Give an account of the growth of Social anthropology in India

 

Growth of Social Anthropology in India

Social anthropology in India developed through a blend of colonial administration, Indological traditions, and post-Independence academic expansion. Its growth can be understood in distinct phases:

1. Early Foundations (18th–19th Century): Colonial Ethnography

  • British administrators and missionaries first documented Indian tribes and castes.

  • Key early works included district gazetteers, ethnographic surveys, and caste/tribe classifications.

  • Notable contributors:

    • Sir Herbert Risley – The Tribes and Castes of Bengal; emphasized racial/anthropometric classifications.

    • E.T. Atkinson, W.W. Hunter, J.H. Hutton, V. Elwin – major ethnographies of tribes and social groups.

  • These studies were descriptive and often guided by administrative needs, but they laid the earliest foundations for systematic anthropological inquiry.

2. Institutional Growth (Early 20th Century)

  • Social anthropology began gaining an academic identity in India with the formation of institutions:

    • Asiatic Society (1784) – encouraged early ethnological research.

    • Anthropological Survey of India (ASI) — 1945 – systematized ethnographic studies on tribes, castes, and communities.

    • University departments in Calcutta, Bombay, Lucknow, and later Delhi began offering anthropology.

  • British anthropologists like Hutton, Ghurye, and S.C. Roy shaped early academic anthropology.

3. Rise of Indian Scholars & Indigenization (1920s–1950s)

  • Indian scholars began reframing anthropology through Indian social realities:

    • G.S. Ghurye – “Father of Indian Sociology”; emphasized caste, race, kinship, urbanization.

    • S.C. Roy – pioneering tribal studies.

    • N.K. Bose – cultural anthropology with focus on tradition vs. modernity.

    • D.N. Majumdar, L.P. Vidyarthi – tribal and rural community studies.

  • The discipline moved away from colonial racial frameworks toward culturally rooted approaches.

4. Post-Independence Expansion (1950s–1980s)

With nation-building as a priority, anthropology gained policy relevance:

Key Characteristics

  • Village studies (e.g., M.N. Srinivas, S.C. Dube, André Béteille).

  • Concepts like Sanskritization, Dominant Caste, Little and Great Tradition became central.

  • Growth of tribal development research, land reforms, and community studies.

  • Establishment of anthropology departments across Indian universities (Delhi, Mysore, Pune, Ranchi).

Research Focus

  • Caste, kinship, rural change

  • Social stratification and mobility

  • Development and modernization

  • Tribal identity and integration

5. Contemporary Developments (1990s–Present)

The discipline has expanded into new themes and interdisciplinary domains:

  • Globalization and migration

  • Urban anthropology

  • Medical anthropology

  • Gender studies

  • Environmental anthropology and climate studies

  • Digital and visual anthropology

Growing collaboration between anthropology, AI, health sciences, human rights, and social policy has broadened its scope.

Growth of Social Anthropology in India — Point-wise Short Notes

1. Early Colonial Phase (18th–19th Century)

  • British officials began documenting Indian castes and tribes.

  • Ethnographic surveys, census reports, and gazetteers formed the earliest data.

  • Key contributors: H.H. Risley, W.W. Hunter, J.H. Hutton, Nesfield, Verrier Elwin.

2. Institutional Beginnings (1900–1940s)

  • Anthropology started gaining academic shape.

  • Asiatic Society encouraged ethnological work.

  • First university anthropology departments set up in Calcutta, Lucknow, Bombay.

  • Anthropological Survey of India (ASI) established in 1945.

3. Indigenization & Indian Scholars (1920s–1950s)

  • Indian perspectives replaced colonial racial ideas.

  • Major figures:

    • G.S. Ghurye – caste, kinship, urbanization.

    • S.C. Roy – pioneering tribal studies.

    • N.K. Bose, D.N. Majumdar, L.P. Vidyarthi – culture, tribes, rural studies.

4. Post-Independence Expansion (1950s–1980s)

  • Social anthropology linked with nation-building and development.

  • Village studies became central (M.N. Srinivas, S.C. Dube).

  • Key concepts: Sanskritization, Dominant Caste, Little & Great Tradition.

  • University departments and research centers expanded rapidly.

  • Focus on caste, tribe, rural structure, land reforms, and social change.

5. Contemporary Phase (1990s–Present)

  • Broadened into new interdisciplinary areas.

  • Topics include:

    • Globalization and migration

    • Urban anthropology

    • Gender and identity

    • Medical anthropology

    • Environmental and climate studies

    • Digital and visual anthropology

  • Greater use of mixed methods and technology in research.

Conclusion

The growth of social anthropology in India evolved from colonial ethnography to a rich, indigenous discipline shaped by Indian scholars and socio-political change. Today, it is a vibrant field engaged with both traditional topics like caste and tribe, as well as modern themes such as development, globalization, and technology.

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