History, Livelihood, Culture & Women’s Health in Rajasthan
Georgetown Project RISHI works in the state of Rajasthan, India to provide health education materials to women and families. To effectively and responsibly volunteer with these communities, it is important to know the region and people we serve. This blog gives a brief overview of the rich history and culture of Rajasthan and places our women’s health work in context.
Rajasthan, meaning “The Land of Kings,” is a state in northwest India home to a rich history, landscape, and culture. Situated on the brink of the expansive Thar Desert and the Aravalli Mountain Range, Rajasthan is the largest state in India by land area, with the booming capital city of Jaipur (Lodrick 2024). It boasts a vast desert, mineral reserves, and land for agricultural development, which provides the livelihoods for its over 68 million residents (Lodrick 2024). Rajasthan’s population speaks over 17 different languages, practices over five different religions, and has a plethora of rich cultural traditions (Lodrick 2024).
Rajasthan is inhabited by many indigenous tribes, each with its unique ethnic, linguistic, and communal identity. It has seen the rise and fall of powerful dynasties including the Rajputs, Mughals, Marathas, and British– which left their mark on Rajasthan’s cultural, political, and architectural landscape. The Rajputs were the first major dynasty to establish themselves in Rajasthan, and they founded many princely states, building the over 250 forts that are now characteristic of the state’s architectural landscape (Lodrick 2024). The Mughal Empire expanded into Rajasthan in the 16th Century, centralizing the princely states and expanding on the grand palaces (Lodrick 2024). Finally, the Marathas emerged in the 18th century (Lodrick 2024).
Traditional Medicine in the Precolonial Period:
During this period, one of the world’s oldest medicine systems, Ayurveda, was developed and practiced in India. Ayurveda, meaning “the science of life,” was founded on principles of a human body-nature connection and influenced by indigenous religious traditions (Katewa et al. 2004). It involves the use of herbal medicines to treat ailments ranging from cough to irregular menstruation to snake bites. Women often took on the role of a ‘community healer’ and some were traditional midwives called dhais (Katewa et al. 2004). It is important to note that traditional medicine and Ayurveda is used today, especially in tribal communities, and knowledge of specific healing practices is passed down as sacred knowledge between generations (Katewa et al. 2004).
However, British colonization (1840-1947) marked a period of political consolidation and subjugation of the native peoples, the effects of which are still felt. The British Raj controlled the policies of the princely states which affected land distribution and infrastructure development (Lodrick 2024). First, the Zamindari land system, implemented by the British, reallocated large swaths of land to wealthy aristocrats and forced peasants into indentured servitude (Lodrick 2024). This disproportionately harmed women and rural laborers as land-ownership was restricted to males and wealthy individuals.
Colonial Medicine & Women:
The colonial period brought the introduction of ‘western’ medicine and the modification of conceptions of reproductive health in India. First, the first medical school in India, Calcutta Medical College, was created by the British to administer European medicine and pseudomedicine (Mukherjee 2017). However, the presence of women at this institution as patients and doctors was limited. Furthermore, the colonial period saw attempts to modernize reproductive education, blaming dhais (midwives) for high maternal mortality and introducing British conceptions of an ‘ideal housewife’ (Mukherjee 2017). Despite movements to improve maternal health, women and children were still disproportionately vulnerable during childbirth and famines.
Today, Rajasthan is one of the less urbanized states in India, with 77% of the total population residing in rural areas (Lodrick 2024). While west Rajasthan is relatively arid and infertile due to the Thar Desert, the southwestern part of the state possesses fertile and hilly land prime for agriculture. Crops such as mustard, rapeseed, and millet are grown using innovative water collection systems that preserve water from the yearly monsoon season (Lodrick 2024). Over 60% of the population participates in the agricultural industry for their livelihoods, including many of the villages we work with (Lodrick 2024). Furthermore, Rajasthani communities have communal agriculture practices, where everyone collectively partakes in cultivation. Women, in particular, play an important role in both crop production and household development as they provide food and care for vulnerable community members (Lodrick 2024). Other notable industries include animal husbandry of camels, mining, textile, and tourism.
