T. K. Oommen

Tharailath Koshy Oommen (16 October 1937 – 26 February 2026) was an Indian sociologist, author, teacher and professor emeritus at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was awarded Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award in 2008 for his services to the fields of education and literature, by the president of India.

Oommen was the 12th president of International Sociological Association (1990–1994).

Background T. K. Oommen was born on 16 October 1937, the second son to Saramma and Koshy of the Keerikattu family at Tharailath, Venmony, Alleppey, Travancore. After early schooling in Alappuzha, Oommen obtained his BA in economics from Kerala University, Thiruvananthapuram in 1957 and MA in sociology from Pune University in 1960. He continued at Pune University for his doctoral research and obtained PhD in 1965 on Charisma, stability and change: an analysis of Bhoodan-Gramdan movement in India under the supervision of Prof. Y. B. Damle.

Oommen resided at The National Media Campus in Haryana. He died on 26 February 2026, at the age of 88.

Career Oommen started his career as a lecturer in Social Sciences at Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi University (1964–70) where he worked as the Reader in Sociology (1970–71). He then moved to the Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS), Jawaharlal Nehru University as Associate Professor (1971–76) and later became the Professor of Sociology (1976–2002).

During 2003–2006, he was involved with the following projects: 1986 Secretary General, XI World Congress of Sociology, New Delhi 1986–90 EC member 1990–94 president (the only person from Asia and Africa to hold the post )

He also held other positions during his career: June–July 1992, visiting professor, Wissenshaftszentrum, Berlin, May–July 1993 and June 1994, visiting fellow, Research School of Social Science, Australian National University, Canberra, December 1993 and senior visiting fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, Budapest, October 1994 – July 1995.

Awards and recognition Oommen received many awards for his services to the social milieu. G. S. Ghurye Award for 1985 by Bombay University, Mumbai Swami Pranavananda Award in Sociology, 1997 by University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India Fellow, the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study in the Social Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden January–June 1998 Philipose Mar Chrysostom Navathy Award for Excellence, 2007 Padma Bhushan by the President of India in 2008

Books and publications