My research varies from Indian Politics, to the History of Bombay, and political economy.
Policy Research
I worked at IDFC Institute, a think/do tank in Bombay from August 2020 to July 2021. I published a range of articles, papers, and discussion notes for its various teams. A list of my publications can be found here.
Some of my publications include:
The First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kerala - A State Capacity Perspective published by IDFC Institute
India’s State institutions are failing citizens because they were built to control, not govern, published in The Print
Integrating Aadhaar and Voter ID Data: Promises and Dangers, published by the Data Governance Network, with a subsequent opinion piece in The Indian Express
The Challenge of Measuring Governance at the Subnational Level, published by the Chandler Institute for Good Governance. The full report can be found here on pages 103-105.
Master’s Thesis in Anthropology
After completing my Bachelor of Arts in History at Stanford University, I completed a Master of Arts in Anthropology at Stanford University as well, under the guidance of Thomas Blom Hansen. My master’s thesis is titled, ‘ Trust, Social Capital, Caste, The Forces Shaping the Gujarati Diamond Trade: Understanding Angadia Movement between Gujarat and Bombay.’
The aim of this thesis was to understand the anthropological phenomena at play in the diamond market, specifically the role of Angadias, or diamond couriers, in shaping the trade. The overarching question that I tried to answer was ‘In the absence of the state institutions to regulate the diamond trade, what holds diamond traders, merchants and Angadias accountable.’ I argue that a combination of social capital, familial connections, multi-generational links, and a shared culture prevent players in the diamond trade from absconding and ensure the integrity of diamond shipments.
You can download my thesis here.
Honour’s Thesis in History
I studied History at Stanford University and graduated with honours. My honour’s thesis was titled, ‘Nehruvian Socialism, A Fine Balance: Reconciling Democracy & Centralised Planning in Modern India (1947-64).’ I spent my senior year researching and writing this thesis, under the guidance of Thomas Blom Hansen, Anthropology and Robert Crews, History.
The purpose of this thesis was to explore the role of Jawaharlal Nehru in shaping the foundations of independent India’s political and economic system. Through a combination of archival research, intellectual history, economic history, and legal analysis, I conclude that national unity and poverty were two overriding concerns that shaped the creation of a liberal democracy committed to individual freedoms, while a centralised economic system was created.
You can download my thesis here.
The Indian Constitution
I studied History at Stanford University and specialised in the History of post-independent India. A topic I spent a lot of time researching on was the creation of the Indian Constitution and its centralising tendencies. Under the guidance of Dr. Ryan Perkins, I explored how the Indian constitution legally allowed Indira Gandhi to centralise power during The Emergency (1975-1977), and the implications of these tendencies for Indian democracy today.
You can download a version of this paper here.
The Future of Fundamental Rights in India: An Independent Investigation
Between February and July 2015, I conducted an independent research project on The Indian Emergency (1975-1977), a period of dictatorial rule in India, aimed to address some central questions about the Future of Fundamental Rights in India, such as if India would be able fall to another Emergency. The project was a comparative study between individuals who lived through this era and the youth.
I presented these findings in a book, with a foreword written by Thomas Blom Hansen, a professor at Stanford University and published it on the Amazon Kindle Store.
Maritime Exploration along the Konkan Coast
My passion for kayaking prompted me to explore and find different kayaking routes around the Bombay Harbour. As a result of these expeditions, I also learned about Bombay's maritime history. After completing a few major expeditions around the harbour, I decided to document the weather conditions and history of these routes in a book. The book contains maps and specific weather and coastal conditions about these areas.
Social Entrepreneurship for Frontier Markets
As a sailor, I have interacted extensively with and developed a close bond with Tindals, or boat-keepers of Bombay's sailboats. During the Monsoon season however, they return to villages with limited employment prospects because they are so disconnected from major urban hubs. Working with Frontier Markets, a social entrepreneurship aimed at providing rural households with electricity, I helped develop a team of rural entrepreneurs from the region, solving the problems of unemployment and lack of connectivity.
This article, published in the Clean Energy Access Network, highlights the changes this last mile distribution network has had on the Tindals' lives.