Anand P. Vaidya

Anand P. Vaidya, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Reed College, dives into the complexities of India's Forest Rights Act. He shares harrowing tales of Ramnagar's destruction and the ethical dilemmas he faced during his research. Vaidya explores how forests are not just natural spaces but battlegrounds for property rights and state power. He discusses the role of activists leveraging legal strategies to empower forest dwellers and the intricate dynamics between courts and the executive. His insights reveal the law's potential for both exclusion and resistance.