Dr. Nikhil Anand

Biography

Nikhil Anand is an environmental anthropologist whose research focuses on cities, infrastructure, state power, and climate change. His work addresses critical questions in political ecology, particularly in urban settings, examining how communities interact with and manage water resources. Anand's award-winning book, "Hydraulic City: Water Infrastructures and the Politics of Mumbai," published by Duke University Press in 2017, explores the intricate ways in which urban dwellers navigate their water infrastructure. His articles have appeared in leading journals such as Antipode, City and Society, Cultural Anthropology, Ethnography, and Public Culture. In 2014, he received the Junior Scholar Prize from the Anthropology and Environment Society for his essay, "Leaky States: Water Audits, Ignorance, and the Politics of Infrastructure." As co-editor of "The Promise of Infrastructure," Anand emphasizes the role of infrastructure in reshaping development and political narratives across the globe. His forthcoming book project, "Urban Seas," supported by multiple grants, is based on collaborative field research focusing on the intersections of urban planning, climate change, and community resilience in coastal cities. Anand is engaged in collaborative research initiatives such as "Rising Waters" and serves as a member of the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He has held fellowships from several prestigious institutions and received numerous external grants.

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