About me
My journey began with an immersive 18-month fieldwork in the forests of Jharkhand, to purse my doctorate in Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Data from the field were collected using participant observation methods, open-ended conversations, semi-structured interviews and survey questionnaires. The ethnographic data thus collected captured the rich cultural, social, economic and political tapestry of life in this unique part of the world. I also spent 6 months digging out historical documents and records in the District record Room of Chaibasa, New Delhi, the British Library and the India Record Room in London.
After completing my doctorate, I sought to apply my anthropological skills in various fields. My career took me into the realms of international development, social entrepreneurship, and fintech, in South Asia and elsewhere: from designing and managing poverty reduction programs at the World Bank to founding a digital micro-lending platform for women entrepreneurs in India to developing an ethnographic-driven credit rating tool for the unbanked, my focus has always been on vulnerable groups. In this sense, I am convinced that my fieldwork among the Hos and Mundas has been truly transformational for me.
After completing my doctorate, I sought to apply my anthropological skills in various fields. My career took me into the realms of international development, social entrepreneurship, and fintech, in South Asia and elsewhere: from designing and managing poverty reduction programs at the World Bank to founding a digital micro-lending platform for women entrepreneurs in India to developing an ethnographic-driven credit rating tool for the unbanked, my focus has always been on vulnerable groups. In this sense, I am convinced that my fieldwork among the Hos and Mundas has been truly transformational for me.
In recent years, I have ventured into archaeology, a discipline that has reignited my passion for uncovering and preserving human stories. It was while donning this new hat that I stumbled upon my old field notes from Jharkhand. I realized that these valuable pieces of research were gathering dust, hidden away from the world. It dawned on me that their true potential could only be realized by making them accessible to others.
This website is born from the desire to contribute to the broader academic and research community. I hope to provide new insights to fellow researchers, students, and anyone interested in the history and ethnography of Jharkhand. My goal is to ensure that the data I collected are not lost, but utilized to inspire and advance research projects.
My ultimate goal is to encourage other researchers to share their own field diaries, archives, and other primary data, to keep the spirit of the Hos and the Mundas alive, one field note at a time! I would be happy to use this website as a collaborative platform. If you would like to make also your story and material available here, please get in touch (Click here).
My heartfelt gratitude to the Hos, Mundas and Birhors that trusted me and helped me to see the world through their eyes.
My huge thanks also to all the Indian friends that paved my way to the forests of Jharkhand!
I am sharing a glimpse of my life from the field trips through this website.
Feel free to reach me out!
Few things to keep in mind:
The photos and documents on this website are freely available in low-definition versions.
If you require an HD version, please contact me with the file number using the message section.
An acknowledgement of Dr Barbara Verardo and AdivasiFieldNotes is required for any non-commercial use of photos, including exhibition, academic research and education purposes.