KERALA FIELDCOURSE 2013

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Key Information

Academic Tutors: Mirela Barbu

Andrew Brookes  andrew.brooks@kcl.ac.uk 

Michael Chadwick michael.chadwick@kcl.ac.uk

Linda Newson linda.newson@kcl.ac.uk

Mark Pelling mark.pelling@kcl.ac.uk

Location: Cochin and Kovalam, Kerala

Dates: 30 November –8 December 2012

Flights/travel:  Departure

DateDepartureAirport

DepartureTime

ArrivalDate

ArrivalAirport

ArrivalTime Airline

21 Students

and 4 Staff

    30/11/2013 09:45 Gatwick 30/11/

2013 20:30 Dubai Emirates Airlines

    30/11/2013 21:55 Dubai 01/12/

2013 03:20 Cochin International

Emirates Airlines

    08/12/2013 04:35 Cochin

International08/12/2013 07:05 Dubai Emirates

Airlines

    08/12/2013 08:20 Dubai 08/12/

2013 11:55 Gatwick Emirates Airlines

17 Students

    30/11/2013 09:45 Gatwick 30/11/

2013 20:30 Dubai Emirates Airlines

    30/11/2013 21:55 Dubai 01/12/

2013 03:20 Cochin International

Emirates Airlines

    15/12/2013 04:35 Cochin

International15/12/2013 07:05 Dubai Emirates

Airlines

    15/12/2013 08:20 Dubai 15/12/

2013 11:55 Gatwick Emirates Airlines

 Please note that these are all local times and airlines reserve the right to amend exact flight details – it is your responsibility to monitor this.

7th October is also the date by which you can amend your return flights from India.  Students need to do this directly with StudyLink Tours – additional charges will apply.

 The field class commences at 10am on 1 December.

There will be a role call in the Hotel lobby at 10am (local time). For any student not present at this time, your mark for this module could be reduced to 0 (zero).

Any students deviating from the flight/travel plan shown on page 1 must inform Mark Pelling. It is assumed that NO students will do this. 

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All students also need to send Mark contact details of someone at home (i.e., in the UK) we can call in an emergency, your passport number and nationality and visa number. This must be completed by 20 October.

Important Contact Addresses: 1 DecemberQuality Airport HotelNear Cochin International Airport, Nayathode P.O., Angamaly,Kochi - 683 572, Kerala, India. Tel: +91 484-2610366, 2610678http://www.qualityairporthotel.com/index.html

2-6 DecemberAbad Turtle HotelTurtle BeachVarankavala, Pollathai P.O, Mararikulam, Tel: + 91 0478 2186966Fax: +91 0478 2860270http://www.abadhotels.com/mararibeach/

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7 DecemberAbad Plaza, CochinM.G Road,Cochin-682 035Phone : 91 484 2381122

Pre Fieldwork Meetings:All lectures are Thursday, 10.00-12.00 in S-2.29

Thursday 26 September: Mark Pelling, field class overview and an introduction to the Kerala Model of Development.

Thursday 3 October. Andrew Brookes: Economic and social development in transition; discussion of group project ideas

Thursday 10 October. Michael Chadwick, aquatic environmental change and management Thursday 17 October: Linda Newson: Development in Context – governance and social

change; discussion of group project ideasThursday 24 October: Mark Pelling: Confirming student research groups and room

preferences.Thursday 28 November, Mark Pelling, final questions, logistics, tickets etc

Student Research Preparation (times to be arranged with supervisor)Week 7: discuss research questions (homework – to research literature)Week 8: discuss literature and potential methods (homework to pilot methods)Week 9: discuss learning from pilot and final methods

NOTE: Attendance at all meetings is compulsory as important logistical and assessment related information will be given to you at these briefings. If you cannot attend these meetings for any reason, it is essential that you contact a tutor beforehand.

PracticalitiesMedical IssuesFor the purposes of the medical insurance all students on this course must inform Isobel Ige if they have:

(i) a pre-existing medical condition e.g. asthma, diabetes, epilepsy

(ii) recently taken/are taking any prescribed medication (excluding anti-malarials)

(iii) undergone any surgical procedure within the 12 months prior to the field course

All students will be required to take responsibility for organising their own vaccinations and anti-malarial drugs – listen carefully to the health briefing and follow the instructions given.

Dietary RequirementsField course participants with any special dietary requirements (vegetarian etc) or food allergies must inform the field course leaders well in advance so appropriate meals can be booked.

InsuranceTravel insurance is provided through King’s College. If you are taking items not covered under this policy, ensure that you have adequate independent cover.

AccommodationAccommodation organised during the fieldcourse itself is in international standard hotels, with air conditioning, etc.. Students staying on for a further week are responsible for making their own accommodation and travel arrangements.

EquipmentLuggage: Please check carrier rules – for all flight legs. If in doubt assume that ONE item of hand baggage is allowed; dimensions: 56 centimetres long [approximately 22 inches], 45 centimetres high [approximately 17.5 inches], 25 centimetres deep [approximately 9.85 inches] including wheels, handles, side pocket. All items of luggage which do not fit in the permitted cabin baggage size must be checked in to be placed in the aircraft hold.

Liquids: Liquids may only be carried within separate containers each of which with a capacity

not greater than 100ml. These containers must be brought to the airport contained in a single, transparent, re-

sealable plastic bag, which itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity (approximately 20cms x 20cms). The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably and the bag must be sealed.

Each passenger may carry only one such bag of liquids. The bag must be presented for examination.

Liquids that can not be placed inside the re-sealable bag must be packed into the hold luggage and checked in. Liquids of any amount can still be carried in luggage checked into the aircraft hold.

'Liquids' include: All drinks, including water, soup, syrups Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants Pastes, including toothpastes Gels, including hair and shower gel Any other solutions and items of similar consistency

Medicines: Essential medicines may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit, but will be subject to authentication.

Airline rules are liable to change, students are responsible for keeping up to date with carrier and airport regulations.

