Rajasthan

My journey so far

Retrospective narrations of one’s journey can be misleading. Its linear format is inherently deceptive because an ordered layout assumes clarity and purpose, when life itself is often a jumbled back and forth of trial and error. And though it is slightly disconcerting to ‘review’ one’s life at the age of 26, I will try. TheContinue reading “My journey so far”

Harvest season: The important of social capital to a farming household

I\’m tired. And it’s only 8:00 am. I trudge along the dirt track that leads me to the latest village I have been frequenting. After two bus rides that pulverised my morning meal quite successfully, and a quick zip on a motorcycle, during which I nearly flew, I must complete the last 2 km onContinue reading “Harvest season: The important of social capital to a farming household”

The Other Side of Tribal Development: An officer\’s apathy

They say field work is the best part of the at-times-stimulating, many more times aggravating experience of doing a PhD and I couldn’t agree more. Field work is indeed an amazing journey, you witness abstract concepts read in journals being enacted before your eyes, once obscure ideas slowly find meaning through the data you collect,Continue reading “The Other Side of Tribal Development: An officer\’s apathy”

Jaani\’s Missing Pension: A narrative of corruption eroding financial safety nets

Jaani Meena and Shaitan Singh When Jaani grins, her warmth is infectious and my face can’t help but mirror hers. She has five front teeth left now – ‘old age has robbed the others’ she tells me very seriously, her eyes threatening to laugh again. Widowed three years ago, she lives with her son andContinue reading “Jaani\’s Missing Pension: A narrative of corruption eroding financial safety nets”

Humble beginnings: What do Jogilal Meena’s mittens have to do with my PhD?

When I started my Ph.D., I thought I had clear ideas. I was going to understand water scarcity and how it affected farmers. I was going to try and figure out why the crores of rupees the Indian government spent on water management programmes across the nation were yielding unsatisfactory results. I had studied aboutContinue reading “Humble beginnings: What do Jogilal Meena’s mittens have to do with my PhD?”

Where again?

Map of Pratapgarh, Rajasthan\’s newest district, carved in 2008 from neighbouring Udaipur, Chittorgarh, and Banswara in the southeast ofthe state. It is tough to explain to people where Pratapgarh, the location of my field research is. Traveling from Delhi, Pratapgarh seems to be at the very end of the earth and for once, I am not evenContinue reading “Where again?”