50 Years of Participatory Research: Dr. Rajesh Tandon in dialogue with Prof. Budd Hall

Dr. Rajesh Tandon joined Professor Budd Hall at the University of Victoria, Canada, for a public dialogue reflecting on the 50-year journey of Participatory Research and its evolution into Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR).

The conversation traced the origins of participatory research to 1975, when Professor Budd Hall first articulated the concept based on his experiences in Tanzania. Dr. Tandon reflected on their first meeting at an international gathering in 1978, which laid the foundation for a global network of participatory researchers. As coordinator of the Asian network, he went on to establish PRIA in 1982, marking the beginning of over four decades of advancing participatory research and democratic knowledge creation in India and beyond.

The dialogue explored the evolution of participatory research—from its early focus on popular education, local knowledge, and social movements, to its growing integration into community-driven development programmes and, later, into higher education and academic research. The discussion highlighted how concepts such as community engagement, knowledge co-construction, and the decolonisation of research have become central to contemporary research practice.

The speakers also reflected on the increasing relevance of Community-Based Participatory Research in addressing climate change, emphasising the importance of community-led, context-specific knowledge in shaping climate-resilient policies and practices.

The event celebrated five decades of collaboration, learning, and innovation in participatory research, reaffirming the shared commitment of Dr. Tandon, Professor Hall, and PRIA to advancing inclusive, community-driven knowledge systems that contribute to social transformation and sustainable development.