Fixing Futures: Educated Unemployment through a North Indian Lens

摘要

In April and May 1996, while conducting doctoral research, I spent a monthnliving in Meerut College, western Uttar Pradesh (UP). In September 2004 annew project brought me back to Meerut, and I was nervous about my returnnto the college. Would I get on with the new batch of students? What of thenage gap that had opened up between my informants and I? Do I mention my pre-nvious visit? These concerns quickly evaporated when I entered the college.Manynof the students I had met in 1996 were still living in the same hostel rooms.nBetween 1996 and 2004 I had completed my Ph.D., married, and obtained annacademic job. During the same period,many of my informants, now in their mid-nthirties, had, it seemed, stood still. Unable to obtain salaried employment, one ofnthese students asked me: “What can we do but study and wait?”