There is an increasing trend to reinforce the assumption that efforts to realise ‘other utopias’ are counterproductive. And any departure from status quo is considered as rank deviation and monism is being presented as the only source of growth. It is in this atmosphere, that an institution was born and we named it Institute for Development and Communication (IDC).

IDC was set up by a group of persons who aspired to produce and disseminate pro-people knowledge. It started with abundance of ideas and an almost non-existent material resource base. Those were difficult times, but pregnated with ample opportunities to realise one’s dreams. These opportunities were shaped by globalisation of ideas, technological revolution and pressing need for holistic knowledge.

In its 16 years of completion, IDC availed many opportunities, but at the same time continued its endeavour to maintain research autonomy and build the institutional resource base to pursue research as per its own priorities and mandate. It took a conscious decision of not to build research capacities dependent on maintenance grants. Rather we competed for research projects and to build up institutional resource base by nurturing research capital.

IDC is engaged in social research with implications for change in the field of social development, governance to improve public safety and justice, economic development for distributive justice and gender studies. The main thrust is to undertake research in association with the stakeholders to bring about practical reforms and develop new ways of delivering justice, develop empirically tested models to make the development processes more accessible to the marginalised sections of the society. It also networks with civil society organisations for advancing knowledge and interventions that fit local needs.

IDC emphasises the need for cross-cultural research methods and tools.It is also committed to connecting local needs and knowledge with global standards. IDC’s association with Altus Global Alliance for the promotion of justice provides a global platform for academic debate for practical exchange on methods of research and innovation.