Vasundhra - Author at Anthroholic - Anthropologist

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
Stratigraphy refers to the analysis of the superimposition of layers in archaeological sites. As archaeologists excavate a site, they encounter layers of soil and artifacts which, much like the rings of a tree, help them understand the chronological sequence of historical events

Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy refers to the analysis of the superimposition of layers in archaeological sites. As archaeologists excavate a site, they encounter layers of soil and artifacts which, much like the rings of a tree, help them understand the chronological sequence of historical events

Fluorine analysis is an imperative tool in the field of archaeology, employed to compare and contrast the relative ages of different bones and artifacts from the same archaeological site. This technique hinges on the principle that bones buried in the ground over time absorb fluorine from the soil, and the concentration of fluorine increases proportionally with the time the bone has been in the soil

Fluorine Analysis

Fluorine analysis is an imperative tool in the field of archaeology, employed to compare and contrast the relative ages of different bones and artifacts from the same archaeological site. This technique hinges on the principle that bones buried in the ground over time absorb fluorine

Kinship symbols and abbreviations are instrumental in studying and interpreting societal structures across various cultures. They provide an effective language to communicate and understand the intricate maze of human relationships.

Kinship Symbols and Abbreviation

Kinship symbols and abbreviations are instrumental in studying and interpreting societal structures across various cultures. They provide an effective language to communicate and understand the intricate maze of human relationships.

Political systems have come a long way from the egalitarian societies of our prehistoric ancestors to the complex structures we see today. As we navigate the digital revolution and confront global challenges such as climate change, these systems will continue to evolve.

Development of Political Systems

Political systems have come a long way from the egalitarian societies of our prehistoric ancestors to the complex structures we see today. As we navigate the digital revolution and confront global challenges such as climate change, these systems will continue to evolve.

Centralised and decentralised political systems represent different approaches to governance and power distribution, each with its inherent benefits and challenges. Anthropology helps us understand these systems within their socio-cultural contexts, providing insights into their influence on society's organisation and functioning.

Centralised and Decentralised Political Systems

Centralised and decentralised political systems represent different approaches to governance and power distribution, each with its inherent benefits and challenges. Anthropology helps us understand these systems within their socio-cultural contexts, providing insights into their influence on society's organisation and functioning.

The dichotomy of state and stateless political systems provides a compelling lens through which to view human political organization. As anthropology continues to explore these diverse forms of governance, it sheds light on the remarkable capacity of societies to adapt and create structures that reflect their unique circumstances and values.

State and Stateless Political Systems

The dichotomy of state and stateless political systems provides a compelling lens through which to view human political organization. As anthropology continues to explore these diverse forms of governance, it sheds light on the remarkable capacity of societies to adapt and create structures that reflect their unique circumstances and values.

The Three Age System is a critical principle in archaeology that classifies human prehistory into three distinct time periods: the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. This comprehensive classification system forms the foundation for understanding the technological advancement of ancient societies.

Three Age System in Archaeology

The Three Age System is a critical principle in archaeology that classifies human prehistory into three distinct time periods: the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. This comprehensive classification system forms the foundation for understanding the technological advancement of ancient societies.

The structures of egalitarian and non-egalitarian societies highlight different aspects of human social organization. While egalitarian societies reflect values of equality and shared responsibility, non-egalitarian societies underscore the human inclination towards structure, hierarchy, and individual achievement.

Egalitarian and Non-Egalitarian Societies

The structures of egalitarian and non-egalitarian societies highlight different aspects of human social organization. While egalitarian societies reflect values of equality and shared responsibility, non-egalitarian societies underscore the human inclination towards structure, hierarchy, and individual achievement.

Conflict is an intrinsic element of social relationships, and how societies handle disputes and disagreements speaks volumes about their culture, values, and social structures. Anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures, offers a lens through which we can better understand and evaluate the diverse peaceful means of dispute settlement.

Peaceful Means of Dispute settlement

Conflict is an intrinsic element of social relationships, and how societies handle disputes and disagreements speaks volumes about their culture, values, and social structures. Anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures, offers a lens through which we can better understand and evaluate the diverse peaceful means of dispute settlement.

The intricate blend of beliefs, rituals, symbols, and myths forms the rich tapestry of religion. Understanding these elements of religion not only elucidates the nature of religious practices but also offers valuable insights into the cultures and societies that harbor them.

Elements of Religion

The intricate blend of beliefs, rituals, symbols, and myths forms the rich tapestry of religion. Understanding these elements of religion not only elucidates the nature of religious practices but also offers valuable insights into the cultures and societies that harbor them.

Salvage anthropology, often associated with Franz Boas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflects an urgent quest to document indigenous cultures and languages perceived as on the verge of extinction due to Western expansion and industrialization.

Salvage Anthropology

Salvage anthropology, often associated with Franz Boas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflects an urgent quest to document indigenous cultures and languages perceived as on the verge of extinction due to Western expansion and industrialization.

Language loss, often termed 'language death', refers to the phenomenon when a language loses its last native speaker, thereby becoming extinct. However, this process often occurs gradually, with languages first becoming endangered before completely dying out.

Language Loss and Revival

Language loss, often termed 'language death', refers to the phenomenon when a language loses its last native speaker, thereby becoming extinct. However, this process often occurs gradually, with languages first becoming endangered before completely dying out.