Studies on Bio-Medical Anthropology

Spectacular advancements in medical sciences notwithstanding, the bulk of the world populations, particularly those who occupy the rural or fringe regions, have only scarce access to the benefits of such developments. This speaks of a divide hitherto unexplored or only improperly explored. Besides, in case of any serious ailments of their near and dear ones, what do such people do? Do they leave them uncared altogether or submit totally to the will of God? Could they have any alternative approach to tackle such problems? The book incorporates profiles of health cultures from India, as observed by a section of anthropologists, who are found committed to develop an area of academic specialization: the Medical Anthropology.

Prof. R.K. Mutatkar is the founder and President, Maharashtra Association of Anthropological Sciences and Vice Chairman, Indian National Confederation and Academy of Anthropologists. He established the Department of Anthropology and School of Health Sciences at the University of Poona. As the first Medical Anthropologist in India, he also established the Indian Association for the Study of Traditional Asian Medicine with support from Prof. A.L. Basham and Pandit Shiv Sharma. He has written books and articles on the social aspects of leprosy, sexuality and caste dynamics. Prof. Ajit K. Danda, FNA (Sc.), (Born: 1936) is a Ph.D. from Cornell University (U.S.A.). He was the former Director, Anthropological Survey of India and Professor and Head, Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology, North Bengal University. He also served as the Professor and Research Director, the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. He was the President of Anthropology and Archaeology section of the Indian Science Congress Association during 1975-76. At present, he is the President of Indian Anthropological Society and the Member Secretary, Indian National Confederation and Academy of Anthropologists. He has over 150 research articles and 30 books, including edited volumes, to his credit. Shri Vikas Bhatt is the Curator and Director in charge of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal. He has over thirty years of experience in empirical research among folk and tribal communities all over India. He specializes in museum design and displays, particularly open-air presentations on cultures. He started his museum career in Anthropological Survey of India in 1974, after obtaining a P.G. degree in Anthropology.