Arnab was trained as historian of health, medicine, and diseases but has since expanded his interest areas further to health policy
studies, global, and planetary health. He is currently working on a couple of main projects - one is a book project on his PhD research
and the other is on Tuberculosis control and prevention measures in the Western Pacific region – specifically Fiji and the Philippines.
His current research lies at the intersection of health policies, migration studies, and the history of medicine in non-western countries.
Alongside, he is also currently associated with multiple projects as part of the Research Centre for Health and Wellbeing on planetary
health, climate change, and understanding gender issues in disaster areas. Arnab joined Shanghai University as a post-doctoral fellow,
and after completing his fellowship now continues to be part of the department as a faculty member.
He has been associated with a leading journal Medical History, published by the Cambridge University Press as their Assistant Editor
since 2019.
Research Supervision
Arnab is open to discussing research proposals for postgraduate study on a variety of subjects related to his research expertise.
Research Interests and Expertise
History of Medicine in South and Southeast Asia
19th and 20th Centuries history of Empires and health
History of Science and Technologies
Climate change, planetary health, and health policies
Teaching and Supervision
Arnab currently teaches a module on Global Health Histories. It is a module designed to inform students about the development of
healthcare – Western and traditional - from 19th century to the current times.
Current Projects
1. Embracing knowledge and Expertise: Women’s Leadership and Participation in addressing climate-driven humanitarian emergencies
across Asia and the Pacific
This is a project in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). Arnab is
working on this project with Professor Janaka Jayawickrama and Dr Yue Gue, and has established country partners in 18 different
countries in Asia and the Pacific, the goal is to write a policy brief, a discussion paper, and finally a story book to inform the UN about
local communities, and leadership from women and girls in disaster affected areas.
2. Tuberculosis in Fiji’s Marginalized Communities – with Dr Mumtaz Alam, Fiji National University.
This project involves the marginalized communities in Fiji to understand their plight in countering issues related to climate change,
health, and diseases.
Select Publications
Chakraborty, Arnab. “Negotiating Medical Services in the Madras Presidency: The Subordinate
Perspectives (1882–1935).” Medical History 65, no. 3 (2021): 247–66.
Chakraborty, Arnab. “COVID-19 response in South Asia: Case studies from India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.”, Isis, volume 114,
number S1, 2023. © 2023 History of Science Society.
“A Brief Social History of Tuberculosis: Key Challenges to Global Health”, Ed. Arnab
Chakraborty, Janaka Jayawickrama, Yong-an Zhang (Routledge, forthcoming October 2024)
“Climate Change, Population Health and Island States: Socio-Cultural Dimensions”. Ed. Janaka
Jayawickrama, Arnab Chakraborty, Yong-an Zhang (Routledge, forthcoming March 2025)
More details of his work and projects can be found here: https://health-wellbeing.net