Clothing: casual and suited to warm weather (cotton shorts & T-shirts ideal) but long sleeves and trousers needed to protect against insect bites morning & evening. Sweater/sweatshirt for cooler evenings. Sun hat. Lightweight waterproof jacket/kagool. Towel & swimwear. (NB – dust, heat and Indian hand-washing techniques can take a heavy toll on your clothing – do not take anything you expect to be pristine on your return!)

Footwear: tough outdoor-wear type sandals ideal; trainers, stout shoes or lightweight walking boots.

Other Equipment: water bottle, first aid kit (including high factor sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, insect bite cream, anti-diarrhoea tablets, 'diorhylte' (rehydration sachets)), torch & batteries, sunglasses (essential!).

Academic Equipment: hardback field notebook (ideally A5), A4 pad of lined paper, pens, pencils, eraser, ruler, coloured pencils, calculator & batteries.

MoneySterling (UK£) cash or travellers cheques can be changed into Indian Rupees in banks, but also in the hotels we will be staying in. Exchange rates can fluctuate quite dramatically: at the time of writing £1 = approx 90 Rupees. Please note that although large-denomination Rupee bills (Rs.100 or Rs.500) may not seem to be very valuable in UK terms, they are within India where wage rates are often below £2/day. Be safe and be sensitive to local conditions: don’t openly display large quantities of cash.CostsThe major items of field course expenditure (international flights, local travel, hotel rooms, etc.) are included in your payment to the department. Note that in addition you will have to provide for the following:

Medical expenses for necessary vaccinations and malaria prevention tablets

Meals, drinks & spending money (snacks, souvenirs, postcards) throughout the field course (£10/day will be ample for this).

Visa payments (VSF Global handles Indian Visa requests, see http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

NOTE: For students staying for an additional week in India, you should budget at around £15-£20/day for food and basic accommodation. Travel costs vary greatly: trains or shared taxis (which can be hired by the day) are the most economical means of transport.

IMPORTANT: ACTION YOU SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATELY

1. See your GP/travel clinic/university health centre and obtain necessary vaccinations & anti-malaria tablets for visiting Kerala. Remember that you will need to start taking anti-malarial drugs before leaving the UK (and after your return).

2. Obtain your Tourist Visa. For this you will need a passport valid for at least 6 months after your return to the UK with two blank pages and two passport photos.

3. Email details of your next of kin, passport number and nationality, visa number and any independent flight details to Mark Pelling by 20 October.

Please note: AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, SRI LANKA and CHINESE passport holders of single or dual nationality, or those whose parents or grandparents hold the above nationalities will find the tourist visa application process more time consuming and should begin the process as soon as possible – in the past visas have been denied. Please also identify yourself to Mark Pelling

For visa applications:

UK referee: please use your parent or guardian

Indian referee: Dax Gueizelar, GLH India Travel, St Vincent Convent Road, Thammanam Pipe Line, Palarivattom, Cochin 682 025, tel: +91 9645411433

The Field Course

Field Course ItinerarySaturday 30th November Activities: Flight to India. Check-in 06.45 London Gatwick

Day 1: Sunday 1st DecemberActivities: Arrival (Arrive Cochin Airport 1st December 03.20),

Formal start to field class 10.00, Airport Hotel, Cochin, roll call in hotel lobby.Orientation #1: Urban development in contemporary and historical Kochi

Evening: free time

Day 2: Monday 2nd DecemberActivities: Orientation #2: The rural agro-economy and peri-urban KochiEvening: Student presentations of planned project work

Day 3: Tuesday 3rd DecemberActivities: Student Project Day 1 Evening: Seminar on Development in Kerala

Day 4: Wednesday 4th DecemberActivities: Student Project Day 2Evening: Group cultural event

Day 5: Thursday 5th DecemberActivities: Student Project Day 3 Evening: Write-up field-work

Day 6: Friday 6th DecemberActivities: Orientation #3: A transect through the Western GhatsEvening: Prepare project presentation

Day 7: Saturday 7th DecemberActivities: Project feedback, field class de-brief.

Formal end to field class 14.00Day 8: Sunday 9th DecemberActivities: Return to London: check-in Cochin airport 01.35

Aims and ObjectivesFieldwork is an important part of the geographer’s training and it is important to be clear about the overall aims and objectives. We are fortunate at King’s in being able to maintain a full and challenging programme of field excursions, but the programme is demanding and it is therefore important that you should prepare and participate fully in order to gain maximum benefit from this. The old adage ‘what you get out of it depends upon what you put into it’ applies particularly to field courses. The main aims and objectives of the course are as follows: To gain understanding of how physical and cultural environments of Kerala shape patterns of

human activity To use Kerala to illustrate a number of broad geographical ideas and concepts important within the

discipline as a whole enabling you to relate the subject matter to your specialised courses and to enrich the material you have learned about in lectures and reading at Kings’.

To enable you to assume a major part of the responsibility for your own learning experience.

To develop skills in problem solving, research design, interviewing (including via translators), data handling and report writing – providing valuable experience for your third year Independent Geographical Study and enhancing your research skills more generally

To give you experience of dealing with a variety of data sources, including library and web resources, field observations and interview and questionnaire responses.

To provide you with practice in a number of transferable skills, such as data gathering, working individually and in teams, meeting tight deadlines and compiling and presenting reports. These skills will be useful in a number of other situations, including future careers.

Learning OutcomesAt the end of the field course you should have:

A knowledge and understanding of Kerala as an example of contemporary geographical, developmental and environmental issues

A knowledge and understanding of some of the main social, economic and environmental processes influencing local geographies

Experience of a range of field work practices and techniques (including working through interpreters)

Developed observational and interpretative skills Experienced working as a member of a team Planned a research project; recorded, analysed and presented evidence; drawn conclusions and

presented this to others in written form and orally Practised reflective thinking Demonstrated self-reliance, the ability to overcome problems and effective time management

Above all, the Kerala field course offers an excellent opportunity to experience a fascinating environment at first hand.

Please ensure that you use this opportunity to the fullest extent!

