Profile of Dr. Hilal Ahmad War

I am Dr. Hilal Ahmad War, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Sociology (C) at the School of Law, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad. My academic work centers on sociology of development, sociology of tourism, environmental sociology, and the intersection of law and society, with a particular focus on how development policies and legal frameworks affect pastoral, tribal, and marginalized communities across India.

I earned my M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad. My doctoral research titled "Ecotourism and Socioeconomic Change among the Pastoral Tribal Communities in Jammu and Kashmir" explored the socio-cultural and economic implications of ecotourism through Julian Steward’s cultural ecology framework. In addition, I hold a Master's in Tourism Studies from IGNOU and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Development Studies to further enrich my interdisciplinary approach to social and development research.

Before moving to the MANUU Law School, I worked as an assistant professor/ fulltime guest faculty at the Department of Sociology MANUU. I have taught a variety of courses in undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Sociology, Legal Studies, and the BA.LLB. These courses include Sociology of Development, Research Methodology, Law and Society, Rural Sociology, Social Problems, Human Values, Introduction to Sociology, Society, Sociology of Tourism, and Sociological Theory etc. I have also played an active role in curriculum development, designing new courses such as Sociology of Development, Sustainable Development, Sociology of Disaster, Public Policy, and Sociology of Tourism and Law and Society, Ecotourism for the Four Year Honours Programme in Sociology.

My research has been published in Scopus and UGC CARE indexed journals, addressing themes like ecotourism, pastoralism, development and pandemics. I have also supervised M. A. dissertations and have guided students on topics such as gender and mobility, urban leisure, and ecotourism policy.

Beyond teaching and research, I am actively involved in institutional and academic activities. I have coordinated national and international seminars, conferences, workshops, and roundtable discussions. My contributions also include serving as a special invitee to the Board of Studies and as the NIRF Coordinator and founding faculty advisor to the Subject Association for the Department of Sociology to contribute to the best of abilities in the academic and student related activities.