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Chapter-5 Anthropology in India

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Q1. Explain the growth of Social/Cultural anthropology in India from its
formative phase to itsEvaluative phase.
Or
Into how many phases the growth of anthropology in India was divided by
D.N. Majumdar and L. P.Vidyarthi? Explain?
Ans. Anthropology is a young discipline in India. By the term ‘Indian Anthropology’,
Andre Beteille (1996) wanted to mean the study of Society and Culture in India, by the
anthropologists, irrespective of their nationality. There were many anthropologists
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inside or outside of India who took interest in the study of Indian society and culture.
However, anthropology owes its origin in the latter half of the nineteenth century with
the ethnographic compilation of tradition, custom and belief of different tribes and caste
in various provinces of India. Prof D.N. Majumdar found the beginning of Indian
Anthropology in the establishment of Asiatic Society of Bengal that was inaugurated by
Sir William Jones in 1774. But there is no convincing evidence for an emergence of
anthropology in India during eighteenth century. It is true that the Asiatic Society began
to publish essays of anthropological and antiquarian interest in its journal and
proceedings, but all those were written by government Officials and missionaries who
had no academic interest.
Based on the type of the work that was being done in anthropology, authors have
divided anthropology into 3 or 4 phases, although Indian anthropologists such as L. P.
Vidyarthi, D. N. Majumdar and Basu Roy differ in their opinion pertaining to different
time periods. The following are the phases of development of anthropology in India.
(i) The Formative Phase (1774-1919): The establishment of Asiatic society of
Bengal in 1774 is considered as beginning of scientific study of ‘nature and man’ in
India. A number of anthropological studies were initiated by the efforts of Asiatic society
under the leadership of the founder—President Sir William Zones.
The Society gave birth of a Journal in which scholarly interests on the diversity of Indian
customs were reflected. British administrators, missionaries, travelers and other write is
used to get a scope to publish their collected information on tribal culture and rural life.
Not only a single journal of Asiatic Society had made its appearance in 1784, a number
of journals came one by one like Indian Antiquary in 1872, journal of Bihar and Orissa
Research Society in 1915 and Man in India in 1921. Also a series of district gazetteers
and handbooks appeared containing ethnographic notes on tribes and castes.
Some monographs were especially designed with the tribes of Assam. The purpose of
these publications was to acquaint the Government Officials and private personnel with
the nature of regional tribes and castes in order to ensure effective Colonial
Administration.

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