Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics Abhijit Banerjee and Visiting Artist Sarnath Banerjee (no relation) embark on a groundbreaking journey to blend social science with artistic expression. Their unique collaboration seeks to transform academic discourse into relatable, intuitive narratives, deeply rooted in storytelling.

Their project, inspired by themes of growth, power, and greed from Abhijit's "Poor Economics" and Sarnath's "All Quiet in Vikaspuri," emerged from extensive dialogues exploring global and personal narratives, ranging from political follies to memories of Calcutta. By integrating theater, drawing, and sound with scholarly insights, this collaboration aims to vividly illustrate the nuances of water issues and economic development in a multi-character soap opera format.

In "Water Wars," showcased through illustrated episodes “The Land of Good Intentions” and “The Eternal Swamp,” Professor Banerjee’s performance recalls the dramatic public lectures of the 19th century, akin to those by Darwin or Faraday. This modern reimagining, complete with animation and sound, aims to reinvigorate discussions on economic growth, showcasing the potent blend of social science and artistic creativity.

For more information, visit: https://arts.mit.edu/projects/water-w...