Tribal Studies and Beyond: Contributions of D.N. Majumdar to Indian Anthropology

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: H. S. Saksena

• Language: English

• Edition: 2

• ISBN: 9788131609095

• Pages: 300

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.6 x 1.0 inches

About the Book
Dhirendra Nath Majumdar, a pioneering figure in anthropological research in India, played a crucial role in establishing the field of anthropology within the country. Majumdar joined the University of Lucknow in 1928 and, over his 32 years of academic work, created an exceptional center for anthropological studies through the institutions and journals he founded. He significantly contributed to making anthropology accessible to the general public, promoting the concept of 'public anthropology' and helping popularize anthropology in Hindi.

In this comprehensive book, H. S. Saksena, one of Majumdar's prominent students, expounds on his life and works, particularly focusing on his contributions to tribal ethnography. Majumdar’s work spans a diverse range of communities, from various habitats to cultural, economic, and social life, while analyzing their social organization. The book also explores Majumdar’s post-1947 studies on changing caste structures in Indian villages, rural development programs, urban settlements, and the emergence of challenges such as unemployment among the educated.

The book highlights Majumdar's contributions to anthropometry and serology through surveys conducted on tribal groups in Bengal, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. It further sheds light on Majumdar’s innovative approaches to ethnographic studies and cultural analysis. This work is not just an academic reflection on Majumdar's contributions but also an exploration of the evolution of anthropology in India.

In the foreword, Professor T.N. Madan acknowledges this study as "the first full-length study of the work of an Indian anthropologist," emphasizing the daunting task of writing about a generalist anthropologist like Majumdar in an age dominated by specialization.

Contents

• D.N. Majumdar: His Life and Work

• Majumdar’s Tribal Ethnography

• Anthropological Perspective on Primitive Religion

• Culture Contact and Culture Change

• Tribal Rehabilitation

• Village Studies: Himalayan Polyandry – Tribe-Caste, Village-Region

• Village Studies: Gohana Kalan Near Lucknow

• Village Studies: Tribe-Caste Village

• Urban Studies: Cultural Role of Cities

• Applied Anthropology

• Contributions to Other Branches of Anthropology

• Majumdar’s Academic Journey in the Perspective of Sociology of Knowledge

• Summing Up and a Word

• Bibliography of Professor D.N. Majumdar

About the Author
H. S. Saksena is a distinguished scholar who has made significant contributions to the field of anthropology and tribal studies in India. He was the former Director of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Government of India. Starting his career as a Research Associate with the Cornell-Lucknow University Project for village studies, Saksena later became a Lecturer at the University of Lucknow. He also pursued a course in Social Planning at the UN Social Development Division in New York.

Saksena has been an active member of several expert groups for the National Planning Commission, focusing on tribal development and contributing to the India Vision 2020 initiative. He served as the Editor of The Eastern Anthropologist from 1997 to 2016. Saksena has authored three books and several edited volumes, and he has contributed numerous papers to renowned journals and edited volumes. He was also a Senior Fellow at the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) from 2012–2014.