Feb 16 2024 to Feb 16 2024 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Numbers as Political Allies (Cambridge University Press, 2023) analyses censuses of Jammu and Kashmir as public goods, collective self-portraits and symbols of modernity and enriches the debates on the political economy of statistics. The book tracks how censuses relate to their administrative, legal and political-economic contexts and captures their entire life cycle: from the political and administrative maneuvering at the preparatory stage to the partisan use of data in policymaking and public debates. The book draws on the history of the census in Jammu and Kashmir to show that data deficit is shaped by, and shapes, ethno-regional, communal, and scalar contests across different levels of governance. Further, comparing the experience of Jammu and Kashmir with that of other states, the book argues against resorting to legalistic and technocratic solutions to address the issue of data deficit and suggests possible measures to enhance public trust in the census. The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience.