Berlin: Irawati Karve became India’s first female anthropologist, delving into uncharted territories by studying tribes that had previously been overlooked. Her work often took her deep into the rainforest, where she was accompanied by her children on various expeditions.
According to BBC, in 1927, Karve challenged the prevailing racist theories of Eugen Fischer, a notable German professor, during her PhD studies in Berlin. She was a pioneer in scientifically refuting the use of human differences as a basis for discrimination, being the first to do so in her field.
Her granddaughter, Urmilla Deshpande, recently shared insights into Karve’s life and career with Reena Stanton-Sharma, shedding light on her contributions to anthropology and her role as a trailblazer for women in the field.