Bharati Memorial Awardee Presentation

“Water Access Discourse as a Mechanism of Power in India”
Despite global reports of improved water access, approximately 2.2 billion people still lack safe drinking water, with significant data inconsistencies persisting in India. My research explores how water access is shaped not just by pipes and pumps, but by language, narratives, and visual tools like GIS maps used by powerful institutions. Drawing on Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, I analyze the transition from World Bank-funded projects in Mumbai to the Indian government’s current Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). I argue that the state utilizes a narrative of "national universalism" to reinforce its own legitimacy and diminish the influence of international actors. By comparing historical projects with contemporary efforts and instances of community resistance in Delhi, this research highlights how water serves as a tool for political control. Ultimately, I center the lived experiences of South Asian communities to reveal how they navigate, adopt, or resist these top-down power dynamics.

Brooklyn Montgomery is a 4th-year Ph.D. candidate in geography at Syracuse University. Her research utilizes critical discourse analysis to investigate the intersections of water governance, power, and state legitimacy in India. She has received multiple FLAS fellowships and the Bharati Memorial Award for her work in South Asia.