Areas of Current Research Interest:

• Social Cultural Anthropology
• Anthropological Theories
• Village Community Studies
• Audio-Visual Anthropology
• Tribal Studies
• Environmental Anthropology
• Archaeological Anthropology
  

Contributions to Teaching:

• I have contributed a new theory - “Pecuniarisation” to the subject Social Cultural Anthropology and Indian Village Community Studies in 2004 through my Ph.D. thesis and later on through my first book entitled ‘Pecuniarisation - A New Theory of Social Change in India’ in 2006.
• I have contributed a new branch of anthropology, ‘Audio-Visual Anthropology’ through my third book entitled ‘Audio-Visual Anthropology- A New Version of Visual Anthropology’ published in 2013. Internationally, some universities have started courses in this new area.
• Produced an Anthropological Film about four tribal communities of Wayanad in Kerala: ‘Indigenous People of a Wayanad Valley’. Research, Script, Photography, Editing, Music, Audio Mixing & Direction. Year of production: January 2010, Duration: 23 minutes, (Format: DVCAM & DVD). Preview on 18-02-2010, at Kannur University, Thalassery Campus, Palayad. DVD released by Prof. (Dr.) A.K. Danda, on 21st February 2010 on the 3rd. Indian Anthropological Congress held at IGRMS, Bhopal.
• Produced a Documentary film about the contributions of the anthropologist Dr. P.R.G. Mathur, the founder Director of KIRTADS and a research student of the eminent Prof. (Dr.) Surajit Sinha. The film is entitled: ‘LIFE IS THE MESSAGE – A Documentary on Dr. P.R.G. Mathur’. Research, Script, Photography, Editing, Music, Audio Mixing & Direction by Dr. M.S. Mahendrakumar. Year of production: January 2014, Duration: 23 minutes(Format: HDV & DVD)
• Produced a documentary film on the world-famous anthropologist Prof. (Dr.) A. Aiyappan, who was a student of Raymond Firth in London School of Economics, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala, Superintendent of Madras Government Museum, Founder Chairman of Centre for Development Studies Thiruvananthapuram, First Special Officer of KIRTADS Kozhikode, founder of the Dept. of Anthropology in Utkal University, and so on. The film is entitled: ‘Prof. (Dr.) A. Aiyappan – The Great Indian Anthropologist’. Research, Script, Photography, Editing, Music, Audio Mixing & Direction by Dr M.S. Mahendrakumar. Year of production: January 2016, Duration: 42 minutes(Format: HD & DVD)
• Introduced one-day fieldwork in Archaeological Anthropology to study river terraces, riverine stratigraphy, archaeologically important locations, monuments, specimens, etc. This component of the M.A. programme will help to enhance fieldwork interest among students.

• Conducted a research project entitled ‘The Pulayas of Central Kerala: An Anthropological Study’ (1999). The International School of Dravidian Linguistics (ISDL), Thiruvananthapuram, sponsored the Research.
• Research Fellow of the project entitled ‘Kottakkal Village’ (in Malappuram District) (2000). The study was jointly sponsored by the UNESCO Chair in the field of Cultural Development and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.
• Research Fellow of the project entitled ‘Rural Infrastructure Project: Kerala’ (2002). The study was funded by Ratan Tata Foundation and conducted for the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi.
• Co-Investigator of UGC Major Research Project of the Department of Anthropology, Kannur University, from 1st January 2005 to 31st March 2007. Prof. (Dr.) B. Ananda Bhanu, Head of the Department of Anthropology, Kannur University, was the Principal Investigator of the project.

Books Published (Single Author):

1. Mahendrakumar, M.S. 2006. ‘Pecuniarisation – A New Theory of Social Change in India’ New Delhi: Serials Publications.
2. Mahendrakumar, M.S. 2012. ‘Social Change Among the Cultivators’ New Delhi: Discovery Publishing House.
3. Mahendrakumar, M.S. 2013. ‘Audio-Visual Anthropology A New Version of Visual Anthropology’. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company
4. 'Social Stratification and Inequality' written by Dr. M.S. Mahendrakumar (July 2000) : Calicut university Central Co-operative Society.
5. സാമൂഹിക ശ്രേണിരൂപീകരണവും അസമത്വവും' Co-authored by Dr. M.S. Mahendrakumar and Dr. Sali V.S. (December 2020) : Calicut university Central Co-operative Society.