Women’s Livelihoods & Health:
Today, the Rajasthani government has made significant strides in improving health infrastructure, specifically in rural areas. In 2009, they passed the National Rural Health Mission, which seeks to strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure and train health workers. Under this program, the Rajasthani government has committed to improving maternal and child health (Iyengar 2009). The Indian federal government has also created programs to subsidize healthcare and encourage low-income households to seek medical attention (Dupas et al. 2021). The combination of these state and federal policies have increased life expectancy and lowered maternal mortality slightly (Iyengar 2009). However, studies also show that gender disparities prevent rural women from seeking medical attention, as women in Rajasthan make up just 45% of total hospital visits (Dupas et al. 2021). As such, there is still room for improvement of female and child health outcomes.
Rajasthan is home to multiple major religions (Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, and Sikhism), at least 17 different major and tribal languages, and hundreds of unique customs (Ministry of Tourism 2024). Furthermore, differences between groups serve to strengthen community identities and are influenced by factors like geography, local crops, and history. For example, a staple in western Rajasthani cuisine is lentils (daals) that can be cooked with little water and stored in the dry desert climate (Ministry of Tourism 2024). Additionally, the folk music and traditional performances– like the ghoomar, raas, and kalbelia dances– of the Bikaner region are deeply rooted in its history (Ministry of Tourism 2024). Despite individual differences, however, a central Rajasthani identity does emerge. Important festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Teej are celebrated widely (Ministry of Tourism 2024). Rajasthani citizens pride themselves in the craftsmanship, history, and political identity that characterizes their state.
Georgetown Project RISHI currently conducts its projects and workshops in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Ajmer, meaning “Invincible Hill,” is one of the oldest cities in India and has a population of about 2.5 million, with over half of the population residing in rural areas (Pedgaonkar et al. 2019). About 83.5% of the population identifies as Hindu and 11.85% identifies as Muslim, with Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Christianity also represented (Pedgaonkar et al. 2019). Furthermore, Ajmer is particularly unique as all religions celebrate the death anniversary of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti, a figure important to its history (Pedgaonkar et al. 2019). At Georgetown Project RISHI, we focus our projects on menstrual health and iron-deficiency anemia, two health issues which are of concern in this region. For example, a recent study finds that just 12% of women in rural Rajasthan use sanitary pads during their period (Bedi et al. 2023). As much of the population is socially conservative, taboos around menstruation and gender norms continue to be a barrier to healthcare access for many women.
Cultural Competency at Georgetown Project RISHI:
Ultimately, the diversity that exists in Rajasthan and Ajmer is one of the factors that make it a thriving and beautiful state. This diversity also creates unique nuances and challenges when trying to address healthcare accessibility. Recognizing and respecting these nuances is an essential first step that we can take to adequately meet the needs of the communities that we serve at Project RISHI. Fostering cultural competency makes our initiatives more effective and promotes mutual respect between us and our partners. As we create new programs in conjunction with our local NGO partners, we understand the importance in continuing to educate ourselves on Rajasthan, its history, people, and diversity.
References
Bedi, Renu, et al. “A Study on Menstrual Hygiene Practices and Management Among Adolescent Girls of UHTC and RHTC Areas of JLN Medical College, Ajmer, Rajasthan: A Cross Sectional Study .” Indian Journal of Applied Research, vol. 13, no. 6, 2023, https://doi.org/10.36106/ijar.
Dupas, Pascaline, and Radhika Jain. “Women Left Behind: Gender Disparities in Utilization of Government Health Insurance in India.” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3875139.
Iyengar, Sharad D., et al. “Maternal Health: A Case Study of Rajasthan.” Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, vol. 27, no. 2, Sept. 2009, pp. 271–92. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v27i2.3369.
Katewa, S. S., et al. “Folk Herbal Medicines from Tribal Area of Rajasthan, India.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 92, no. 1, May 2004, pp. 41–46. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.01.011.
Lodrick, David. Rajasthan | History, Map, Capital, Population, & Facts | Britannica. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Rajasthan.
Ministry of Tourism. “Rajasthan Heritage and Culture.” Rajasthan Foundation, 2024, https://foundation.rajasthan.gov.in/HeritageCulture.aspx.
Mukherjee, Sujata. Gender, Medicine, and Society in Colonial India: Women’s Health Care in Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Bengal. First edition., Oxford University Press, 2017.
Pedgaonkar, Sarang, et al. State and Districts of Rajasthan, National Family Health Survey. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2019.
