Hi, CHI Community!
I’m Priyanka Jayakodi, a PhD student in cultural anthropology. My research examines the entanglements of state violence, medical discourses, and environmental issues in Sri Lanka. I use ethnographic and visual methods such as photography and sketching in my research. I studied Sociology for my BA (2015) and MA (2016) at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. I am incredibly excited to be a CHI Fellow of the 2023-24 cohort because this is a space where I get to learn from my peers coming from different disciplines.
My Ph.D. dissertation will examine the social and political aspects of water insecurity in the context of Chronic Kidney Disease of non-traditional causes (CKDnt) in Sri Lanka. I initially became interested in CKDnt when I carried out research for my BA thesis in 2015, which explored the social stigma associated with CKDnt. At that time, people living in areas where chronic kidney disease was highly prevalent didn’t openly talk about this illness because of social stigma, and as a result, some even evaded seeking treatment. Even though scientists have been researching CKDnt for more than 20 years, it remains poorly understood. Therefore, it is often called a “mysterious disease” by medical experts and researchers. Things have started to change, but CKDnt is mostly framed as a medical enigma in Sri Lanka and many other locations, such as El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Egypt. Through my doctoral research, I am interested in exploring how people’s relationality with water and farming practices (particularly the use of agrochemicals in rice cultivation) are shaped by or in response to this health crisis.
My work that illuminates state violence is not limited to exploring cultural understandings of water insecurity in the context of CKDnt. My first publication in a peer-reviewed journal examines Sinhala Buddhist nationalism in Sri Lanka. I’m working on a book chapter (under review) that focuses on militarism in Sri Lanka in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I always look for opportunities to learn more about creative and innovative ethnographic methods instead of following the typical social science research methods. I truly hope the skills and practice I gain through this fellowship will also expand my methodological interests to explore various ways to incorporate digital informatics into my research.
Please stay tuned for more posts in which I hope to provide more specific details about my experiences during this fellowship year and my final project.
Cheers,
Priyanka
Recent Comments