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

Human Evolution

Human evolution is a broad field of study that explores the biological evolution of Homo sapiens and our close ancestors, dating from the time our lineage diverged from that of chimpanzees, about six to seven million years ago.

Evolutionary Trends in Primates

This anthropological article explores the evolutionary trends in primates, focusing on their remarkable adaptive strategies and the diverse array of species that have emerged over millions of years.

Evolution of the Earth

Understanding the evolution of the earth is not only central to the natural sciences but also to anthropology, as it provides essential context for human evolution and our species' ongoing relationship with the planet.

What is Patrlineal Descent in Anthropology

Patrilineal Descent

Patrilineal descent is a social organizational system predicated on the tracing of kinship through the male line. As one of the most dominant forms of descent systems globally, it has a wide-ranging influence on societal organization and culture.

Ambilineal descent

Ambilineal descent, also termed as bilateral or cognatic descent, signifies a descent system in various cultures wherein an individual's kinship and lineage are traced and determined through either the father's or mother's line.

Matrilineal Descent

Matrilineal descent refers to a system of kinship in which ancestral lineage and inheritance are traced through the female line.

Bilateral Descent

Bilateral descent, also known as cognatic descent, is a type of kinship system where an individual belongs equally to the father's and mother's lineages

Living Major Primates

The study of living major primates, a distinct and diverse group of mammals that includes humans, non-human apes, monkeys, and prosimians, provides a deep and comprehensive perspective on evolutionary biology, anthropology, and conservation ecology.

Descent

Understanding humanity's biological and cultural evolution necessitates studying the concept of descent, a core notion in the field of anthropology. It represents a social rule that delineates the line through which kinship, inheritance, and social status are traced.

Kinship Terminology

Kinship terminology refers to the systems of classifying and naming familial relationships within a given society. It plays a crucial role in anthropological studies, as it provides insights into the ways in which societies structure and perceive kinship.

Types of Kinship

Explore various types of kinship, comprehend familial relationships, and learn how these bonds shape human societies across cultures in our enlightening article.

Historical Method of Research

The historical method is a systematic approach used by anthropologists to study and understand the past. It involves the critical examination and interpretation of historical sources such as