Anthropological Survey of India
Encyclopedia
Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) is the apex India
n organisation involved in anthropological studies and field data research for human and cultural aspects, working primarily in the fields of physical anthropology
and cultural anthropology
. While maintaining a strong focus on indigenous populations, it also attempts to document the cultures of other communities and religious groups.
Anthropological Research in India was founded 1945 in Varanasi
and shifted to the Indian Museum
at Calcutta
in 1948.
In 1916, the Zoological and Anthropological sections of the Museum together became a new entity the Zoological Survey of India
. Later, in 1945, the Anthropology section formed into an independent body, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), with Biraja Sankar Guha
as the initial director and Verrier Elwin
, Deputy Director.
, Government of India
, it is headquartered in Kolkata
and has branches in Port Blair
(Andaman and Nicobar), Shillong
, Dehra Dun, Udaipur
, Nagpur
(with Central Library of AnSI), and Mysore (established in 1960), in addition to two field stations at Jagdalpur
in Bastar district
, Chhattisgarh
and at Ranchi
, Jharkhand
.
The Central Museum of AnSI is located at Kolkata, whereas Zonal Anthropological Museums at six regional and one sub-regional centres.
The post was given the new title Director General for K. S. Singh's second term
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n organisation involved in anthropological studies and field data research for human and cultural aspects, working primarily in the fields of physical anthropology
Physical anthropology
Biological anthropology is that branch of anthropology that studies the physical development of the human species. It plays an important part in paleoanthropology and in forensic anthropology...
and cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
. While maintaining a strong focus on indigenous populations, it also attempts to document the cultures of other communities and religious groups.
History
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
and shifted to the Indian Museum
Indian Museum
The Indian Museum is the largest museum in India and has rare collections of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies, and Mughal paintings...
at Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
in 1948.
In 1916, the Zoological and Anthropological sections of the Museum together became a new entity the Zoological Survey of India
Zoological Survey of India
The Zoological Survey of India is a premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies. It was established on 1 July 1916 to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the region...
. Later, in 1945, the Anthropology section formed into an independent body, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), with Biraja Sankar Guha
Biraja Sankar Guha
Biraja Sankar Guha was an Indian physical anthropologist, who classified Indian people into races around the early part of the 20th century. He was the first Director of the Anthropological Survey of India ....
as the initial director and Verrier Elwin
Verrier Elwin
Verrier Elwin was a self-trained anthropologist, ethnologist and tribal activist, who began his career in India as a Christian missionary...
, Deputy Director.
Overview
Operating under the Ministry of CultureMinistry of Culture (India)
The Ministry of Culture is the Indian government ministry charged with preservation and promotion of art and culture.The Minister of Culture holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is Dr...
, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, it is headquartered in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
and has branches in Port Blair
Port Blair
Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India...
(Andaman and Nicobar), Shillong
Shillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
, Dehra Dun, Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
, Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
(with Central Library of AnSI), and Mysore (established in 1960), in addition to two field stations at Jagdalpur
Jagdalpur
Jagdalpur is a city and a municipality in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is the administrative headquarters of Bastar District and Bastar Division, and was the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Bastar. Jagdalpur and its surrounding area comprise a major part of the...
in Bastar district
Bastar District
Bastar District is a district of the state of Chhattisgarh in central India. Jagdalpur is the district headquarters. The district has an area of 8755.79 km²...
, Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000....
and at Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
, Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
.
The Central Museum of AnSI is located at Kolkata, whereas Zonal Anthropological Museums at six regional and one sub-regional centres.
Directors
- Biraja Sankar Guha 1945-1954
- N.K. Dutta Mazumdar 1954-1958
- Nirmal Kumar BoseNirmal Kumar BoseNirmal Kumar Bose was a leading Indian anthropologist, whoplayed a formative role in "building an Indian Tradition in Anthropology". A humanist scholar with a broad range of interests, he was also a leading sociologist, urbanist, Gandhian, and educationist...
1959-1964 - D.K. Sen 1964-1970
- Surajit Chandra SinhaSurajit Chandra SinhaSurajit Chandra Sinha was an Indian anthropologist and a former Maharajkumar of Susang in undivided Bengal.-Background:He was born in Mymensingh District in 1926...
1972-1975 - Kumar Suresh SinghKumar Suresh SinghKumar Suresh Singh was an Indian Administrative Service officer, who served as a Director-General of the Anthropological Survey of India. He is known principally for his oversight and editorship of the People of India survey and for his studies of tribal history.-Life:Kumar Suresh Singh came from...
1976-1977 - H.K. Rakshit 1978-1982
- Kumar Suresh Singh 1984-1993
- A.K. Danda 1984-1990
- R.S. Mann 1991-1992
- T.N. Pandit 1992
- R.K. Bhattacharya 1993-2003
- V.R. Rao
The post was given the new title Director General for K. S. Singh's second term