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ETHNOGRAPHY in the TIME of CORONA Social Impact of The 1 ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE TIME OF CORONA Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka Sindi Haxhi Student Number: 12757454 [email protected] Supervisor: Dr. Oskar Verkaaik Medical Anthropology and Sociology University of Amsterdam 10 August 2020 2 Acknowledgments Having to do ethnography in such a turbulent time has been an experience that has taught me more about my profession than any class could ever have. Most importantly, it taught me that it is in these uncertain times that people come together to help one another, and this researcher could have never happened without the support of some wonderful people. I would like to take the time here and acknowledge some of these people who have contributed, officially or unofficially, to the final product of my ethnographic work. First of all, this research could have never come to life without the help of my local supervisor, Dr. Ruwan Ranasinghe, as well as the whole Uva Wellassa University. When I arrived in Badulla, it was the day that marked the beginning of the lockdown and the nation-wide curfew, which would become our normality for the next two months. During this time, following the vice-chancellor's decision, Professor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, I was offered free accommodation inside the campus as well as free transportation to the city centre for essentials shopping. For the next three months, every staff member at the campus made sure I would feel like home, something so crucial during a time of isolation. Words could never describe how grateful I am to each and every one of them for teaching me the essence of solidarity and hospitality. Later on, when I was finally ready to start my fieldwork, free transportation was arranged for me to travel outside Badulla. I want to specifically thank the teaching staff of the Tourism Department for arranging surprise getaways in beautiful landscapes during the end of my fieldwork, as I way to “shake-off” my quarantine blues. Often when I am in moments of isolation, I tend to get used to and dwell in my loneliness. So, what you don’t know is that your friendship and positivity kept me motivated to push my limits, get out of my comfort zone that at times can be proven toxic for me, and give my best. Dr. Ruwan Ranasinghe, “Ruwan Sir”, thank you for all the support on an academic and 3 personal level. Without your calm spirit and organisational skills, this research would practically not be possible. Professor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, thank you for the hospitality, your informative conversations and articles and the dinners at your house. Lecturer Chandi Karunarathne, I could write a whole chapter for you. Thank you for offering me your beautiful friendship and for supporting me every step of the way. Thank you for accompanying me during my field visits, bringing me in contact with participants and being my Sinhala translator. You made everything so much easier. Mr. Ali Abdulla Idroos, thank you for being my Tamil interpreter and for patiently accompanying me during my interviews and field visits. To Kiruba, Dambika, and the rest of the people on the campus; I consider you my friends. Thank you for treating me like family. Bohoma stutiyi & Ayubowan! Besides all the staff members, I would like to thank the participants as well as all the people that I met along the way during my fieldwork for being so open and accepting. From sharing a Tamil breakfast or a cup of Ceylon tea, to sharing their stories, worries and opinions, these people were the backbone of this research. I am forever appreciative for the time you gave and the imprint you left on me on a personal level. Secondly, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr Oskar Verkaaik, for taking an interest in me and my research. Thank you for being patient and calm during times of such uncertainty and for always motivating and advising me. This thesis would not have taken the form that it does without the contribution and support of my friends. Thanks to my best friend Vassia, for always being a source of inspiration and knowledge. At the most anxious times, you are the anchor in my raging sea of emotions. Anisa, Zack, Miranda, I have no words for you. Thank you for offering me a place to stay during the writing period of this thesis and for always keeping my 4 spirit up. Thank you, Themis, for your invaluable help, the feedback, and the brainstorming. I could have never done it without you. Finally, I want to thank my beautiful family for always being by my side and supporting my every step. Mom, Dad, I know it’s not easy to have an ethnographer as your daughter; always moving across the globe, always catching planes. I would never be where I am now without your love, acceptance and encouragement. I am grateful for all your sacrifices. You inspire me to do better, keep moving and evolve as a student, but most importantly, as a person. Thank you for embracing me and my crazy ideas and impulses and helping me turn them into reality. This thesis is dedicated to you. Ju dua! Table of Contents: INTRODUCTION LITERATURE REVIEW METHODOLOGY THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS: ARRIVING ΑΤ THE FIELD: Is this the Apocalypse? RESEARCH QUESTIONS CHAPTER 1: MINORITIES IN SRI LANKA AND COVID-19 CHAPTER 2: AYURVEDA USE DURING THE PANDEMIC 5 CHAPTER 3: SPIRITUALITY AND COVID-19 FINAL THOUGHTS REFERENCES ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE TIME OF CORONA Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka INTRODUCTION THE RESEARCH THAT NEVER HAPPENED (AND ANOTHER THAT DID) It would be remiss of me to begin writing about my research without addressing the elephant in the room first; I am, of course, referring to the research that never happened. Without delving into too much unnecessary detail, I have to mention however that, like many other researchers and students doing fieldwork, my research plans were so profoundly affected by the pandemic, that I had to scrap them and start over from scratch completely. To say this was a difficult task would be an understatement. 6 My initial plan was to study the mental health and general well-being of the indigenous Vedda population of Sri Lanka. By mid-March, once COVID-19 had already been declared a pandemic by the WHO, and with a lockdown looming on the horizon, the Vedda decided to leave their villages and moved further in the jungle, to protect themselves. When I learned about this, I knew there was no possible way I could complete my research as planned. But it was the curfew that made me doubt the possibility of carrying out fieldwork at all, coming into effect only days after my arrival. Under those circumstances, I had to decide: should I return to Amsterdam or stay in Sri Lanka and wait? Could I come up with a new subject, and how would that, in turn, affect my studies? On May 11th the curfew was finally over. By that time, and after discussions with both my local supervisor and my supervisor in Amsterdam, I had already decided to research what lay in front of me all along; the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. I should, at this point, admit that I harboured many doubts regarding my ability to research this topic since the choice of such a developing subject like the pandemic would pose numerous difficulties. When I began contemplating this subject, the first thing I did was search online to see if and how other social scientists were dealing with the current situation. I was looking for research focusing on the social impact of the pandemic, while also offering insights and advice on ethnographic methods under the 7 "new normal". What I was really looking for was some kind of confirmation that, indeed, other social scientists also find themselves in a similar situation at this very moment, that they are forced to come to terms with similar difficulties as I do and that I am, in fact, part of a larger academic whole, part of which has already begun investigating this situation as it unfolds. And although I did find a number of papers discussing the pandemic from different lenses and perspectives, for the most part, not much ethnographic research had been published so far, which is understandable, since qualitative research takes time. But at that point, this did little to assuage my impatience for answers and most importantly, for deciding on a thesis topic. In one of my journal entries, I wrote “The clock is ticking, and soon I will have to present ​ something, and I can’t find anything that interests me. I could research the current Corona crisis, but I feel as if it is ‘too big’ for me. It’s not just the fact that I don’t know much about the disease. What I found even more challenging was the aspect of “unprecedentedness” that characterises this pandemic. If something is ‘so new’, then who am I to research it?”. However, as I started to become more acclimated to and at peace with my new environment, and the situation in general, I started realising that the social ramifications of this pandemic were in front of me. They had been part of my daily conversations with 8 my local supervisor, my friends and family, back home and even with the university staff members next to whom I lived. They were documented in the media, they could be observed in the short walks we were allowed to go out on.
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