The concept of ‘human security’ has initiated the debate – what ‘security’ means and how to achieve it. The varied notions and concepts of human security initiated an interesting debate. Justice, equality and human dignity are the watch words of human rights discourse and intimately connected with human security. But the inequity of the international economic order has produced unacceptable levels of inequality, both internally and internationally.

The concept of 'human security' has been defined and pursued in different ways by different nation states as a means of reducing the human costs of violent conflicts, as a strategy to enable governments to address basic human needs and offset the inequities of globalization, and as a means to provide social safety nets to impoverished, marginalized people.

Going beyond ‘security’ in the military or political context, human security also requires environmental, resource and livelihood security. Security and Equality are prerequisites for stability and sustainability. Anthropology and the social sciences have a vital role to play in clarifying and developing principles, norms, rules and institutions to undertake action towards such an understanding of security, and in participating in the dialogue among citizens and policy makers.

The papers included in this volume presented in an international conference seek to create a platform for interdisciplinary research with cross-cultural data  to contribute to transformations to a sustainable world. Anthropology with its holistic approach is well positioned to address some of these challenges and may contribute to a more just world order.

Prof. Buddhadeb Chaudhuri is the Honourary Member of International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES). He is also the Founder  Chairperson of IUAES Commission on Human Rights. His expertise in the field of Medical Anthropology, Anthropology of Human Rights, Culture of Peace studies and conflict resolution is globally reputed to everyone. He was the former Dr. Ambedkar Chair Professor in the Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta. He was also the founder of Post graduate course on Human Rights and Professor, South and Southeast Asian Studies in the Calcutta University. He was the Visiting Fellow of Helsinki University, Visiting Professor of Warsaw University, Guest Professor of Yunnan Minzu University-China. He was Senior Fellow, ICSSR and Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.  He has completed more than 30 research projects funded by National and International organizations like UGC, ICSSR, UNESCO, WHO etc. He has written around 30 books and many research papers, articles in Nationally and Internationally reputed journals of Anthropology and Social sciences. He is also a Member of the Editorial Board of many National/International Journals. He is the member of several State level, National level and Globally famous academic as well as administrative bodies. (www.prof.b.chaudhuri.net; buddhadebc@gmail.com)

Subir Biswas is Professor & former Head, department of Anthropology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, Kolkata. Earlier he was an Assistant professor at department of anthropology of North Bengal University (since 2001). His area of interests are Anthropological demography, Gender, Health and Bioethics. He has to his credit several research projects of UGC, ICSSR, CWS(NBU), UGC-IUC Associateship at IIAS, Shimla; and successfully guided five doctorate scholars. He has published five edited books as well as several research articles of anthropological interests published in national and international journals. (gargisubir@gmail.com)