PUSHED TO THE MARGIN
* Its 91-member scientific team has three Muslims
* It operates seven regional centres across India
* It has been publishing the Journal of AnSI since 1952
THERE are only four Muslims among 180 staff members at the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), which is the sole government research organisation dedicated to anthropological studies. They are Rayees Kausar, Asif K Mulla, P Adil, and Mohammed Shahid Mulla, according to Mohammed Abdul Mannan’s new book, At the Bottom of the Ladder: State of the Indian Muslims – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GF1Q9R25 – which quantified Muslim presence in 150 key organisations, including Union ministries, departments, and organisations.
Its 91-member scientific team has three Muslims – Rayees Kausar, Asif K Mulla, and Adil Pallikkadan, a Research Associate (Cultural) currently employed at the Anthropological Survey of India’s head office in Kolkata. At the Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Mohammed Shahid Mulla is a Photo Artist. None of its Director Generals has been Muslim.
The Union government’s organisation traces its roots back to the Zoological and Anthropological section of the Indian Museum, which evolved into the Zoological Survey of India in 1916. In December 1945, the Anthropology Section was formed into an independent body, the Anthropological Survey of India, in Varanasi, barely 20 months before the British transferred all power to Indians. Its headquarters shifted from Banaras to Calcutta in 1948, a year before Dr B Sankar Guha became its Director and Verrier Elwin became the Deputy Director.
Long before its establishment, India’s cultural diversity captivated scholars, prompting a thorough scientific inquiry into the people’s culture, social institutions, and ethnic affinities. Its mission extends beyond the pursuit of scientific knowledge. After Independence, India faced the challenging task of fostering harmony among its people, divided by conflicting interests rooted in ethnic, cultural, and religious affiliations.
The organisation’s invaluable contribution to comprehending the diverse people of India encompasses the entire expanse of the country and its population. Its publications and ethnographic films have gained widespread usage and acknowledgment. It remains at the forefront, aligning itself with emerging technologies.
Operating under the Union Ministry of Culture, it is headquartered in Kolkata and has regional centres in Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar) (Andaman & Nicobar Islands Regional Centre), Shillong (North-East Regional Centre), Dehra Dun (North-West Regional Centre), Udaipur (Western Regional Centre), and Nagpur (with Central Library) (Central Regional Centre). The Mysore (Southern Regional Centre) was established in 1960, along with a sub-regional centre in Jagdalpur.
Being published since 1952, the Journal of Anthropological Survey of India is its flagship publication and is reflective of the survey’s journey to disseminate the research studies conducted by it, which focuses primarily on understanding the Indian people, their culture, social institutions, and above all, their ethnic affinities in a scientific way. This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
In 2024, this ‘Subordinate Office’ under the Union Ministry of Culture conducted several studies to understand the unique cultural and religious practices followed by various tribal populations across the country. It conducted extensive field work among 4,635 communities, including all the tribal communities of India.
The findings of this comprehensive study were compiled into 43 state-wise volumes, documenting the cultural, social, and religious practices of these communities. It also undertook detailed studies of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, focusing on their socio-economic conditions, development status, and other ethnographic aspects.
A concise ethnographic profile for each PVTG was prepared, and findings were published in the book, The Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in India: Privileges and Predicaments, in 2016. It conducted an ethnographic study of 280 De-Notified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic communities. A detailed report was submitted to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and NITI Aayog. Ethnographic notes on many tribal groups were also prepared as part of this project. These studies have been conducted across the country.
To read and obtain more data, please visit:
At the Bottom of the Ladder: State of the Indian Muslims – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GF1Q9R25
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