Vasundhra

Vasundhra began her journey as an anthropologist in India, drawn to people, their stories, traditions, and ancestry. Her work has taken her from tribal villages and nomadic landscapes to advanced laboratories studying the human past, where she witnessed how deeply culture, environment, and policy shape health outcomes. Her fieldwork with pastoral nomads in Leh-Ladakh revealed how climate change quietly erodes livelihoods and health security, while her research at BITS Pilani during the COVID-19 pandemic explored the psychosocial dimensions of resilience and well-being. These experiences shaped her conviction that health is inseparable from its social and cultural context. Transitioning into policy research, she worked on a project on affordable generic medicines in Karnataka, collaborating with doctors, entrepreneurs, and communities to evaluate India’s largest public health initiative. This experience underscored for her the systemic barriers to healthcare access and the need for policies informed by lived realities. Now pursuing a Master’s in Global Health at the University of Geneva, Switzerland and complementing it with courses in environmental economics and food sustainability at the Graduate Institute, Vasundhra continues to bridge anthropology and policy. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing health equity by addressing the social, cultural, and structural determinants that shape human well-being.

Articles: 282

Prenatal

The prenatal period is a crucial stage in human development, setting the foundation for health in later life. This phase, encompassing the time from conception until birth, has been a subject of extensive study, particularly in the field of biological anthropology.

Inbreeding

Inbreeding refers to the mating between individuals who share a common ancestor, leading to offspring that inherit similar genes from both parents.

The principles of genetics, that determine how traits are passed from generation to generation, find their roots in the mid-19th-century work of Gregor Mendel. His pioneering research on pea plants has been foundational to the field, leading to the development of what we now term "Mendelism."

Mendelism

Mendelism is the principles of genetics, that determine how traits are passed from generation to generation, find their roots in the mid-19th-century work of Gregor Mendel. His pioneering research on pea plants has been foundational to the field, leading to the development of what we now term "Mendelism."

Stages of Human Growth

The stages of human growth represent an intricate interplay of biological, cognitive, and psychosocial transformations. Studying these stages from a biological anthropological perspective not only enhances our understanding of human life but also promotes holistic approaches to health and wellness across the lifespan.

Language Structure

The different aspects of language structure—phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics—interact dynamically to facilitate human communication.

Non-Verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication refers to the conveyance of information and emotions without the use of spoken words. Non-verbal communication enriches our understanding of diverse cultures.

Verbal Communication

Verbal communication, a cornerstone of human interaction, has played an essential role in the evolution of societies and cultures worldwide. As an area of focus in anthropological research, verbal communication sheds

Comparative Philology

Comparative Philology is a critical branch of linguistic anthropology that investigates how languages change and evolve over time. Originating in the 19th century, it systematically studies the relationships and similarities between languages, providing us with key insights into human culture, migration, and evolution.

Morphology

Morphology, a crucial branch of linguistic anthropology, is the study of words' internal structure and the ways they can be modified. This discipline allows us to understand how meaning is constructed within a language, providing a rich understanding of cultural patterns and social structure.