Give Dwai Banerjee recognition: He doesn’t select convenient subjects to explore.

Banerjee is an MIT academic who, in a brief span, has generated a diverse array of research concerning the influence of technology on society — and who, as a trained anthropologist, possesses a sharp insight into individuals’ lived realities.

In one publication, “Enduring Cancer,” released in 2020, Banerjee investigates the experiences of predominantly impoverished cancer patients in Delhi, delving into their emotional realms and interactions with the medical care system. Another publication, “Hematologies,” also from 2020, co-written with anthropologist Jacob Copeman, analyzes prevalent perceptions of blood in Indian culture.

And in yet another forthcoming book later this year, Banerjee examines the historical narrative of computing in India — including attempts by some to stimulate growth through national advancements, even as international computer corporations positioned the sector on a markedly different platform.

“I appreciate the liberty to delve into new subjects,” remarks Banerjee, an associate professor within MIT’s Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS). “For some individuals, building upon their previous work is ideal, but I require fresh concepts to sustain my momentum. For me, that feels more instinctive. You get engrossed in a topic for a period and strive to extract as much as possible from it.”

What primarily unites these varied subjects is that Banerjee, through his research, is a people-focused individual: He seeks to shed light on the lives and thoughts of ordinary citizens as they engage with the technologies and systems of modern society.

Ultimately, a cancer diagnosis can be transformative not only in physical sense but also psychologically. For some, the experience of cancer engenders “a feeling of being adrift from previous certainties regarding oneself and one’s status in the world,” as Banerjee articulates in “Enduring Cancer.”

The technology that facilitates diagnoses does not satisfy all human requirements, prompting the book to explore the intricate emotional experiences of patients and a healthcare system evolving to address psychological and palliative needs. Technology and society interact beyond mere blockbuster products, as the book cleverly suggests.

For his scholarship and pedagogy, Banerjee was granted tenure at MIT last year.

Embracing the humanities

Banerjee was raised in Delhi, and as a university student, he anticipated pursuing a career in computing before redirecting his path.

“I was set to attend graduate school for computer engineering,” Banerjee recounts. “Then I simply fell in love with the humanities and pursued studies in the humanities and social sciences.” He attained an MPhil and an MA in sociology from the Delhi School of Economics before enrolling as a PhD candidate at New York University.

During his time at NYU, Banerjee engaged in doctoral research in cultural anthropology, while conducting some of the fieldwork that formed the foundation of “Enduring Cancer.” Concurrently, he discovered that the individuals he was studying were surrounded by history — influencing the technologies and policies they faced while also shaping their own perspectives. Ultimately, even Banerjee’s anthropological research possesses a robust historical aspect.

Following the completion of his PhD, Banerjee became a Mellon Fellow in the Humanities at Dartmouth College, then joined the MIT faculty in STS. It is a fitting environment for someone with a broad outlook who utilizes various research methods, ranging from fieldwork to archival studies.

“I sometimes ponder whether I am an anthropologist or if I am a historian,” Banerjee confesses. “However, it is an interdisciplinary program, so I strive to make the most of that.”

Indeed, the STS program draws upon numerous disciplines and methodologies, with its scholars and students united by a desire to rigorously analyze the factors shaping the advancement and utilization of technology — and, when necessary, to instigate challenging discussions regarding technology’s implications.

“That’s the historical context of the field and department at MIT; it serves as a sort of moral backbone,” Banerjee expresses.

Discovering inspiration

Regarding the origins of Banerjee’s book concepts, he does not merely seek significant issues to address, but rather elements that ignite his intellectual and moral awareness — such as the plight of underprivileged cancer patients in Delhi.

“‘Enduring Cancer,’ in my perspective, is essentially a classic medical anthropology work, emerging from the inspiration derived from these individuals, and pursuing it as far as I could,” Banerjee shares.

Conversely, “‘Hematologies’ arose from a partnership, a dialogue with Jacob Copeman, as we discussed concepts and became enthusiastic about them,” Banerjee adds. “Our intellectual friendship evolved into a motivating factor.” Copeman is currently an anthropologist on the faculty at the University of Santiago de Compostela, in Spain.

As for Banerjee’s upcoming book concerning computing in India, the initial drive was partially inspired by his own recollected pleasure in witnessing the internet’s introduction to the country, despite the challenges presented by inconsistent dial-up modems and other now-nostalgic devices.

“It stems from an old fascination,” Banerjee comments. “When the internet had just emerged, during that time of burgeoning excitement, it was thrilling. This project is [in part] about rediscovering my early enjoyment of what was then a truly exhilarating period.”

However, the subject matter of the book itself predates the commercial internet. Banerjee chronicles the era of computing during the first few decades post-India’s independence from Britain in 1947. Even in the 1970s, India’s government showed an interest in cultivating a robust national IT sector, aiming to design and produce its own machines. Ultimately, those efforts diminished, and multinational computing corporations seized control of India’s markets.

The book meticulously details how and why this unfolded, ultimately reshaping our understanding of India and technology. Today, Banerjee observes, India is a provider of skilled technological talent and an importer of technological tools, but this outcome was not inevitable. It was more a matter of the aspiration for an autonomous tech sector in the nation conflicting with the overarching forces of globalization.

“The book outlines this period of high confidence in the nation’s capability to achieve these ambitions, generating manufacturing and employment opportunities as well as economic growth, followed by the decline of that vision,” Banerjee states.

“One of the intentions is for it to be a book accessible to all readers,” Banerjee adds. In that regard, the guiding principle behind his interests is now shaping his academic contributions: People come first.