Esha is an environmental engineer turned social scientist whose work involves anthropology and history of science and technology with special reference to agrarian development in India.
Her doctoral work looked at change and history of traditional irrigation technology vis-à-vis agrarian transformation in south India. Her recent research activities include technological paradigm and spread of genetically modified Bt cotton technology in India, farmers’ suicides and technological vulnerability, politics and science and technology studies in India, risk discourses and new emerging technologies in India, and history of green revolution technology. Her other research interests include community-led natural resource management and politics of development.