On 14 December 2023, Birendra Singh will defend his research exploring how farmers in the water- and food-scarce Bundelkhand region of north-central India acquired, combined and shared knowledge forms about their water requirements for navigation purposes.
- PhD student
- Date
- Thursday 14 Dec 2023, 14:00 - 16:00
- Type
- PhD defence
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Aula B
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
He further delves into how processes of knowledge combining and sharing helped different social groups of local farmers to continue their agricultural operations.
Bundelkhand is a semi-arid, drought-prone and ecologically fragile region. The region is known for its ancient temples which, in addition to being of spiritual significance, offer examples of traditional water harvesting and management practices.
Conducting three rounds of ethnographic fieldwork in different seasons resulted in data in the form of life stories, everday experiences and local folklore. This primary data was suplemented with secondary data garnered from documents, reports and vernacular literature. The resulting findings offer unique challenges and opportunities for future research on frugality
Watch Birendra's defence live

Download the abstracts
Doctoral Board
Chair
Doctoral dissertation supervisors
Professor Peter Knorringa
Dr André Leliveld
Professor Saradindu Bhaduri
Full Doctoral Committee
- Professor Erika Kraemer-Mbula, University of Johannesburg
- Professor Vishal Narain, Management Development Institute, Gurgaon
- Dr Mario Pansera, University of Vigo’s Post-Growth Innovation Lab
- Dr Oane Visser, ISS
- Dr Georgina Gomez, ISS
- More information
The ceremony will begin promptly at 14:00 hrs in the ISS auditorium (Aula B) of the ISS, Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague. The doors will be closed after the start of the Public Defence, but will be briefly opened after the candidate’s introduction to allow latecomers to enter.
Children under 7 years old are not allowed in the Aula during the first part of the ceremony.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception in the Atrium of the ISS.
Professors are invited to join the academic procession.
- Related links
- ISS PhD programme
International Centre for Frugal Innovation