Trends of Anthropological studies in Jharkhand

Vijay Prakash Sharma, Director, Institute for human development, Ranchi.

Earlier trends-

Anthropology in Jharkhand has a long history starting from 1912 with publication of S C ROY S book on Jharkhand tribal. Regular ethnographic monographs of some of the tribes were published followed by following areas of studies till 2016 through tribal development institutes and others.

1.      Industrialization-Ranchi, Jamshedpur

2.      Culture change-Santhal of Ghatshila

3.      Tourism- impact at Sundarban delta

4.      Modernization and industrialization- Oraon Culture

5.      Women studies- women, crime, domestic conflict

6.      Health studies

7.      Religion including replication of Sacred complex and Nature- Man- Spirit complex.

8.      Development -Tribal, role of NGO and Voluntary organization

9.      Education- tribal and others

10.  Biological anthropology-anthropometry, malaria, anemia, dermogliphics etc.

11.  Indigenous knowledge- santhal music study

12.  Political institutions- traditional and impact of modern panchayats

Present scenario-

Most of the studies in recent times are replication of earlier studies is descriptive in nature except women and health, tourism and music, indigenous knowledge.

Quality research is an area that demands our attention. There is no hard line drawn between Fundamental research and applied research, but if fundamental there will be no fundamental research then applied research will also seize to work. Difference of focus exists between them. Earlier studies had own context and focus but now research methodology is more sophisticated so context has changed.

Future studies/ required area of research-

1.      Explore study of social reorganization due to industrialization as there is a wron notion to call tribal disorganization.

2.      Changing culture as living culture will change whether willingly or unwillingly.

3.      Industrialization stages like primary, secondary and tertiary required to be studied. Industrial labour are purchasing land in villages breaking of village relations due to this needs to be studied as it breaks down after two to three generations of migration in industrial areas.

4.      Whether industries are promoting de-tribalisation? Need to be studied.

5.       Interrelations of industrial workers- tribal –non-tribal should be new study focus.

6.      Political movements and Tribal unrest is another area of study.

7.       Study on Role of ideology required- what is the difference between proclaimed ideology and operational ideology?

8.      Socio-economic studies of past will not answer the above questions so there is a need to give new direction to these studies.

9.      We should focus on new themes under industrialization studies such as – agrarian relations, De-peasantization due to landless situation of peasants. They are becoming casual labours.

10.  Studies on production relations are required.

11.  Sectoral development studies should be taken up- education, health, women, child rearing practices demands special attention. Why primary education is not getting monitored in tribal areas?

12.  Girls are assets in tribal societies so study of girl education required?

13.  Tribal Youth is another important area of study- reasons of their frustrations, distractions and poverty should be studied.

14.  Modern problems before tribal youth are another important area of anthropological study.