Ashok Sircar leads the Centre for Local Democracy. He has been with Azim Premji University from 2011, and for the last five years, had headed the School of Development. He teaches a course on Political Economy of Land and Development in India, and Local Democracy and Development in India. He also earlier taught a course on Women and Work in India. Ashok has worked in the Electronics industry for 15 years producing very sophisticated electronic components for space and military applications, followed by a stint in the NGO sector working for another 12 years, in grassroot to international organisations, and the last 10 years in academia.