1. Challenges and prospects of research in the new world order: Issues of quality, quantity, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Address to PhD Supervisors of University of Calicut and its affiliated colleges. 24 March 2010. Calicut, Kerala.
2. Higher Education in Perspective (Analysis of the National Council for Higher Education and Research Bill) placed in Parliament. Tamil Nadu Advocates Association, Chennai, 23 April 2010.
3. Identifying the economically backward among the non-reserved categories. Key Note address to the Workshop organized by the National Commission for identifying the backward classes among the non-reserved social groups. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Institute of Social Sciences, Indore. July 2009.
4. Globalization, Faith and Development Politics. January 2008. In a seminar on Structural Transformation, Developmental Politics, and Religious Polarisation. Council for Social Development. Delhi.
5. Understanding the Nature of Social Sciences. Inaugural Address. February 2008. Seminar on Sociology in Tamil Nadu: Institutions, Knowledge and Practice.
UGC and Department of Sociology. University of Madras.
6. Globalisation and Exclusion. March 2008. In a seminar on Globalisation and Managing Vulnerabilities. ISEC. Bangalore.
7. Social Science Research in India. Valedictory Address. March 2008. Seminar on Interdisciplinary Approach to Social Science Research. Loyola College and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Chennai.
8. Understanding cults in modern India. International Symposium on Cultic Studies, Institute of World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, December 2007.
9. Academic Freedom from a Human Rights’ Perspective. July 2006. In the Round Table `The Challenges of Academic Freedom in the Global South: Role and Responsibilities of Academics and Researchers’. Organised by CODESRIA at the World Forum on Human Rights. Nantes, France.
10. Reorienting the Reservation Policy: Lessons from the past and from Tamil Nadu. July 2006. In a seminar on the Reservation policy. IIPA, Delhi.
11. OBC Reservation: The Tamil Nadu Experience. July 2006. In a seminar on Backward Classes and Reservations. Centre for Political Studies, JNU and National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities, Delhi.
12. From the Margins to the Mainstream. Key Note Address. January 2005. UGC seminar on Marginal Groups, Political Participation, and Social Development. Sociology Department. Madurai Kamaraj University.
13. History-Sociology Interface. Sir William Meyer Endowment Lectures. February 2005 Department of Indian History. University of Madras.
14. Globalisation and Education. March 2005. K.K. Shah Endowment Lectures. Department of Politics and Public Administration. University of Madras.