Rajalakshmi Sriram, Ph.D is former Professor, and Head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Maharaja Sayajirao University, a well-known center for advanced studies in Baroda, India. In her tenure as Professor Emeritus, she continues to exercise the academic rigor and professionalism that has been the hallmark of her career. Dr. Sriram has played an active role in advancing cultural perspectives through her commitment to both fundamental and applied research, that has led to the enriching of the discipline, as well as quality of life for people and families. She has published widely, and has been an integral part of course design committees, as well as advisory, advocacy and editorial panels on gender, family, parenting and early childhood at regional, national and international levels. Significantly, she has recently published a two-volume resource book titled “Engaging in Social Interventions” – one volume each for learners and mentors. She continues to work as a consultant in the field, and volunteers her time to ‘Service Space’, a global endeavor connecting the transformation of the inner self with enabling transformative social change.
Among her many academic honors, Dr. Sriram was awarded the Shastri Indo Canadian Research Fellowship for research in Canada. She was a delegate to the International Fatherhood Summit held at Oxford, UK in 2003 to prepare a Fatherhood Policy document for the United Nations. Her wide ranging international exposure through academic collaborations and conferences enable her to look at the emic in light of global debates and theoretical perspectives, which is also a unique feature of this work.