I am traipsing through side roads, navigating the side streets between two soccer fields using only a slightly out of date map as a guide. While I am supposed to be focusing on my fieldwork of finding and mapping places with accessible drinking water, my current goal is to find a bathroom. I am only a 15-20 minute walk from the office, but I am near a public soccer field. I ...
Morgan Mercer
Marriage, Monogamy, and Social Reform
What does it mean to be “civilized”? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, civilized is defined as “marked by well-organized laws and rules about how people behave with each other”, but ideas about what constitutes a civilized society change depending on time and place. When the British began expanding their rule and power within India, they saw themselves as taking up ...
The Overuse and Abuse of Elephants: The Past, Present, and Future for Asian Elephant Populations
Before I came to India, I had a mental image of the amazing encounters I could have with elephants. I was imagining casually seeing elephants sauntering down the street during our environmental studies trip, taking a picture riding an elephant, and seeing elephants outside of temples. I have seen enough of these pictures on social media to know that all three of these are ...
Auroville and the Power of Language
Imagine a place of unity, a place where everyone is accepted, regardless of nationality, religion, or wealth. It is a place without divisions or hierarchy, where everyone is working towards experiencing “the supreme truth of a life divine but no religions” (Auroville Visitor Center). Sound unreal? This is Auroville, an alternative living community outside of Pondicherry, ...
