Monsoon School 2025: Digitalisation and Contested Modernities

From 21–25 July 2025, the Human Sciences Research Centre (HSRC) at IIIT Hyderabad hosted the Monsoon School on Digitalisation and Contested Modernities, transforming the campus into a vibrant hub of intellectual exchange. Over five enriching days, 22 participants including graduate students, researchers, and practitioners engaged with eminent academics to explore the intersections of technology, society, and modernity from a Global South perspective, with particular emphasis on India’s distinctive digital journey.

The program commenced with in-depth explorations of digital capitalism, household economies, and the growth of platform labour, setting the stage for a week of thought-provoking inquiry. Sessions delved into how digital technologies reshape economic structures, gender relations, and cultural practices, while raising critical questions around inequality, surveillance, and the politics of design. Discussions spanned diverse themes, including AI-driven financial inclusion, urban neighbourhood networks, gig work strategies, and the evolution of cinema in the digital age.

Distinguished speakers from IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, Jadavpur University, Florida State University, and other leading institutions contributed their expertise, bringing in a multitude of perspectives from economics, sociology, cultural studies, and political theory. This diversity fostered a rich, cross-disciplinary dialogue, inspiring participants to challenge assumptions, draw connections between theory and lived experience, and envision new approaches to understanding digital modernity.

iHub-Data extended generous support to the Monsoon School 2025, enabling its successful execution and creating an enriched platform for meaningful learning.

For more details, visit the Monsoon School 2025 page.