IsKrä

In 1930, a 24 yr old Indian girl completed her PhD in Germany. Her thesis? To prove the superiority of the white race based on the measurements of German and East African skulls, to show that 'white skulls' had better developed right brains ( then known as the seat of reasoning and logic). This was the pet theory of her supervisor Eugen Fischer After meticulously examining 150 skulls, her findings led her to the opposite conclusion, a direct contradiction of her supervisor's theory. There was no difference between 'white' and 'coloured' skulls - and it must have taken a lot of guts to submit this thesis to him. She went on to become India's first female sociologist and anthropologist, led a brilliant academic life with her husband, the equally remarkable Dinkar Karve, and authored many books including my favorite - Yuganta Her PhD guide, Eugen Fischer went on to become a Nazi, his theories influenced policies reinforcing racial purity, like forced sterilization of mixed race children and anti Semitic Nuremburg laws Iru is a fascinating account of one of the pioneering women of India. Do read!