Anthropology in the Making: The Indian Experience

History of Indian anthropology was never given due importance by our anthropologies. It neither formed a part of the teaching curriculum nor a subject of research. Vidyarthi first reviewed in detail the developments after the introduction of anthropology as an academic discipline in an Indian University in 1920. Although some scholars made brief attempts, no one has discussed the pre-1920 history in detail. The author in this book has endeavoured to present the entire history of the pre-disciplinary era of Indian anthropology tracing it back to the Vedic period so that a complete picture of the rise of anthropology in India may emerge. He has discussed in a separate chapter, the life and works of some of the pioneers of Indian anthropology to familiarize the present generation of anthropologists with their contribution. In the present volume, besides ethnography, caste studies, village studies and folklore, for the first time in India development of criminal anthropology, biological anthropology, ethnological museums and foundation of anthropological society in India has been discussed. In the early days of teaching of anthropology in India, Vedas, Upanishads, Samhitas, Puranas and other ancient Indian texts formed a part of the curriculum. Later the study of these ancient Indian texts was discontinued and the subject became heavily dependent on the ‘Oxbridge tradition’. After 1960 the influence of American anthropology specially that of the ‘Chicago-Comell school’ prevailed over the British school. Thus our anthropologists were never free from western influence and consequently Indian anthropology lacked a distinct identity. Strongly advocating indigenisation of foreign concepts the author in this volume has made some concrete suggestions towards the establishment of an Indian school of anthropology. In the concluding chapter the author has classified the development of Indian anthropology into different phases in an attempt to present the history of anthropology in India in a systematic chronological order.