Indian Journal of Research in Anthropology

n.a

This research explores the indigenous healthcare practices and ethno-medicinal knowledge of the Lodha community of Bhalia Ghati village in Nayagram block, Jhargram, West Bengal. As a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), the Lodhas have historically relied on forest-based knowledge systems, particularly in the face of limited access to modern healthcare facilities. Through a mixedmethod approach including primary field interviews, door-to-door census survey, observation, case studies and secondary data from academic literature and government records, this study reveals the role of traditional healers (ojhas), herbal remedies and community rituals in treating ailments ranging from fevers and wounds to snake bites and childbirth complications. Findings suggest that more than 70% of the population first consults a traditional healer before seeking clinical aid. The reliance on local medicinal plants such as tulsi, harjora, neem, and kalmegh is high. However, due to deforestation, migration of youth and cultural shifts, traditional knowledge is declining. Case studies of elderly healers, women caregivers and community health outcomes are presented. The paper concludes by advocating for the documentation and preservation of tribal ethnomedicine alongside improved access to public health services under schemes like PM-JANMAN and Ayushman Bharat.

Festivals are an integral part of Indian culture, with each region, tradition, and community having unique celebrations. Aadi Kritikai, a significant festival in southern India, is an example of this diversity. This festival has been celebrated across the states in South India, with distinct characteristics in urban and rural areas. This study comprehensively analyses the Aadi Kritikai festival, examining its characteristics, ritual practices, devotional expressions, and generational changes. The research focuses on the comparative analysis of historic-culture changes in celebrations between urban and rural areas, highlighting the impact of modernisation and urbanization on traditional practices. The findings of this study reveal the dynamic nature of Indian festivals and their adaptability in the face of change. The research contributes to our understanding of the evolving cultural landscape of southern India, providing valuable insights into the preservation of cultural heritage and traditional practices. Through a comparative study, this article aims to understand the significant changes that have occurred in the celebrations of Aadi Kritikai over time. The research provides a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between tradition and modernity, culture and identity, and community and individuality. The present study seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the significance of festivals in Indian culture, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural heritage and traditional practices in rapid modernization and urbanization

Background: The environment sustains human life through essential resources, yet biodiversity is rapidly declining due to anthropogenic activities. Sacred forests, embedded in cultural and religious traditions, have historically aided in conserving both biodiversity and cultural heritage. Aims: This paper explores public understanding of environmental conservation, focusing on the role of sacred forests in sustaining biodiversity in India. The role of cultural values in shaping environmental attitudes, and the major anthropogenic threats to nature, in order to identify effective conservation strategies. Objectives: This study aims to assess public awareness and understanding of environmental conservation and its significance; examine the influence of cultural beliefs and values on people’s relationship with the environment; identify major anthropogenic threats; and explore practical, culturally sensitive solutions for effective conservation. Material: The study employed structured interviews (n = 75) and telephonic interviews (n = 20) across diverse localities of Lucknow. Participants (15–65 years) included students, professionals, homemakers, and unemployed individuals. The study has utilised interview schedule and questionnaire to collect data and descriptively analysed, and qualitative responses thematically coded. Result: Environmental awareness among respondents is growing, yet consistent action is hindered by infrastructural, educational, and cultural barriers. Traditional ecological knowledge systems, like sacred forests, remains largely unfamiliar. While many respondents acknowledge the environmental benefits only a small fraction recognise the significance of species extinction. Deforestation, habitat loss, festival-related pollution, and poor waste management persist as major concerns. Although respondents expect institutional support, they also acknowledge the importance of personal responsibility in conservation. Conclusion: Effective conservation demands reviving traditional ecological practices, promoting sustainable consumption, and fostering collaboration among government, NGOs, and citizens. Bridging the awareness action gap requires stronger institutional support alongside active public participation to achieve ecological balance.

This study examined the association between total handgrip strength (THGS) and morphological markers including body mass index (BMI), height, digit ratio (2D:4D), and relative fluctuating asymmetry (RFAD) in digits among 309 males aged 22–30 years from the Kocha-Rava community in India. Anthropometric measurements and digit lengths were collected following standard protocols, and THGS was assessed using a digital dynamometer. Partial correlations controlling for age showed significant positive associations between THGS and weight, height, and BMI, while 2D:4D ratios showed no significant relationship. Notably, RFAD in the 2nd digit showed a significant negative correlation with THGS (ρ = –0.389, p = 0.008). Regression analysis confirmed weight as the strongest predictor of THGS, and one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in THGS across BMI categories prescribed by WHO and 2nd digit RFAD quartile groups. These findings suggest that while body size strongly predicts muscular strength, digit asymmetry may also reflect underlying developmental instability associated with reduced grip strength.

Tribal communities traditionally rely on occupations rooted in their natural environment and cultural heritage. These occupations have been passed down through generations. Traditional livelihoods provide economic sustenance and play a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable resource management. Due to a lack of sufficient scope for livelihood, they are forced to adopt modern occupations that are new to them. In light of the above statements, the present study deals with the occupational changes among the Longpi. This paper throws light on the traditional occupations of the Longpi, followed by a shift in their traditional occupation. This paper is purely qualitative, employing both primary and secondary sources of data collection. An active participation observation was used for in-depth face-to-face interaction with the informants.

