is defined by a commitment to advancing the discourse on social justice, inclusion, peace, conflict, and journalism to foster institutional and social excellence.

As Managing Editor and later as Editor of Combat Law (a bimonthly journal on human rights, law and society), he has been involved in conceptualising themes, inviting writers and commissioning articles, conducting and supervising research, editing and publishing the journal.

As the first Indian journalist in Jerusalem, he established Indian agency PTI there and expanded the space for West Asian affairs in Indian media. During this period, he was the first journalist from Israel contributing on West Asian affairs frequently to BBC Hindi & Urdu, Doordarshan, NDTV, Aaj Tak and other TV and radio channels, thus contributing to international awareness among Indian audience.

Academic Positions

• October 2025 to Present: Chair Professor- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, School of Social Sciences, Doon University, Dehradun.
• December 2014 to September 2025: Professor (Visiting), School of Media & Communication Studies, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• October 2012 to December 2014: Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Media Studies at Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Academic Qualifications

• Post-Doctoral Fellow (2001-2003): Political Science Department, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
• Ph.D. (2000): School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
• M. Phil (1995): School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
• Masters in Sociology (1992): Centre for the Study of Social Systems, JNU, New Delhi.
• Masters in English Literature (1987): HN Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal.
• NET Qualified: University Grants Commission in Sociology (1993).

Professional Experience

• 2008-2012: Editor, Combat Law, Human Rights and Law bimonthly magazine.
• 2005-2008: Managing Editor, Combat Law.
• 1999-2004: Jerusalem based Correspondent for Press Trust of India (PTI).
• 1995-1999: Sub Editor, PTI, New Delhi.

Research & Publications

Prof. Dobhal has authored and edited numerous books including Flowers of Economic Bloom: Vasantotsav '25, Rugged Road to Justice (3 Volumes), Writings on Human Rights, Law and Society in India, and Manipur in the Shadow of AFSPA. He has published research papers in journals like International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, Journal of Social Issues and Development, Indian Journal of Political Science, and Current Science.

He has also produced documentaries on human rights issues including Assassination (2006) on food security, Till the Bitter End (2009) on caste and untouchability, and Manipur in the Shadow of AFSPA (2005).

Contribution to Doon University

• Coordinator for the Career Counseling Cell.
• Member of Anti-Ragging Committee, IQAC, Students Council Election Committee.
• Coordinator for 'Friday Series' - cross-discipline academic presentations since 2015.
• Faculty Supervisor for student-run periodical Campus Bytes.
• Coordinated formulation of proposal for Centre for Uttarakhand Languages and Cultural Studies.
• Convener of Himalaya Day Committee since 2016.