ANTHROPOLOGY
 

The Anthropological Survey of India continued during the year their various research and publication programmes. An account of their work is given in this chapter.

A. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY DIVISION

Seminar on the Contemporary Tribal Movement.-A seminar was held in September, 1976 to discuss the origin, motivation and nature of the various ethnocentric, socioeconomic and religious movements among the tribes of India. Besides the research workers of the Survey, several scholars from various universities and organisations also participated in it. About fifty papers were presented and discussed. The seminar proceedings, which were under publication, would throw light on the emerging socio-political developments in tribal India.

Seminar on the Study of Ethnic Groups on the Himalayan Border Area.-This seminar was held from 30th July to 6th August, 1976, to discuss the studies made by the research workers of the Survey on the ethnic groups in the northern Himalayan areas of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, UP hill districts, Darjeeling Himalayan areas and Arunachal Pradesh. Twentynine papers were read and discussed. A publication containing these papers was under preparation.

Colloquia Programme.-A systematic programme for holding colloquia on different aspects of anthropology and allied subjects was initiated. So far, more than fifty lectures and demonstrations were held at the headquarters and various regional offices of the Survey.

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Ethnographic Studies on Tribes and Ethnic Groups.-Special were made on the Onge of Little Andamans, and on th surviving members of Great Andamanese with emphasis on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of these two peoples. Studies of the socioeconomic problems of the Central Nicobarese and the Shompen of Great Nicobar were also made. The other studies include the Pengo, Saora and Mankidi of Orissa; Kharia of West Bengal; Wanchoo, Tangsa and Singhpho of Arunachal Pradesh ; Chakma of Tripura, Kondakanna of Andhra Pradesh and Mala-Aryan of Kerala.

Besides these, field work on the Hill Sholiga of Mysore, Bhils and Garasia of Rajasthan, ethnic groups of Kuli and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Kasi and Chamoli districts of Uttar Pradesh was conducted. Field studies in connection with the area study for investigating the problems of various ethnic groups of Chattishgarh area of Madhya Pradesh were completed. A study on the effect of Islamisation on the Bhils of Central India has been made recently.

Studies on the Rural Problems.-The studies initiated by the Survey in this category include the following :-

(a) Comparative study of ethnography and change in three villages in Goa, Daman, and Diu;

(b) Changing class structure, and social and cultural organisation of agriculture in two villages of West Bengal

(c) Rural castes and community in lower Assam, socioeconomic problems of a Multi-ethnic village in Champaran district of Bihar;

(d) Socio-linguistic study of Scarrenger of Karnataka ;

(e) Bonded labourers of Uttar Pradesh hills districts ; and

(f) Folk dance of Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, a sacred socio-religious complex of rural West Bengal and Hindi translation of the folk tales of maria Gonds of Baster.

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Study on the Problems of Industrialisation and Urbanisation. A report on the Santals living in the coal-field areas of Jharia and Raniganj of Bihar and West Bengal was prepared. A pilot study on the socioeconomic condition of the tribal labourers of North Bengal and adjoining areas of Assam was also made.

On the problems of urbanisation, a study of the different aspects of society and culture of various communities of Calcutta was made, and a monograph was under preparation. Studies on the role of Hindu and Muslim women in a slum area of Calcutta, social organisation of a factory in the industrial suburbs of Calcutta, and development of public utility system of Mysore city were completed.

Study of Problems of Ethno-psychology.-Studies on problems of aptitude, abilities, cultural contact and. personality formations were made on the Mizo tribal students of Shillong, Juangs of Orissa, Santals of Santal Parganas and Dhanbad district of Bihar, Oraons and Chamars of Ranchi district of Bihar. Riangs of Tripura State and glum-dwellers and mental patients of Calcutta.

Linguistic Studies.-Studies on the medium of cultural com- munication in Darjeeling Himalayan areas, in a village of Andhra Pradesh, status Tibeto-Burma languages of Uttar Pradesh hill districts, and inter-tribal communication in Orissa were conducted. Besides these, a descriptive study on the Wanchoo language of Arunachal Pradesh, Onge language of Little Andamans, linguistic sub- grouping of Manipur State and socio-linguistic survey of Tripura State were completed.

