(a) How the theories of postmodernism are relevant in promoting social justice and empowerment of marginalised communities? (20…

Postmodernism, Social Justice, and Marginalised Empowerment

Postmodernism revolutionized anthropological inquiry by challenging universalist grand narratives that legitimized dominant power structures. Jean-François Lyotard’s critique of metanarratives and Michel Foucault’s formulation of power/knowledge (pouvoir-savoir) exposed how institutional discourses systematically marginalize subaltern worldviews. Concurrently, Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction provided the conceptual apparatus to dismantle Eurocentric, paternalistic development models that imposed top-down modernizing frameworks onto local cultures.

Methodologically, postmodernism introduced reflexivity, positionality, and collaborative ethnography, transforming marginalized subjects from passive informants into active co-producers of anthropological knowledge. Through Participatory Action Research (PAR), marginalized communities assert agency over their own socio-cultural representation. In the Indian context, these theoretical shifts facilitate the empowerment of Dalits and Adivasis by de-centring Brahmanical and colonial epistemologies. By validating oral histories, ethno-epistemic traditions, and subaltern lived experiences, postmodern anthropology supports indigenous rights, grassroots advocacy under the Forest Rights Act (FRA, 2006), and the broader decolonization of academic and policy discourse.

Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in Health and Disease

Genome-wide Disease Association Studies have significantly advanced biomedical anthropology by scanning the entire genome to pinpoint Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) statistically linked to disease vulnerability. Utilizing high-density SNP arrays, well-characterized case-control cohorts, and rigorous statistical corrections for population stratification, GWAS has transformed the understanding of complex, non-communicable diseases. It has elucidated the polygenic architecture of conditions such as Type-2 Diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, and autoimmune disorders.

Beyond etiology, GWAS underpins precision medicine through the construction of Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS), which quantify individual disease susceptibility, and through pharmacogenomics, which predicts adverse drug reactions and optimizes therapeutic interventions.

However, critical limitations persist. GWAS encounters the problem of "missing heritability," where identified common variants account for only a fraction of phenotypic variance, often overlooking structural variants, rare mutations, and gene-environment interactions. Furthermore, GWAS exhibits a pronounced Eurocentric bias, as non-European populations remain significantly underrepresented in major genomic databases. Addressing this disparity requires inclusive initiatives like the GenomeIndia Project to map population-specific disease loci accurately.

Forensic Utility of Human Remains and Facial Reconstruction

The forensic analysis of human skeletal remains provides vital medico-legal intelligence by establishing the biological profile of deceased individuals. Forensic anthropologists analyze osteological and dental markers to determine biological sex (via pelvic and cranial dimorphism), chronological age at death (epiphyseal fusion, pubic symphyseal metamorphosis), ancestral affiliation through morphoscopic traits, and living stature using long-bone regression equations. Furthermore, distinguishing between ante-mortem, peri-mortem trauma, and post-mortem taphonomic alterations assists in reconstructing the cause and manner of death, as well as estimating the Post-Mortem Interval (PMI). These techniques are indispensable in criminal investigations and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI), as demonstrated during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

When decomposed or skeletal remains preclude visual, dental, or DNA identification, facial reconstruction is deployed to trigger public recognition. Anthropometric reconstruction includes the Russian anatomical method developed by Mikhail Gerasimov, which builds musculature directly upon the cranium, and the American method, which utilizes standardized average soft-tissue depth pegs across anatomical landmarks. Modern forensic anthropology increasingly utilizes computerized 3D modeling, laser surface scanning, and forensic DNA phenotyping to objectively predict soft-tissue features and pigmentation. In India, such cranial reconstructions have provided critical investigative breakthroughs in unidentified skeleton cases, including the Purulia skeleton investigations.

Ultimately, the theoretical reflexivity of postmodernism and the empirical rigor of genomic and forensic methods demonstrate anthropology's broad relevance. Bridging these distinct paradigms ensures that technological precision and ethical, decolonized methodologies combine to advance evidence-based policy, human rights, and social justice.