Academics

Abstract: Anthropology as a discipline has transformed from studying non-Western exotic cultures to solving complex contemporary global problems. In this paper, we would like to share a perspective on Applied Anthropology, particularly the Anthropology of Plastics. We tried to shed light on the problem of plastics and how anthropology as a discipline can understand the complexity and the cultural aspects of dealing with it. The theoretical innovations, methodological approaches and human-centric interventions to deal with the problem. This paper is based on a review of the literature of various authors and a comprehensive analysis of each of them. We aim to uncover the possibilities of how Anthropology as a discipline can solve the global problem of Plastics. We mainly focused on the medical waste and how single-use plastic in the healthcare industry is dealing with it. To approach this question, we tried to follow a trans-disciplinary approach in which the concepts from Medical Anthropology, Discard Studies, Science and Technology Studies, and Sustainability were used. Methodological innovations such as Follow-the-thing, Life Cycle Analysis, Visual Ethnography, and Co-design workshops, apart from anthropology’s core Ethnography. Theoretical innovations include marginality, politics of waste, Biomedical waste protocols, and sustainability. This paper tried to link all these theories and methods to investigate the problem of Plastics.

 Keywords: Single-Use Plastics, Sustainability, Medical Waste, Transdisciplinarity.

Abstract: This study examines the healthcare ecosystem of Rampatnam, a coastal fishing village in Andhra Pradesh, India, by exploring traditional ethno-medical practices, Ayurveda, allopathy, and metaphysical understandings of health. Through a multifaceted methodological approach combining qualitative and quantitative research techniques, the study reveals a dynamic medical pluralism that reflects the community's adaptive healthcare strategies. The research demonstrates how the Pallekaru (Agnikula Kshatriya) fishing community navigates healthcare choices through a pragmatic lens, integrating multiple medical systems based on economic constraints, perceived efficacy, and cultural beliefs. Particularly notable are the community's ethno-medical practices, which utilise local botanical resources and traditional diagnostic methods, and their sophisticated approach to treating occupational health challenges. The study also illuminates the role of metaphysical interpretations of illness, such as beliefs surrounding the Evil Eye (Dhishti), which significantly influences health-seeking behaviours. Key findings indicate a generational shift from traditional to modern medical practices, with younger community members increasingly preferring allopathic treatments while older generations maintain connections to indigenous healing knowledge. The research highlights the entanglement of medical decision-making, where treatments are selected through a nuanced evaluation of economic resources, severity of illness, and cultural understanding of health and healing. 

Keywords: Ethno-medicine, Healthcare Practices, Medical Pluralism, Fishing Communities. 

Abstract: The contribution of men and women is equally essential for the development and progress of any society. Health and illness have played a significant role in determining the well-being of individuals in any culture or society. It has also been interconnected with the various social and cultural relations that make individuals follow healthcare practices daily. In this connection, this paper explicates fisher women's narratives, their perception of reproductive healthcare practices, and their role in managing various household chores. Notably, the health conditions that arise from early marriages, teenage pregnancies, Female Foeticide (Abortions), and Hysterectomy and their impact on women's empowerment are explored. Further, this paper also delineates attention to what kinds of decision-making occur at the household level for the sustainability of economic conditions and their social development. 

Keywords: Reproductive Healthcare, Fishing Community, Female Foeticide, Hysterectomy, Teenage Pregnancies.

Abstract: This paper endeavours to discern the patterns of emoji sage among the youth in India, aiming to uncover how factors such as rural-urban adaptations and gender-related behaviours influence their incorporation into communication practices. It explores the perceptions of Indian youth regarding specific emojis, such as , when employed in interactions with individuals of the opposite gender, shedding light on the aspects surrounding these symbolic representations. Furthermore, this research examines the neutrality of meaning and emotion associated with emojis. It investigates their integration into everyday digital communication spaces and technological adaptations. The paper also distinguishes the contrast between constrained face-to face communication and more open and liberal digital discourse, enriched with the infusion of emojis, by conducting group discussions and interviews. Emoji literacy, in particular, is diffused through digital cultural interactions, fostering a dynamic exchange of symbolic meanings from one individual to another. To achieve these objectives, qualitative research methods were employed, including in-depth interviews and case studies. 

Keywords: Digital communication, Emoji, Digital interaction.