The Setting: Kerala Kerala provides a rich and fascinating introduction to South Asian landscapes and culture. Kochi has been an important centre of global trade and exchange for many centuries, and this history is evident through the influence of Arabic, Jewish, Chinese, Portuguese, British and non-Keralan Indian cultures on the urban landscape. Today, the city remains firmly imbedded in dynamic global networks, with international trade, tourism, and labour migration to the Gulf states being important parts of the local economy. Rural Kerala is equally fascinating: as well as being home to the complex agro-ecological system of the backwaters, Kerala has been described as a success story of rural development, with high levels of female literacy, political empowerment and life expectancy, despite its relatively low per capita income.

The introductory briefings will give you some initial insights into the area, its history and development. But in order to get the most from this field course, you should do your utmost to familiarise yourself with the area before your departure. This means looking through the supporting materials in the appendices to this handbook and the library.

FIELDCOURSE DIARIES: Recording observations and reflectionsLearning Aims To develop recording and observational skills

To develop reflective and thinking skills

The NotebooksKeeping a field notebook is an essential tool of geographers (and many other field scientists). Accurately and completely recording data collected in the field (and your responses to them) is a vital skill for effective field research whether on a field course or conducting your dissertation. Your field notebook is also a valuable record containing primary material for writing up fieldwork projects.

You will produce a 1,200 word report based on your field course notebook as an assessed component of the field course.The Notebook Itself It should be portable and robust. Ideally A5, hardback and preferably not spiral bound because the pages can fall out easily. You may need to take more than one notebook in case of calamity (notebooks have been known to be dropped in rivers, or left on a plane…) or you run out of pages.

What Should I Put in My Field Notebook?Essential Things to include:

1. Observations (what you see, hear, feel), sketches (clearly labelled), interviews, notes from lecturers in the field, reflections (what you think), sketch maps.

2. Analysis. For each Observation day think about a potential IGS research question and propose a methodology. This should be done in no more than 200 words per observation. We will look for policy relevance, originality of ideas, appropriateness of methodology and achievability.

Optional Things to Include: Relevant newspaper cuttings, photos, postcards, maps. An overall schedule or route map.

DO Put your name and address inside the front cover requesting return if lost (unlikely, but you never

know…). Number the pages (this helps with indexing themes on a longer project) Start each day's entry/entries on a fresh page clearly dated Record relevant details of date, time, place and weather at each new entry Check spellings (from a guidebook, map, tutor, guide or local person) of unfamiliar places and

features Leave gaps to insert photos next to landscape sketches, for example Be systematic, neat and label your entries well Record entries as you go along each day so they are fresh Tidy up (check spellings etc) entries at the end of each day Remember you can work both from the front and back of your notebook - e.g. to separate

independent project work from day-to-day observations during the field course. Remember you can start your field notebook with notes from pre-field course briefings &

preparations

DON'T Include every ticket and receipt you collect – the field notebook is not a souvenir scrapbook

Assessment:The assessment will be based on tutors’ evaluations of a 1,200 essay on a particular theme of your choice using the field notebook as the primary source for material. The field notebook must also be submitted and will be reviewed but not marked.

This component comprises 30% of the total module mark: details are given in the coursework header. Note that both clarity of style, relevance and depth of content as well as quality of presentation are being assessed here. Assessment criteria and typical grades are as follows:

1,200 word essay and field notebook

FirstContent & Style: Full, complete, well organised and clear coverage of the main observation opportunities with intelligent interpretation of observations. Accurate and confident recording of evidence and examples seen in the field. Based on consistent and conscientious recording both as guided by tutors and independently. Beyond this, the report content may show some originality or innovation, and/or make intelligent linkages between theoretical frameworks (e.g. ideas from lectures, pre-course reading) and details observed in the field.Presentation has a high degree of professionalism. The inclusion of photos, maps, sketches, cuttings is extremely well done e.g. appropriate, accurately labelled and well integrated. This is an engaging report that shows evidence of thought and reflection by the writer.

Upper SecondContent & Style: Well organised and coverage of the main observations, intelligent interpretation and confident recording of evidence and examples from the field. This will be a report that is based around thorough recording and reflection showing good understanding of the issues encountered in the field.Presentation is clear and uncluttered in a manner which engages the reader’s interest. Illustrations are of a good quality and make a positive contribution to the notebook. A well-polished and professional record of the fieldcourse.

Lower SecondContent & Style: Records the main observations and includes relevant material in a generally business-like approach, but some of the more subtle observations, thoughts and reflections may be lacking. There may also be a tendency to summarise rather than to critically engage with what is being observed: the focus is on ‘what I saw’ rather than ‘how the observations of X, Y, and Z has informed my understanding of these issues'.Presentation is generally good, but may have gaps e.g. the structure may not be clear, causing the reader to lose track of where/when observations were made or interviews conducted. May fail to engage reader's interest and misses out some information. Spelling and accuracy of detail may be uneven. Illustrations may add little to the notebook as a whole. A solid report which records the main points, but a little rough around the edges.

ThirdContent & Style: Despite recording basic understandings and observations, this does little to develop the basic course input. Thought and reflections (if any) are superficial, there may be some errors of fact or interpretation. Presentation suffers from most of the possible weak points of a lower second described above, but shows few of its merits and will probably be incomplete. Few, weak, inappropriate or inaccurate illustrations/additional material. Problems of legibility. A muddled and/or thin report which shows little evidence of understanding, learning or competent observation.

FailContent & Style: Little evidence of observing, reflecting or understanding at all. Factual material is likely to be very thin and/or incorrect, and structure of when/where observations made barely discernible. May also suffer from faulty content, reasoning and/or miss the point of the exercise altogether.Presentation has little to recommend it: likely to be incomprehensible to the reader, and of little value to the writer.

Useful references on how to write field notes include:

Robert M. Emerson, Rachel I. Fretz, Linda L. Shaw, 1995, Writing Ethnographic Field notes, University of Chicago Press, Chicago. http://www.pacificdiscovery.org/sea/credit/SEAreadings/Robert%20et.al.%20-%20Writing%20Ethnographic%20Fieldnotes.pdf

Van Maanen, J, 1988, Tales of the Field: On Writing Ethnography, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

INDEPENDENT PROJECTS: Researching local geographiesLearning Aims To develop skills in research design and planning

To develop skills of data collection and analysis, with respect to field observations, interviews and/or questionnaires.

To develop transferable skills in team working, meeting tight deadlines and compiling and presenting reports.

The ProjectsAll students will undertake a three-day group project on an aspect of the local geography of the area of their choice. Projects will be conducted in groups of 3 or 4 students assisted by a local translator/guide.

PreparationBefore reaching India: The pre-fieldcourse group meetings will be your opportunity to develop your research plans. Start thinking about possible topics, and decide who you would like to work with for data collection now! Discuss ideas with tutors: the area descriptions below give you some suggestions, but feel free to develop your own. Find and read any relevant literature on your topic to give you indications of how you will focus your study. Use your experience from methods classes in Geography and second year tutorials to think about relevant methods. Start thinking about what you will be doing on each of your three research days. Further help can be found in:

Kneale, P. 1999. Study Skills for Geographers. Arnold. (especially chapters 13, 15 and 18)

Willis, K. 2005 Theories and Practices of development Oxford: Routledge

Some examples of past projects can be seen at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/content/1/c6/01/00/74/markpelling2.pdf

In IndiaThe first orientation day will provide you with a lot of ideas – throughout this time you should be thinking about your areas of interest, and how your plans to research these might be affected by conditions on the ground. At this point, you may want to revise your Independent Project Proposal form, and discuss the details of this with your tutor prior to starting the fieldwork. You will be working in one of three areas:

Kochi Fort/ Mattancherry Palace/Jew TownKochi Fort is at the headland of the Kochi peninsula and the site of some of Kochi’s oldest colonial buildings. It has become one of the centres of heritage tourism. It is located on the shoreline where a long established technique of fishing using what are termed Chinese fishing nets is still in use. There will be scope for a range of urban/tourism/development related projects in this area.

About 1 mile south of Kochi Fort, this area is the centre of a very long established international spice market. It is also home to the once very significant Jewish community, centred on the synagogue, and the Dutch palace built for the Cochin rulers. Like the Fort it is also a centre of tourist activity, which could be one focus of study, but is embedded in a diverse local community. The nature of and changes in Cochin’s trading links, especially the nature of spice marketing, would provide another project area.

Ernakulam cityThe modern city of Ernakulam includes the government offices, planned residential areas and large commercial and industrial districts. Expansion is rapid and this has consequences for changing land-use and environmental degradation. Government is decentralised with neighbourhood committees reporting to the town council. Health care and education are public and private sector. Migrants from other Indian states work here, while well educated locals migrate overseas in search of work.

The Field ResearchYou will be working with local guides, who will act as translators/interpreters. This offers you a unique opportunity to gain insights into local people’s lifestyles, culture and understandings of the environment – please use this to the full! It is essential that your research is conducted in a sensitive and appropriate manner – notes on conducting fieldwork in developing areas will be circulated to you before your research starts.

You will have three days to conduct the field research, so this will therefore take careful planning, flexibility (things don’t always go according to plan!) and time management. Staff will be on hand to discuss your progress throughout your time in Kerala – again, use these opportunities to the full. Normally you will meet with your academic supervisor in the morning before and evening after returning from the field and your supervisor will try to accompany you into the field on one day (depending on logistics).

Data Analysis and Writing UpRemember that the best reports will not only have collected useful information, they will have analysed this and reported it in an appropriate manner (again, use notes from Researching physical/human Geography, and Geography: Concepts, Skills and Methods I and II - and the chapters in Kneale (1999) for advice). This work will be written up individually on your return, but as many of you will be conducting the data collection in collaboration with other students, remember to leave yourselves time to exchange all relevant materials when you get back to London.

Reports should include a bibliography and references to relevant literature. They should be word processed, with a maximum length of the main body text of 2,800 words, and include appropriate illustration.

Assessment:This component comprises 70% of the total module mark. When assessing your project reports, we will be using the following criteria:

Selection of Topic - is this well-defined, feasible, original, was it realistic to attempt this?

Links to Academic Literature – have you related your field results to reading on Kerala and Development Geography more generally?

Methodology and Data Collection - was a suitable methodology adopted and are its limitations clearly understood? Given time constraints, was suitable data collection undertaken?

Data Analysis - is this appropriate to the nature of the material, and the research questions set for your project?

Results: presentation and interpretation - are the results clearly presented? Are the limitations of the interpretation of the results clearly understood? Have supporting graphs, tables or illustrations been used appropriately?

Conclusion - are the results of the analysis handled perceptively and with sound judgement? Are the conclusions insightful, adequate etc.? Have you been able to move beyond the detail of the data collected to make broader, but informed, comment on the research topic in question?

Presentation - is the written style of degree standard? Is the referencing comprehensive? Are maps and figures clear, relevant and effectively integrated with the text?

PROJECT SUMMARIES FOR LOCAL FEEDBACKEach year we generate lots of local interest in our projects and often one or two groups are interviewed by the local media. Partly as a way of saying thank you, but also to provide some guidance on the scope and subjects of research for local partners (translators etc) in future years you are asked to submit a project summary for each group project.

Group summaries act like scientific abstracts or policy briefs to highlight the aims and outcomes of your work. They need to be short and precise. Each group project summary should be around 250 words and explain clearly (1) your research question, (2) a short justification based on the literature, (3) your methodologies, (4) key findings and (5) any particular challenges. For examples see http://www.kcl.ac.uk/content/1/c6/01/00/74/markpelling2.pdf

It is important that one group member is identified as responsible for submitting this summary BEFORE YOU LEAVE KERALA. Names must be given to Mark Pelling

Reading ListThe following sources should be available in the library, for those that are not, try SOAS:

Bandyopadhyay, R & Morais, D. (2005) Representative Dissonance India’s Self and Western Image, Annals of Tourism Research, 32, (4), 1006–1021

Bradnock, R. and G Williams 2002. South Asia in a Globalising World. Prentice Hall. Corbridge, S and J Harriss 2000. Reinventing India. Polity Press.Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala (2006). Kerala Tourism. Accessible at

http://www.keralatourism.org accessed 30/05/2006.Farmer, B.H. 1993. An Introduction to South Asia (2nd edition). Routledge.Isaac, Thomas and Franke, Richard W. (2002). Local democracy and development: the

Kerala people’s campaign for decentralized planning. Lanham, Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield.

