ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
In the year under report, the survey has covered various socio- economic, cultural, bio-anthropological and genetic problems of the Indian population including those ethnic groups which are isolated in remote Himalayan areas in the North and Andaman and Nicobar in the South. The main features and results of the research activities are stated below:
Cultural Anthropology Division (a) The field work on the major projects of "Study of the weaker sections of the Indian population" has been completed. The study shows that in general the weaker sections have not been able to improve their economic and political position in the rural areas. In eastern India, although the upper castes are not in any dominant position as regards the control of means of production, the general socioeconomic position of the rural population has not been better than that of their counterparts in other areas of India. A fuller report is being prepared.
(b) In the project namely "Society and Culture among the people of the Himalayan Border Area: Structure and Change" 8 ethnic groups were included in the study selected for the region extending between Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Of the groups studied, reports on the Ladakhi of J & K and Kinnauris of Himachal Pradesh have been prepared. The reports on the remaining groups are progressing.
Besides the above, the survey has been conducting studies on a number of research problems covering different ethnic groups, classified into the following perspectives of Anthropological Re- search.
(a)Ethnographic studies: In this sphere, various ethnic groups relating to the weaker sections of population were studied. In one of the projects, ethnographic information on an isolated group of tribal population of Arunachal Pradesh has been collected.
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(b)Area study: Under this project, 7 ethnic groups of Chhatisgarh in Madhya Pradesh and the Loi Tribe of Manipur have been studied. Two reports on the Chhatisgarh communities have been prepared.
(c) Studies on rural problems:In this category certain selected problems among the different ethnic groups were, studied for knowing the nature and peculiarities of rural socio-economic and cultural life. Field investigations were made in various regions on socio-economic conditions and class formations, agricultural innovation, socio-economic study of sweeper community, indigenous practice of medicine, cultural and linguistic mode of communication.
(d) Study of political problems To study the political aspects of the cultural life of selected groups of backward and tribal communities, information has been collected on the movement of "Ujoi Assan Rajya Parishad", and "Vai" concept of the Mizo of Mizoram, the problems of castes and political identity in a Telengana village, political structure of the Gonda of Central India, and socio-political movement among the Harijans of Karanataka.
(e) Industrialisation: The impact of industrialisation on the tribal and rural population in various regions has been studied. In some more regions the study is continuing.
(f) Urban problems The survey made a cross-cultural study of the different communities in the cities of Shillong and Calcutta. Three reports have been prepared in this connection.
(g) Psychological studies: In this category some interesting psycho-cultural aspects of certain ethnic group have been studied. They include inter-ethnic relation among the communities of Chamoli and Uttar Kasi districts of Uttar Pradesh and child-rearing practices among the tribes of India child- rearing practices among the Mahars of Nagpur and effect of contact, mental health and intelligence of the Juang of Orissa.
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(h) Linguistic Studies: In order to highlight the peculiarities of lesser known tribal languages, the survey has been conducting studies on the Sherpa language: of Darjeeling district of Himalayas, ethnic groups of Tripura State, the Pahira dialect of Bihar, languages of the Kuku Wanchoo of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and inter-tribal communication in the Barma district of Orissa. Besides these, a socio-linguistic study of an Andhra village and compilation of socio-linguistic publication on South Indian languages have been made.
The folk tales of Tripura and Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh have been compiled and a special study on the folk songs and folk life in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh has been going on.
(i) Studies on ecological problem: In this category selected problems of ecology and cultural adjustment have been studied in the Kameng district and Dhaphabhim area of Arunachal Pradesh, among the Shompen of Great Nicobar Island, and in four selected villages of West Bengal and Karnataka.
Out of the research activities, sixty one papers and seven memoirs were, prepared for publication by the members of the Survey. The different libraries have acquired 1720 books and 1921 journals. In the Clearing House Unit more than 1000 paper clippings on anthropological and socioeconomic interest, published in the important newspapers of India, have been compiled and a hand-book for use of persons: interested in anthropological research is being prepared.
Physical Anthropology Division. Under the All India Bio-anthropological Project taken up in 1973, three rounds of field investigation have so far been completed covering 25,000 households spread over 250 locations. The analysis of data relating to the physical constitution of the people and the ;incidence of genetic defects, cogenital anomalies, disabilities, etc. is in progress.
A volume entitled "Bio-anthropological research in India" has recently been published. This contains 37 informative reports on physical anthropology and human biology with special reference to India.
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A complete inventory of the ancient and modern skeletal collections in the custody of the Anthropological Survey of India is being prepared. Chemical treatment for the preservation of ancient skeletal remains has been continued. A report on the Bronze Age people of Harappa, is being finalized.
A report on the Negritos of Little Andaman Island was selected by the Calcutta University for the award of Sir Asutosh Mookherjee Gold Medal. Another report entitled "Progressive decline, in stature in the population of India" was selected for the award of Bengal Immunity Research Prize.
Research work for establishing the norms of deciduous teeth eruption has been continued. Skeletal development is being assessed from the X-ray plates of hand and wrist bones. An odontometric study of the modern and ancient Indian populations has been completed.
Reports on Inaantigen, fertility and morality of cancer patients, selection and intensity against diabetes mellitus, taste threshold for phenyl-thiocarbamide, sickle cell trait and malaria, colour vision deficiency, and dermatoglyphics of several ethnic groups have been completed. A genetic survey has been completed among the tribal people of Surguja District of Madhya Pradesh. Genetic studies are in progress among the Central and Western Himalayan populations. The Collection of blood samples and demogenetic data has been carried on under the projects "Causes of spontaneous abortion: A study in blood group imcompatibilty" and "Congenital malformations and genetic disorders among the Bengalees".
Studies in teh genetical demography of cancer, diabetes melli- tus and haemophilia are in progress. The effects of seasonal variation in food consumption on physique are being assessed among the Juang people of Orissa by biochemical and anthropometric methods. The techniques for detecting lactase deficiency and milk intolerance are being standardized. Investigation has been taken up in mental hospitals under the project "Mental disorders and dermatoglyphics".