Shanti Nagar : the effects of urbanization in a village in north India. 3, Sickness and health. Anthropological papers of the AMNH ; v. 55, pt. 5

Abstract

"Shanti Nagar during 1958 to 1959 was a village in the initial stages of response to modern urbanization, primarily emanating from Delhi, the capital city of India, which was experiencing rapid modernization and urbanization. One aspect of these changes was in the diverse patterns of health care which were practiced in the village. The changes, which were occurring with respect to health care, were slow and not always easy to detect, but some of the changes were with regard to a greater use of Ayurvedic medicine because of Arya Samaj influences, and others to a lesser degree with Western medicine. The health care system of Shanti Nagar comprised a composite use of curers and healing practices deriving from the Atharva-veda, Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine, and Western medicine. The present paper points out the concepts of sickness and health of the people of Shanti Nagar and how their system of belief regarding illness and healing was eclectic, often an article of faith, and at the same time pragmatic. It also provides indices of changes in health care"--P. 289.