Kerala Government Official Website (2007). LDF Government: Accomplishment of 1 year– at a glance. Accessible on http://www.kerala.gov.in/1year.htm Accessed 05/06/07

Kokkranikal, J.J. & Baum, T. (2002) Human Resources Development for Tourism in Rural Communities: A case study of Kerala, Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 7 (2), 64-76

Kurien, P. (1994). Non-economic bases of economic behaviour: the consumption,investment and exchange patterns of three emigrant communities in Kerala, India. Development and Change 25, 757-83.

Mathew, E.T. (1999). Educated unemployment in Kerala: incidence, causes and policyimplications. Chapter 5 in B.B. Prakash (ed.), Kerala’s economic development: issues and problems (pp. 94-118). Delhi; Sage.

McNaughton, D. (2006) The ‘‘Host’’ As Uninvited ‘‘Guest’’ Hospitality, Violence And Tourism, Annals of Tourism Research, 33 (3), 645–665

Nair, G.K. (2003). Retain Gulf returnees, experts tell Kerala. The Hindu Business Line,December, 11th. Available at http://www.blonnet.com/2003/12/11 accessed on 07/06/2006.

Osella, Filippo and Osella, Caroline (1999). From transience to immanence:conssumption, life-cycle and social mobility in Kerala, South India. Modern Asian Studies, 33(4), 989-1020.

Osella, Filippo and Osella, Caroline (2000). Migration, money and masculinity in Kerala, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 6, 117-133.

Parayil, Govindan (ed.) (1999). Reflections on sustainability and replicability. London; Zed Books.

Parayil, Govindan and Sreekumar, T.T. (2003) Kerala’s experience of development and change, Journal of Contemporary South Asia vol.33

Prakash, B.A. (ed.) (1999). Kerala’s economic development Delhi: Sage Publications. [Several useful chapters].Rajan, B., Varghese, V.M. & Pradeepkumar, A.P (2011)

Recreational Boat Carrying Capacity of Vembanad Lake Ecosystem, Kerala, South India, Environmental Research, Engineering and Management, 2, 11-19

Sharma, Rashmi (2003) Kerala’s decentralisation idea in practice, Economic and Political Weekly, 3833.

Shurmer-Smith, P. 2000. India: Globalization and Change. ArnoldSreekumar, T.T. & Parayil, G. (2002) Contentions and Contradictions of Tourism as

Development Option: The Case Of Kerala, India, Third World Quarterly, 23(3), 529–548

Stern, R.W. 1993. Changing India. Cambridge University Press.

Wolpert, S 2000 A New History of India. (6th Edition). Oxford University Press.World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) (2003). Kerala: the impact of travel and

tourism on jobs and the economy. London: WTTC. Williams, G., Thampi, B.V., Narayana, D., Nandigama, S., and Bhattacharyya, D. (2012). The

politics of defining and alleviating poverty: State strategies and their impacts in rural.Kerala.Geoforum,43,991-1001.

Another way to get up-to-date information on topics of current interest is via web editions of Indian newspapers. Some good sites include the following:

Frontline http://www.the-hindu.com/fline/index.htm India Today http://www.india-today.com/ The Hindu http://www.the-hindu.com/Times of India http://www.timesofindia.com/

Finally, if you want to get something of an introduction to South Asia by reading for pleasure, try some of the following modern South Asian literature. This is a personal (and therefore very erratic) list: it is not meant to be exhaustive, or even representative, I just wanted to indicate that there’s more to read than Rudyard Kipling and A Passage to India.

Fiction**Arundhati Roy The God of Small Things. This novel is set in the environment around our hotel. The book is perhaps a bit over-rated, but worth a read. She has now turned her attention to essay writing with a political message: see her pieces in Frontline over the last couple of years on nuclear testing and the Narmada dam struggle. Michael Ondaatje, Anil’s Ghost: a forensic detective story and a moving account of the personal impacts of Sri Lanka’s civil war.Salman Rushdie: His novels set in South Asia include Midnight’s Children, Shame and The Moor’s Last Sigh. If you find his novels too obscure and complicated, his children’s book Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a wonderful piece of storytelling.

Amitabh Ghosh: See especially In an Antique Land, The Shadow Lines, The Hungry Tide, and The Calcutta Chromosome. All are quite quirky novels, but beautifully written and well worth a read. The first two challenge conventional ideas of territory, space and national identity, the last two make you rethink the relationship between science, ‘traditional knowledge’ and nature – which should make them interesting stuff for any geographer.

William Sutcliffe Are You Experienced? A funny, if cruel, picture of students ‘doing India’ in a gap year. Read it before you buy your Lonely Planet guide and head off for Delhi…Anita Desai. Fasting, Feasting. Shortlisted for the 2002 Booker Prize – an exploration of the differences in family life between India and America.

Non fictionWilliam Dalrymple City of Djinns. Dalrymple travels around Delhi looking for relics of the British Raj – I couldn’t stand it, but it got rave reviews.Michael Ondaatje Running in the Family. The history of Michael Ondaatje’s (author of The English Patient) Dutch/Sinhala family in colonial Ceylon is interspersed with his own observations of modern Sri Lanka. Beautifully written.

Mark Tulley No Full Stops in India. Indian-raised BBC correspondent turns social commentator, and gets a lot of things off his chest…V.S. Naipaul: India: a million mutinies now. A West Indian raised South Asian returns to his ‘home’ – one of several of his books on the subcontinent. Salman Rushdie Imaginary Homelands. Rushdie again… A collection of intelligent and readable essays, containing some interesting pieces on South Asia.P Sainath Everybody Loves a Good Drought. Collection of short articles from a Mumbai (Bombay) journalist on poverty and the failures of government action – an informative slap around the face for those who never questioned the assumption that development was ‘a good thing’.

