This talk draws on the collective work of several individuals at the Hyderabad Urban Lab (HUL) over the last six years to reflect on diverse processes of data generation, curation, analysis, and knowledge production in Indian cities. While it is possible to organize the work of HUL along thematic lines, or along verticals of domains of practice, or even in terms of project timelines, the impulse that animates the lab and binds multiple strands together is a shared aspiration and a commitment to 'place'. The talk then addresses the question of meaning-making from digital data through the central category called 'place'. It shows the research imaginations that are animated by holding the two contradictory aspects of place both as oppressive and as emancipatory, in tension with each other. The talk will be illustrated with examples of work done on an ongoing basis at the lab.

Short Bio of the speaker

Dr Anant Maringanti is Executive Director of Hyderabad Urban Lab, Hyderabad. After completing Electrical Engineering from Osmania University, Dr. Anant pursued his MA and PhD in Geography, Environment and Society from the University of Minnesota, USA. He did his post-doctoral work at National University of Singapore. He has authored several research articles relating to urban sociopolitical issues. He is also involved with various initiatives like Tacit Urban Knowledge Research Network (TURN). Through the Hyderabad Urban Lab, Dr Anant and his team are working on several pertinent urban issues. They are also actively working with other educational institutes to provide students with relevant educational experience in urban studies.