Popular Articles in Magazines and Newspapers:

• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (1997). “Kudayum Thudiyum-Ritual Art”, Kerala Calling, Govt. of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, June 1997.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (1998) “Tribal Development and Anthropological Surveillance”, Kerala Calling, Govt. of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, January1998.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (2000). “The Kadars of Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary”, Kerala Calling, Govt. of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram September, 2000.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (1997). “Kanikaanal Oru Naravamsa-Sasthra Veekshanam” (in Malayalam), Express Daily (Sunday Edn.), Thrissur, Kerala, 29-06-1997.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (1997). “Samooham Thiraskarikkunna Naatankalakal”, (in Malayalam), Express Daily (Sunday Edn.), 13-07-1997.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (1998). “Gothravarga Purogathiyum Samskara Patanavum” (in Malayalam) Express Daily (Sunday Edn.), Kerala15-02-1998.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (1997) “Purattu Natakam – Arangum Aniyarayum” (in Malayalam), Nattariv, October 1997.

Articles in Journals:

• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2001). “Significance of Ethnographic Filming in the study of changing Cultures and Languages”, Man and Life, Vol.27, Nos. 1&2 January-June 2001.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2002) “Material Culture and Traditional Subsistence Activities of the Tribes of Kerala” Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society. Vol.37, No2. July 2002.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2004). “Ecological and Cultural Adaptation of the Pastoral Yadavas of Kerala” Holistic Thought, The Interdisciplinary Research Journal, Vol. III,No. 1-2, January- December 2004.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2005). “Ecocultural Adaptation of the Kadars of Kerala”, Studies of Tribes and Tribals, Vol.3, No.2., December 2005
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2006). “Yadava- A Pastoral Caste of Kerala” The Anthropologist – International Journal of Contemporary and Applied Studies of Man, Vol.8, No. 2. April 2006
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2007). “Audio-Visual Anthropology and Its Application: A Conceptualisation”, Review Projector (India) Vol.10, No.1, January-March 2007.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2016). “Transformations of Tribal Economy in Kerala”, Business Sciences International Research Journal. Vol.4, Issue 1, 2016.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2016). “Pecuniarisation – An Economic Anthropological Theory”, Social Sciences International Research Journal, Vol.1, Issue 2, 2016.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2016). “Multichronic Village Studies and Theoretical Development” Social Sciences International Research Journal, Vol.2, Spl. Issue, 2016.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2019). “Consumer Behaviour of a Forest Dwelling Tribe of Kerala: A Business Anthropological Study”, International Journal of Management Studies, Vol.–VI, Special Issue 3, June 2019.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2019). “Impact of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana on the Forest Dwelling Tribes of Kannur District in Kerala”, International Journal of Management Studies, Vol.–VI, Special Issue 3, June 2019.

Articles in Edited Books:

• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2006). “Transforming Dalits – A Case of the Pulayas”, Dalit in India-Past and Present, Ed. By Dr. R.M. Sarkar, Serials Publications, New Delhi.
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2011). “Eco-Cultural Adaptation: An Analysis of the Tribes of Kerala”, Tribe, State, And Empowerment: The Indian Experience, Ed. By P.K. Misra, H.K. Bhat & Dipali G. Danda, INCAA, Kolkata
• Mahendrakumar M.S. (2018). “Problems and Prospects of the Study of Tribal Arts”, Tribal Art and Society – Challenges and Perspectives, Ed. K.S. Pradeep Kumar, KIRTADS, Kozhiode, Kerala

Book Reviews in Journals:

• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (2006). “Tribal Culture Faith History and Literature by Narayan Singh Rao’, Review Projector (India), Vol. 9, No. 3., July-September, 2006.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (2006). “British Colonisation and Restructuring of Naga Polity by Neivetso Venuh”, Review Projector (India), Vol. 9, No. 3.July-Sept.2006
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (2006) “Truancy-A Sociological Study By George Mathew Parampukattil”, Review Projector (India), Vol.10, No.1, January-March 2007.
• Mahendrakumar, M.S. (2008) “Locomotor Disabled: Psychosocial pattern By Amiteshwar Ratra”, Review Projector (India). Vol II, No.3. July-September 2008.