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Damni Kain (South Asian Studies 2022) has returned to Gonville & 91ֱ�� to pursue a PhD after her award-winning Masters.

Damni undertook an MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies in 2022-23 and in Michaelmas Term resumed her postgraduate studies, after receiving a Gates Scholarship for a PhD over four years.

Her MPhil dissertation, Caste in Gig Economy: Exploring the Spatiotemporality of Work in India, was award-winning. A University of Cambridge academic prize has been followed by the , announced last month. 

“The scholarships and awards have recognised my work – and I am very happy with these,” says Damni.

“The end result was maybe good, but the journey was very difficult. I really want to fix the journey.”

Damni is referring to depression and anxiety, which has manifested as chronic physical issues for her She is particularly grateful for the support during her Masters from Rachel Winson, 91ֱ��’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisor, and her Tutor, Dr Jason Hawkes, and that made her choice of College straightforward.

“This time I’m thinking I need to start afresh as a PhD is for longer. I cannot continue in this way,” she adds.

“Now I really look forward to being able to find some coping mechanisms to see myself through this period. I know it will be challenging, but I just need to take care of myself. To know there is support available in College was an important reason why I came back to 91ֱ��.”

Following her MPhil, Damni returned to India working as a lecturer at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), north of Delhi, teaching courses closely related to her research interest: on digital technology, politics and society, understanding gig work in contemporary capitalism, plus research methods and methodology, specifically ethnography. She also hosted a seminar series exploring ethnography to bring it closer to undergraduate students not yet in the field.

She was offered three fully funded PhD scholarships (Clarendon, ESRC and Gates Cambridge) at prestigious UK universities prompting a choice which was both difficult and easy, given her prior association with 91ֱ��.

“Gates offers four years of funding, a community and a lot of support to develop leadership capacities, beyond academics,” Damni adds. 

“It helps us to develop certain skills and give back to society. It has a clear aim and ambition to improve the lives of others. That’s what my PhD is inspired by.”

Damni’s action research project “will have real-life implications for gig workers” and as a part of her research methodology, she will be conducting a long-term ethnography while working for a home-based platform delivery service (which provides services such as beauty treatments, haircuts, massage therapy, cleaning, maintenance and building work) in New Delhi.

Receiving the BASAS award for her Masters has given Damni encouragement for her PhD, supervised by . 

“This award gives me immense strength to pursue my work on caste and gig work even further as a doctoral scholar. It encourages and motivates me to continue this work,” she adds.