I am from Delhi, India, and was studying there before coming to ODID. I completed my undergraduate in Sociology at the University of Delhi and a masters in Development Studies at the TERI School of Advanced Studies, Delhi. At the time I was also interning at various research organisations based in Delhi, such as the Indian Institute of Human Settlements, the Centre for Policy Research, and NITI Aayog, Government of India. 

Several aspects informed my decision to study at ODID. My primary attraction to the department was its excellent faculty with a wide range of expertise. I was also really interested in the variety of seminars held at ODID as well as throughout the university with leading researchers in their fields. 

ODID to me represents a lovely community of academics from diverse backgrounds. This diversity includes countries of origin, past academic experiences, disciplines, and research projects, all of which make for very interesting and informative conversations that have broadened my thought processes. ODID's couches and Gary's constant welcoming presence makes for a very warm department that I am happy to be a part of. 

Being two years long, my course allows for engaging with development in depth and taking my time to shape my research project. The MPhil provides a foundation year which I have found to be crucial, allowing me to both approach my own research from the perspectives of different disciplines as well as more generally engage with development thought that I otherwise would not. I was particularly attracted to this course because of its research focus. Designing my research project has already greatly improved my research skills and I look forward to engaging with my topic in further detail over the course of my fieldwork and second year – writing. 

My dissertation focuses on electronic waste regulation in India. It approaches waste as a socially and materially mediated category, exploring how e-waste is defined in the Indian context and how this relates to the imagination of its ideal management in policy. 

As my first experience with studying and living abroad and given Oxford's incredible reputation, I expected my experience to be intimidating and somewhat scary. However, I have found Oxford to be an extremely warm and easy environment to fit into. While it necessitates hard work, I have both enjoyed my own work a great deal and also benefitted from a very large and diverse community of postgraduates students who are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their fields. I have been very pleasantly surprised by the genuine, interesting, and warm community of faculty and students I have found here. 

I have heard this advice given many times and do believe it was particularly relevant for me. I think Oxford can appear intimidating and inaccessible but the first step for applying is to believe in yourself enough to make that application. I had no expectation of ever getting into ODID and had I not applied based on that belief, I would have missed out on a very wonderful experience. I also think it is important to know the department and the course very well and make sure it meets one's personality and interests in order to be able to fully maximise the experience here.