Studies of Ecological Problems.-Six reports were prepared on the land use patterns of selected places of Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal. These studies give varying pictures of land utilisation between the hills and plant-areas of two different, ecological environment. Sixteen maps and diagrams were prepared in connection with publication and research work of the Survey.

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Printing and Publication-12 books, monographs and bulletins were published and 9 were under printing. Sale of publications of the Survey yielded Rs. 7,000 during the year.

Collaborative Research Programme.-Six universities, namely, Punjab University, Utkal University, Karnataka University, Ranchi University, Gauhati University and Delhi University are participating the collaborative research programme of the Survey.

Museums.-A seminar was held at Calcutta in June 1976 in connection with the development of the regional museums of the Survey. A report containing information in collecting, preserving and displaying ethnographic specimens at the various regional museums was prepared.

A workshop on the National Museum of Man was organised at Simla, and tentative blue-print for the development of the Museum was drawn up.

The Government of India constituted a National Committee to organise the International Congress of Anthropological and Ethno- logical Sciences to be held in India in 1978. The first meeting of the National Committee was held at Delhi in September. 1976. Several functional committees were formed for drawing up the programme and for making other necessary arrangements.

B. PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY DIVISION

Under the all-India bio-anthropological project started in 1972- 73, four rounds of field surveys were completed by the end of 1976-77, covering 30,900 households sampled from 309 locations. Arrangements were under way to take up the fifth and final round of field survey. The transcription and analysis of data relating to the demographic characteristics of the Indian population. physical constitution of the people, the incidence of congenital and genetic defects, frequencies of disabilities, morbid conditions, etc., were in progress.

The processing of the all-India Anthropometric Survey data (south zone) was in the final stage. The transcription, scrutiny

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and statistical analysis of the Survey material (north zone) were taken up.

An inventory of skeletal collections in the custody of the Anthropological Survey of India was under preparation. Reports on the Burzahom (Kashmir) and Kalibangan (Rajasthan) ancient human remains were being written.

Field investigation relating to the study of growth and develop- ment during adolescence was carried out among 1500 boys and girls of Midnapore district of West Bengal. Field work in a population showing stunted growth, goitre, mental retardation and deformities was completed in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The longitudinal study of the eruption of deciduous teeth and the development of bones was continued in order to estimate the growth and maturity norms of Bengali boys and girls. Reports on inbreeding among Tamil Brahmins, the physique of Nicobarese women, and the Kota women were made ready for publication. A report of the problem of human, adaptation with special reference of India was completed. The growth and development data collected from 950 Muslim girls of Murshidabad district of West Bengal. were partly analysed. Field work relating to the growth study of tribal children in Surguja district of Madhya Pradesh was completed. A book, 'Physical Anthropoloy of the Nicobarese' (Memoir No. 34 of the Anthropological Survey of India) was published. A blood group genetical survey was undertaken in four tribal populations, namely, the Korwa, Kawar, Nagesia, and Kharwar, in Surguja district of Madhya Pradesh. Population genetic research was in progress among the western Himalayan populations. The projects on blood group incompatibility, spontaneous abortion and congenital malformation were under way.

Dermatoglyphic research was conducted on the populations of West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andaman Islands. Field work in connection with project 'Dermatoglyphics and Mental Disorders' was carried out in Tamilnadu and Kerala. A report on the demogenetics of cancer was prepared. Pedigrees and other

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relevant information were obtained from diabetics and their relatives in order to elucidate the genetic component of diabetes mellitus.

A diet survey was conducted in Agathi and Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep. Data on economic background, nutrition and anthropometry were collected. A report entitled 'Hunger and Nutritional Anthropometry of a Primitive Tribe showing Steady Population Decline' based on nutritional studies of the Juange of Keonjhar district, Orissa, was completed.