Nutrition plays a crucial role in a child’s growth that has long-term effect in their health. In India malnutrition in children remain a significant public health concern. The children especially who belongs to economically weaker section suffers in this problem. The study aims to investigate how anthropometric measures and nutritional status varies with age among the children of railway colony. A total of 509 children aged 4-10 years were selected from railway colony of North 24 parganas. Result shows that with the increasing of age the nutritional status decline. Based on one-way ANOVA all anthropometric measures and nutritional indicators varied significantly with age ( P<0.001). In the present study it is found that the older age is in nutritionally vulnerable condition than Younger age.

Maternal health-seeking behaviour is influenced by cultural beliefs, healthcare accessibility, and traditional norms, particularly among tribal communities. This study explores prenatal and postnatal health-seeking behaviour among the Muria women in Gunpur village of Bastar district, Chhattisgarh. It also examines the cultural influences shaping their maternal healthcare choices. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and case studies with a purposive sample of 70 ever-married women, including pregnant and postpartum women (up to two years). The study found that prenatal check-ups were commonly availed, and healthcare functionaries, particularly Anganwadi Workers, played a significant role in maternal care. However, institutional deliveries were notably low, with the majority of births occurring at home, primarily assisted by untrained traditional birth attendants. Cultural beliefs, including the influence of family deities and spirits, played a crucial role in shaping childbirth practices and contributed to the preference for home births. Despite a high prevalence of delivery-related complications, medical intervention was sought in only a few cases, with many women relying on traditional birth attendants and home remedies. Postnatal care remained inadequate, and only a small proportion received assistance from healthcare workers. Common postpartum complications, such as excessive bleeding and persistent back pain, were frequently reported, yet institutional healthcare was rarely sought, with traditional healing practices being the preferred option. The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced maternal healthcare interventions, a stronger role for trained health functionaries, and greater awareness of the benefits of institutional deliveries and postnatal care in tribal communities

The future strength of every developing country is judged by the wealth and health of its people. Nutritional inequality leads to other forms of social inequalities. Hence nutritional inequalities have great importance in the public health dimension to identify the more underprivileged communities. Thus, the study aims to evaluate the prevalence of nutritional indicators i.e., stunting, wasting, underweight and anthropometric failure among preschool children of two tribal communities of Korba district, Chhattisgarh, India. A total of 209 [102 Birhor (PVTG) and 107 Kawar (non-PVTG)] preschool children were randomly selected and anthropometrically measured through standard procedure and techniques. The nutritional indicators i.e., wasting, stunting and underweight were assessed by WHO (2006) classification, then categorised into different anthropometric failures (Nandy et al., 2005). The age, sex and tribe combined prevalence of wasting; stunting and underweight were 19.2%, 42.6% and 34.0% respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of one or more types of anthropometric failure (B-Y) was 56% among studied children. The prevalence of nutritional indicators [wasting (χ2=16.37; p<0.05) and underweight (χ2=15.46; p<0.05)] and anthropometric failure (χ2=24.52; p<0.05) was found significantly higher among Birhor children than Kawar children. The study concluded that the nutritional status of studied children was disastrous and the primitive tribal group are more deprived, facing severe nutrition insecurity.

This paper explores the challenges and opportunities of digital preservation in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, with a special focus on the Manjusha art of the Ang region. It also explores the complex relationship between technological innovation and the preservation, documentation and promotion of cultural heritage. The findings reveal key obstacles in digitization including digital obsolescence, accessibility barriers, copyright complexities, data security risks, and resource limitations. Conversely the study also highlights how digital tools enhance the archival, dissemination and accessibility of cultural artifacts, traditions and languages. The study examines the characteristics of digital preservation methods, analyzing their role in mediating the relationship between modern society and cultural traditions.

The development of culture is a historical process. Our ancestors played an important role in building our culture and heritage. Our ancestors also added new ideas to the culture and this process of progress in cultural heritage is going on since ancient times. Thus culture is passed from one generation to the next. The idea of humanity and peace can also be considered as the cultural heritage that our ancestors have provided to us. There are many ancient heritage sites in India. Some of these heritages are Taj Mahal, Agra Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Delhi and Golden Temple, Punjab etc. The architecture of these heritage buildings is unique where the Taj Mahal is listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This article throws light on Indian history and culture through these heritages.

The Silk saree industry is one of the most female-dominated industries in the world, with more than eighty percent of the workforce being female and the second most direct and indirect employment generator after agriculture in India. Nevertheless, nowadays, as we know, the decrease in female workers in the global textile industry has positive and negative effects. The positive side is that women have become more empowered through improved economic conditions, the provision of formal employment, and the acquisition of digital skills through the Indian government schemes, Skills India and Digital India. Skills India is a government initiative to provide youth skill development and vocational training, and Digital India is a program to transform India into a digitally empowered society. These initiatives have significantly empowered women weavers by providing them with the necessary skills and formal employment opportunities. The negative side is that women face several problems. However, the increase in the number of female textile workers has exposed them to incidents of gender-based violence, harassment, overwork, poor working conditions, and underpayment. The paper will discuss the negative and positive points of working women in the Varanasi silk saree industry and women’s social and economic lives. For the study, 100 sample sizes were taken through purposive sampling, and an interview schedule was used to collect data. The paper finds that most women weavers face multiple layers of intermediate, unequal pay, and discrimination in the Varanasi saree industry. Women workers state that they were not recognized as workers and faced low wage problems and poor working and living conditions. The government’s role in ensuring recognition and support for these women as workers is not just essential