Author: kirankumbhar

I am a medical doctor and health policy graduate, and currently PhD student at Harvard University (history of science). I write primarily about public health and history of medicine in India.
History of Medicine · Medicine & Doctors · Public health

Understanding healthcare and medicine in India – by going above and beyond conventional sources

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I am a medical doctor currently studying the history of medicine and medical anthropology (PhD). After graduating (MBBS) in 2010, I worked as medical officer and resident doctor in some hospitals, both government and corporate, for four years, and then worked as a research assistant at the Public Health Foundation of India for a few months… Continue reading Understanding healthcare and medicine in India – by going above and beyond conventional sources

History · Politics

Creating a reliable, accessible resource for knowledge about India

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There is way too much fake and misleading laden ‘history’ floating around on social media and other corners of the Internet, deeply influencing people’s opinions and evaluations of events and personalities. [For one worrying example, see here.] I think, like many others, that we need to radically change the way we talk about the nation… Continue reading Creating a reliable, accessible resource for knowledge about India

Medicine & Doctors · Politics · Public health

Why Indians need to abandon the ‘Gujarat model’ style of thinking

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Recently the Maharashtra state govt hiked the user charges and fees in government hospitals. In a country where more than 60 million persons are pushed below the poverty line because of healthcare expenses and many millions more have to take huge loans, government hospitals raising their fees – while at the same time government employees… Continue reading Why Indians need to abandon the ‘Gujarat model’ style of thinking

Culture & Life · Public health · Uncategorized

The ‘missing women’ of India

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Amartya Sen introduced the term ‘missing women’, in the early 1990s, as a highly effective way of talking about the impact of gender discrimination in societies. This work is perhaps the finest example of Sen’s unique style of blending hard economics with ethics, social sensibilities, and humanitarianism, as well as advocating for social equality and… Continue reading The ‘missing women’ of India

Culture & Life

New Year’s resolutions for ‘frustrated’ Indians

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India currently is in a weird situation with citizens going after citizens to ostensibly protect politicians and the nation. Hardly have we seen such a state of affairs before, where concerned and worried Indians are labeled anti-national and every blunder of the government is vehemently defended by a section of educated citizens. Through this post… Continue reading New Year’s resolutions for ‘frustrated’ Indians