Mark Pelling, September 2013

D E P A R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H YKING’S COLLEGE LONDON

SG20147 Fieldwork (India) in Human and Development Geography, Assessment number 1: Research Project Report

This coursework is part of SG2047. The assignment comprises 70% of the total mark for this module. The Marking Scheme for coursework assessments is available online at https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/stu/geog/guidance-material.aspx

LENGTH AND FORMAT: This coursework has a MAXIMUM LENGTH of [ ] words (known as the word count). The word count includes: all words in the main text, in-text citations, figure captions and table titles, section headings, equations and footnotes, but excludes: words inside figures and tables, the reference list, the title page, and any appendices or abstracts if applicable. The following penalties will always be applied if you exceed the stated maximum word length:

5 marks will be deducted from the final mark awarded for that assignment (e.g. a mark of 60 will be reduced to a mark of 55) for work up to (and including) 10% over the word limit (i.e. submitting 2,001 to 2,200 words for your assignment, which had a maximum length of 2,000 words means the awarded mark will have 5 marks deducted.

The awarded mark will be halved (e.g. a mark of 60% will be reduced to 30%) for work more than 10% over the word limit (i.e. submitting 2,401 words or more for your assignment, which had a maximum length of 2,000 words means the awarded mark will be halved.

You should therefore ensure that you are fully aware of what is included and excluded from the word count. Please note that there will be no exceptions to this rule and it is your responsibility to ensure that you adhere to the word limit set. In addition, frequent random checks are carried out on all coursework to verify word counts. Suspected intentional misrepresentation of word count may be pursued under Examination Misconduct regulations.

The use of published and other sources must be properly acknowledged by using in-text citations and a reference list. Failure to do so may result in an allegation of plagiarism with a subsequent referral to the Academic Misconduct Committee. Please use the Harvard System of Referencing available online at https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/stu/geog/guidance-material.aspx .

COURSEWORK PRESENTATION: Carefully adhere to the following guidelines on coursework presentation (note that different guidelines will apply for posters or powerpoint presentations):1. All coursework should include on the first-page, the name of the module (e.g. “4SSG0143 Global Environmental

Issues”); the title of the essay, the due date, the student number and the word count. Remember if you exceed the specified word limit a penalty (see above) will apply.

2. Text should be 1.5 line-spaced and 12 point font-size on A4 paper, single sided. 3. Page numbers must be included on every page (e.g., p. 1 of 6, p. 2 of 6).4. Your STUDENT CARD NUMBER should appear on the top right hand corner of every page of your work. Your

name should not appear anywhere on the coursework submission.5. Figures and tables (along with captions) should be integrated with the text, preferably electronically. Sources for

materials must be cited appropriately in the figure caption or table title, and included in the reference list. Tables with large amounts of information are often not appropriate and cannot be used to circumvent the word limit.

6. Appendices of statistical data, etc., may be used, but should be kept to a minimum and should only contain supplementary information not critical to the main coursework submission.

7. All coursework submissions should be appropriately referenced with a reference list of material cited in the text. 8. All language used should be free of gender bias i.e. ‘humankind’ rather than ‘mankind’.9. When you submit your coursework you will be affirming that you have read the Department's statement on plagiarism

and that the work submitted is your own original creation. Please note that all coursework will undergo an originality check when submitted through the KEATS system. You will also be confirming that the number of words indicated on the coursework has been counted and is correct.

10. You are required to retain an electronic copy of your coursework submission for at least 6 months after submission.

IMPORTANT: FILE NAME FOR YOUR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION TO KEATS

Students should both save their coursework file name in the format noted below AND use this title when submitting to KEATS (including the _):

FORMAT: FullModuleCode_CW#_KCLStudentCardNumberFOR EXAMPLE: 6SSG3064_CW1_0123456

Please note:(i) Student Number: Your student number is found on your KCL student card (this is not your KCL login).(ii) Student Number: Please include any leading ‘zeros’ in your student number (e.g., 0123456 not 123456).(iii) Student Number: Do not include any trailing /1 or /2 in your student number.(iv) Module Code: Include full code (4SSG**** = 1st yr, 5SSG**** = 2nd yr, 6SSG**** = 3rd yr, 7SSG**** = PGT)

DELIVERY OF COMPLETED WORK: All coursework must be uploaded to the correct module page and the correct coursework assignment on KEATS BEFORE the submission deadline noted below.

The final time and date for submitting this coursework is 12.30pm on 28 January 2014.

DEPARTMENT POLICIES REGARDING ONLINE SUBMISSION.(1) All coursework MUST be submitted as a MS Word document – any coursework submitted in any other format

(unless specifically noted in the coursework assignment details below) will be treated as a non-submission. (2) Students are responsible for ensuring that the correct work is submitted. You may upload different versions of

your coursework as many times as you would like to KEATS before the deadline, but the FINAL version on KEATS is the one that will be counted. The file(s) electronically submitted by the student at the time of the deadline will be taken as the final and complete submitted work, and no amendments or additions will be permitted after the submission deadline.

(3) Students are responsible for ensuring that submitted electronic files are submitted in one of the specified acceptable file formats, and not corrupted. Students should check files on the system after submission to ensure they are valid and correct.

(4) Students must ensure that any instructions for submission are followed. (5) Technical failure, including of a computer, browser or internet connection, is not a valid reason for late

submission of work, unless as a result of a failure of the College’s IT systems, and in the case that there was no reasonable course of action the student could have taken to submit the work on time.

(6) The KEATS system WILL allow you to submit late coursework, but this will be indicated electronically as ‘late’ and not be marked unless appropriate mitigating circumstances is approved (see below). We advise submitting your coursework well before the deadline given above.

LATE SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK: There is NO provision for late submission of coursework under College Regulations and students are advised that late submission of coursework is not accepted unless you have mitigating circumstances affecting your ability to complete the work by the deadline. If you do have mitigating circumstances affecting your ability to complete the coursework by the deadline you should follow the procedures outlined online at https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/stu/geog/handbook/mitcircs.aspx and submit the form plus your supporting documentary evidence to the Geography Department office. Students should note that computer failure or ability to connect to the internet from your computer are not accepted as suitable excuses for late submission. In the unlikely event of a KEATS network failure, you will be contacted by the Geography Department office with further instructions. Failure to meet the deadline is equivalent to failing to attend an examination and students will receive a mark of zero for the coursework in question.

COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT: RESEARCH POJECT REPORT: Researching local geographiesLearning Aims To develop skills in research design and planning To develop skills of data collection and analysis, with respect to field observations, interviews

and/or questionnaires. To develop transferable skills in team working, meeting tight deadlines and compiling and

presenting reports.

The ProjectsAll students will undertake a three-day independent project on an aspect of the local geography of the area of their choice. Projects will be conducted in groups (min. group size 2 students, max. group size 5 students), assisted by a local guide.

Assessment:When assessing your project reports, we will be using the following criteria:

Selection of Topic - is this well-defined, feasible, original, was it realistic to attempt this?

Links to Academic Literature – have you related your field results to reading on Kerala and Development Geography more generally?

Methodology and Data Collection - was a suitable methodology adopted and are its limitations clearly understood? Given time constraints, was suitable data collection undertaken?

Data Analysis - is this appropriate to the nature of the material, and the research questions set for your project?

Results: presentation and interpretation - are the results clearly presented? Are the limitations of the interpretation of the results clearly understood? Have supporting graphs, tables or illustrations been used appropriately?

Conclusion - are the results of the analysis handled perceptively and with sound judgement? Are the conclusions insightful, adequate etc.? Have you been able to move beyond the detail of the data collected to make broader, but informed, comment on the research topic in question?

Presentation - is the written style of degree standard? Is the referencing comprehensive? Are maps and figures clear, relevant and effectively integrated with the text?

D E P A R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H YKING’S COLLEGE LONDON

SG20147 Fieldwork (India) in Human and Development Geography, Assessment number 2: Observation Days Reflective Report

This coursework is part of SG2047. The assignment comprises 30% of the total mark for this module. The Marking Scheme for coursework assessments is available online at https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/stu/geog/guidance-material.aspx

LENGTH AND FORMAT: This coursework has a MAXIMUM LENGTH of 1,200 words (known as the word count). The word count includes: all words in the main text, in-text citations, figure captions and table titles, section headings, equations and footnotes, but excludes: words inside figures and tables, the reference list, the title page, and any appendices or abstracts if applicable. The following penalties will always be applied if you exceed the stated maximum word length:

5 marks will be deducted from the final mark awarded for that assignment (e.g. a mark of 60 will be reduced to a mark of 55) for work up to (and including) 10% over the word limit (i.e. submitting 2,001 to 2,200 words for your assignment, which had a maximum length of 2,000 words means the awarded mark will have 5 marks deducted.

The awarded mark will be halved (e.g. a mark of 60% will be reduced to 30%) for work more than 10% over the word limit (i.e. submitting 2,401 words or more for your assignment, which had a maximum length of 2,000 words means the awarded mark will be halved.

You should therefore ensure that you are fully aware of what is included and excluded from the word count. Please note that there will be no exceptions to this rule and it is your responsibility to ensure that you adhere to the word limit set. In addition, frequent random checks are carried out on all coursework to verify word counts. Suspected intentional misrepresentation of word count may be pursued under Examination Misconduct regulations.

The use of published and other sources must be properly acknowledged by using in-text citations and a reference list. Failure to do so may result in an allegation of plagiarism with a subsequent referral to the Academic Misconduct Committee. Please use the Harvard System of Referencing available online at https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/stu/geog/guidance-material.aspx .

COURSEWORK PRESENTATION: Carefully adhere to the following guidelines on coursework presentation (note that different guidelines will apply for posters or powerpoint presentations):11. All coursework should include on the first-page, the name of the module (e.g. “4SSG0143 Global Environmental

Issues”); the title of the essay, the due date, the student number and the word count. Remember if you exceed the specified word limit a penalty (see above) will apply.

12. Text should be 1.5 line-spaced and 12 point font-size on A4 paper, single sided. 13. Page numbers must be included on every page (e.g., p. 1 of 6, p. 2 of 6).14. Your STUDENT CARD NUMBER should appear on the top right hand corner of every page of your work. Your

name should not appear anywhere on the coursework submission.15. Figures and tables (along with captions) should be integrated with the text, preferably electronically. Sources for

materials must be cited appropriately in the figure caption or table title, and included in the reference list. Tables with large amounts of information are often not appropriate and cannot be used to circumvent the word limit.

16. Appendices of statistical data, etc., may be used, but should be kept to a minimum and should only contain supplementary information not critical to the main coursework submission.

17. All coursework submissions should be appropriately referenced with a reference list of material cited in the text. 18. All language used should be free of gender bias i.e. ‘humankind’ rather than ‘mankind’.19. When you submit your coursework you will be affirming that you have read the Department's statement on plagiarism

and that the work submitted is your own original creation. Please note that all coursework will undergo an

originality check when submitted through the KEATS system. You will also be confirming that the number of words indicated on the coursework has been counted and is correct.

20. You are required to retain an electronic copy of your coursework submission for at least 6 months after submission.

IMPORTANT: FILE NAME FOR YOUR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION TO KEATS

Students should both save their coursework file name in the format noted below AND use this title when submitting to KEATS (including the _):

FORMAT: FullModuleCode_CW#_KCLStudentCardNumberFOR EXAMPLE: 6SSG3064_CW1_0123456

Please note:(i) Student Number: Your student number is found on your KCL student card (this is not your KCL login).(ii) Student Number: Please include any leading ‘zeros’ in your student number (e.g., 0123456 not 123456).(iii) Student Number: Do not include any trailing /1 or /2 in your student number.(iv) Module Code: Include full code (4SSG**** = 1st yr, 5SSG**** = 2nd yr, 6SSG**** = 3rd yr, 7SSG**** = PGT)

DELIVERY OF COMPLETED WORK: All coursework must be uploaded to the correct module page and the correct coursework assignment on KEATS BEFORE the submission deadline noted below.

The final time and date for submitting this coursework is 12.30pm on 28 January 2014.

