Nila Krishnamurthy '27

Do you remember what you were interested in when you were looking at colleges? 

I was really focused on history in high school, so I was looking for something history-related, but also interdisciplinary. I didn't want to box myself in when it came to undergrad because it's a time to explore. What I really appreciate about ILR is there's a focus to everything that we do. There are many different subject areas, but there's the unifying goal of understanding the workplace, which is really interesting to me having worked a job in high school and seen how systems and the economy impact society.

Did you conduct any research in high school? 

I did an independent research project on African American history and the history of marginalization and gentrification in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I interviewed elderly African-American residents in my area for NPR StoryCorp, created a website, and worked with the Cambridge Historical Commission to publish the interviews. The project brought light to voices that aren't always heard and also helped younger generations learn more about our neighborhood. 

What are you working on now?

I am doing research with ILR Professor Sarah Besky on estate logics and racial capitalism. Racial capitalism is understanding how our economic system often disadvantages minority groups and how the legacies of slavery and inequality play into how the economy operates today. I'm primarily interested in understanding the historical aspects and legacies of plantation slavery, but racial capitalism doesn't just play out in the U.S. Professor Besky is focusing on colonialism in both the Caribbean and South Asia. 

How did you become involved with your current project?

I received an email about different research fellowships and this one stood out because Professor Besky talked to my Intro to ILR class, and I was immediately interested in her work. She specifically looks at plantations in India to understand how the British Raj affected the way people viewed labor and precarious work. The project we're working on now involves analyzing colonial estates in England. In my freshman year, I was a research assistant for a Harvard professor who studied the history of capitalism, so I knew I was interested in the kind of work Professor Besky does. 

The National Trust, an independent charity, owns many old colonial estates, which you'll often see depicted in shows like Downton Abbey or the Crown. We're looking into the past of these properties and how they were created. We’re also examining how they operate today, like those with tenant farmers living on estates and working for very low wages, and how this all impacts the way society perceives these attractions of British legacy and colonialism. 

Can you give an example of any interesting findings and why you believe they are important?

There’s a popular magazine called Country Life and it's very much focused on the countryside fantasy. It's been interesting to see the way publications like this use fancy and flowery language to play into the British royalty idea of England, but at the same time there's this muddled past of the Lords who lived there and workers who may still struggle working there. So many people read about and visit these places, but still miss very important parts of the story. The purpose of the research is to look at all of these factors and what shapes our perceptions.

I think it's really important because I'm half Scottish and I'm half Indian. Two summers ago, I went to Scotland and would pay 20 pounds to see each of these great national estates. I kept saying, “This is so cool, look at this castle!” But I didn't really understand the background of what I was looking at, the history and people involved and broader implications, and if you don’t become aware of and consider those things, it’s easy to just feed into a narrative that someone is trying to sell you. 

How has this research experience impacted you?

It’s made me think more about employees you may not see often, or at all, and the rights of workers in general. As well, I have become more aware of how colonialism continues to impact today's day and age, I was an intern at a non-profit tech organization last summer and worked on improving their employee handbook. My research experience has me thinking more about the importance of that document and how I can have a real impact on the lives of employees by creating good materials that clearly explain their rights. It’s nice to see the connection between what I’m studying and the things that need to change in the world because I want to be part of that change.