Projit Mukharji, Associate Professor in History & Sociology of Science (University of Pennsylvania)
Roughly, the last three decades of British rule in South Asia produced a host of new scientific ways, such as serology and statistical analysis, for determining the identities of human beings. British administrator-ethnographers, however, were no longer the primary users of these new scientific methods. Rather, South Asian scientists now enthusiastically embraced these techniques. Their objective was to determine both the “racial history” and the “national futures” of subcontinental populations. This paper will explore how bodily traces, such as blood and bones, were scientifically collected and studied to produce new forms of identities located in the remote past or distant future.
Projit Bihari Mukharji is an Associate Professor in History & Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania. His work explores the intersections between the histories of science and the political and cultural histories of modern South Asia. His articles have appeared in journals such as the Comparative Studies in Society and History, Journal of Asian Studies, Indian Economic and Social History Review, Bulletin of the History of Medicine, Social History of Medicine and History of Science. He is also the author of Nationalizing the Body: The Medical Market, Print and Daktari Medicine (London, 2009) and Doctoring Traditions: Ayurveda, Small Technologies and Braided Sciences (Chicago, 2016).
- Science of Race March 11, 2019
slattia Projit Bihari Mukharji’s “Collecting Bodies, Bodily Collectives” was very interesting and unique from our other presentations, being that he approached the topic of “presence of the past” differently. As opposed ... - A Historic Look at Genes and Where They are Taking Us March 11, 2019
Grace Eagan Professor Projit Bihari Mukharji from the University of Pennsylvania began his talk on the bodily collectives with a present look at the Indian genome project. The purpose of this research ... - Removing Racialization from Informal Conversation March 11, 2019
Kallie Hutchinson In personal reflection of professor Projit Bihari Mukharji’s presentation, I am thinking a lot about the cultural significance of ethnicity and race. Previously in anthropology courses, I have been fascinated ... - Is there unity in diversity? March 11, 2019
Isabella Scribano Projit Bihari Mukharji’s lecture was all about how genetics affect race and the how Indian scientists have considered the dangers about using genetics to categorize people. He brought in many ... - Understanding Today With Help From the Past March 11, 2019
William Kirby I truly enjoyed Professor Projit Bihari Mukharji’s lecture on Collecting Bodies, Bodily Collectives. Determining the identity of human beings through acts of science and experimentation are nothing but fascinating to ... - Racism in the Name of Science March 11, 2019
easogu21 Projit Bihari Mukharji’s lecture on “Collecting Bodies, Bodily Collectives” explores how in India genetic research has been done to create a caste system between different socioeconomic groups. Countless studies have ... - Scientific Deception and Division March 11, 2019
Adam Zarfos In this discussion, we learned more about biological studies involving the human genome. This lecture was interesting to listen to because as an american studies major I have learned about ... - The Difficulty of Defining Race March 10, 2019
Nathaniel Dowd In this discussion, the general topic of discussion was talking about the elements that constitute what makes a race of people. And the takeaway message, revealed mainly in the questions ... - To Question Science (Is Good) March 10, 2019
Audrey Bell In the past, the subject of race has been viewed as an innate biological difference, often with the ill-intent of declaring one racial group superior to another. It would of ... - science as a justification for racism March 10, 2019
gohwil21 Projit Mukharji’s talk entitled “Collecting Bodies, Bodily Collectives” explored the relationship between genome projects, the biologization of race, and the ethics/practices behind these projects. Much of Dr. Mukharji’s lecture focused on the ...