DEPARTMENT POLICIES REGARDING ONLINE SUBMISSION.(7) All coursework MUST be submitted as a MS Word document – any coursework submitted in any other format

(unless specifically noted in the coursework assignment details below) will be treated as a non-submission. (8) Students are responsible for ensuring that the correct work is submitted. You may upload different versions of

your coursework as many times as you would like to KEATS before the deadline, but the FINAL version on KEATS is the one that will be counted. The file(s) electronically submitted by the student at the time of the deadline will be taken as the final and complete submitted work, and no amendments or additions will be permitted after the submission deadline.

(9) Students are responsible for ensuring that submitted electronic files are submitted in one of the specified acceptable file formats, and not corrupted. Students should check files on the system after submission to ensure they are valid and correct.

(10) Students must ensure that any instructions for submission are followed. (11) Technical failure, including of a computer, browser or internet connection, is not a valid reason for late

submission of work, unless as a result of a failure of the College’s IT systems, and in the case that there was no reasonable course of action the student could have taken to submit the work on time.

(12) The KEATS system WILL allow you to submit late coursework, but this will be indicated electronically as ‘late’ and not be marked unless appropriate mitigating circumstances is approved (see below). We advise submitting your coursework well before the deadline given above.

LATE SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK: There is NO provision for late submission of coursework under College Regulations and students are advised that late submission of coursework is not accepted unless you have mitigating circumstances affecting your ability to complete the work by the deadline. If you do have mitigating circumstances affecting your ability to complete the coursework by the deadline you should follow the procedures outlined online at https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/stu/geog/handbook/mitcircs.aspx and submit the form plus your supporting documentary evidence to the Geography Department office. Students should note that computer failure or ability to connect to the internet from your computer are not accepted as suitable excuses for late submission. In the unlikely event of a KEATS network failure, you will be contacted by the Geography Department office with further instructions. Failure to meet the deadline

is equivalent to failing to attend an examination and students will receive a mark of zero for the coursework in question.

COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Observation Days Reflective ReportLearning Aims

To develop recording and observational skills in the field To develop reflective and critical thinking skills in the context of fieldwork

Note TakingKeeping a field notebook is an essential tool of geographers (and many other field scientists). Accurately and completely recording data collected in the field (and your responses to it) is a vital skill for effective field research whether on a field course or conducting your dissertation. Your field notebook will also be the key record containing primary material for writing up individual fieldwork projects.

At the same time though, another aspect of recording your observations involves the process of reflection and working through the day’s raw observations written in your field notebook. This involves a reflection on and interpretation of your raw observations you have made over the course of a day of observations. This process is equally as important as the raw observations you take in your field notebook as it gives you the time and opportunity to organize and make sense of the observations you are making as well as connect these to wider academic issues, contexts, and readings you have done.

Your field course notebook and your separate ‘interpreted’ field-notes are both assessed components of the field course, with the interpreted field-notes being the primary document which we will be reading and assessing – so pay particular attention to the section What Should I Put in My Interpreted Field-notes? that follows. Together, they are a record of your field data and experiences recorded in the field, as well as your important critical reflections and interpretations of this field data. 30% of your mark for the course will be based on your interpreted field-notes. These guidelines presented here are intended to give you some indication of what is expected.

The Notebook It should be portable and robust. Ideally A5, hardback and preferably not spiral bound because the pages can fall out easily. You may need to take more than one notebook in case of calamity (notebooks have been known to be dropped in rivers, or left on a plane…) or you run out of pages.

What Should I Put in My Field Notebook?Essential Things to Include: Observations (what you see, hear, feel), sketches (clearly labelled), interviews, notes from lecturers in the field, reflections (what you think), sketch maps.

Optional Things to Include: Relevant newspaper cuttings, photos, postcards, maps. An overall schedule or route map.

Put your name and address inside the front cover requesting return if lost (unlikely, but you never know…).

Number the pages (this helps with indexing themes on a longer project) Start each day's entry/entries on a fresh page clearly dated Record relevant details of date, time, place and weather at each new entry Check spellings (from a guidebook, map, tutor, guide or local person) of unfamiliar places and

features Leave gaps to insert photos next to landscape sketches, for example Be systematic, neat and label your entries well

Record entries as you go along each day so they are fresh You will probably only be in a place once, so record as much information as you can at the

time as those things you think you will remember, you often won’t! The more detail you put in your notebook the more information you to work with later on when you do the critical interpretation.

Detail, detail, detail!! Remember you can work both from the front and back of your notebook - e.g. to separate

independent project work from day-to-day observations during the field course. A key point: start your field notebook with notes from pre-field course briefings,

preparations, and readings!

What Should I Put in My Interpreted Fieldnotes?This is an opportunity for you to reflect upon, add to, clarify, question, critically assess, and think through your raw observations. Note that you do not have to be comprehensive and cover the whole field-course: you can focus on a particular element within of your observations, such as your observations on one day of the course, or a particular theme that cross-cuts your observations across the whole of the week. Be imaginative here – themes for your interpreted field-notes could be almost anything (‘impacts of globalisation’, ‘the use of public space’, ‘technology’, ‘religious practices’…) - what we are looking for is something that indicates that you have used your observational skills to think about the similarities and differences between Kerala and other places (London, or home) with which you are more familiar. You may wish to bring in information and ideas from the literature you have been reading, such as thematic material from the India reading list or more conceptual or theoretical work that might fit in the context of your reflection.

Assessment:The assessment will be based on tutors’ evaluations of your interpreted field-notes. You will write an original essay drawing together observations made OUTSIDE your group project days. This can include the formal observation day visits and interviews but also your own observations. Use your note book as your reference source. The notebook should be submitted to the office when you submit your report and will be checked by staff. The notebook does not need to be tidy, can have rough thoughts, half ideas, anything – the main point is that we can see the ideas and evidence in your report come from your observations. In assessing your report we will look for clarity of style, relevance and depth of content, reflection, and critical interpretation as well as presentation.The essay should focus on a cross-cutting development geography theme that you feel is illustrated by the field class. This might include (1) the gendered use of space, (2) street images and cultural hybridity, (3) environmental and social transformation (4) hidden inequality (5) challenges for rural underdevelopment and overdevelopment – but please think up your own ideas and discuss this with staff while you are in the field.