The journey for the discipline of anthropology has a witnessed varied growth pre and post-
independence. While the British (U.K) model has been main inspiration before
independence, the later stage was somehow more influenced by the American model.
Eventually this led to the greater exposure to three out of four main branches of
anthropology in the form of archaeological anthropology, biological anthropology and social
anthropology; leaving linguistic anthropology in a more rudimentary stage. In Calcutta it was
merely linguistic anthropology that was not found out of four branches, while it was
biological anthropology (also recognized as physical anthropology) that has been dominant
in the centres of Delhi and Punjab (mainly Chandigarh). The eastern and southern
educational centres has archaeological anthropology as a prominent branch but at the same
time efforts has been done in Hyderabad University to start linguistic anthropology.
However, these generalizations are broad and there are always exception. Hence the panel
seeks to discuss the trajectories of Indian anthropology through the lens of colonialism,
nationalism, neoliberalism and globalization, with the special reference to the sub-
disciplines and their interface. Anthropology as a study of the ‘other’ has been critiqued for
its biased nature however the idea of empirical other and epistemological other has brought
vibrancy to the discipline. This outlook, along with a cumulative contribution of sub-
disciplines of anthropology, can negate a turbulent past of anthropology in India to create a
distinctive and prosperous ‘Indian anthropology’. Therefore the panel proposes to strike
conversation around the issues that could further elevate the stature of anthropology
among academicians and the reach among masses.
