The IGCS actively contributes to the exchange of knowledge by facilitating collaboration between students and researchers, aiming to generate innovative solutions for sustainability. It is a research hub dedicated to addressing pressing sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. Research is one of the core pillars of IGCS and is reflected in a wide array of our activities and events. The centre’s research involves collaborations with various esteemed institutions across Germany and India.
Today, we are excited to present a research brief from our alumni, offering insights into the key areas where our efforts are focused. Geethanjali R V was our exchange student who had their exchange period between 15. May 2024 until 30. July 2024 at the Chair of Development Studies, Universität Passau, #Germany under Prof. Dr. Martina Padmanabhan. Their home institution is the Dept of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, #India under IGCS’ Research Associate Dr. Christoph Woiwode. Their research was on the topic of ‘Analysing the ecological interventions in the Thamirabharani river using a political ecology discourse analysis.’
Geethanjali studies the #Thamirabarani River, #TamilNadu, India’s only perennial river, which had traditionally supported irrigation and maintained groundwater levels for communities in #Tirunelveli and #Thoothukudi. However, more recently as a result of urbanization, cultural practices, and pollution have degraded the water quality standards.
Since 2011, efforts under the #SmartCity plan, and the community-driven ‘Nellai Neervalam’ project, aim to restore the river, although pollution issues continues to persist. The 2023 floods in the region, further highlighted the encroachment and excessive sand mining problems along the river.
In early 2024, a field visit to Tirunelveli revealed that while stakeholders broadly agreed on “restoration,” their definitions varied, often centered on river “cleanliness.” Geethanjali’s study expands on this; in understanding through discourse analysis.