About Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI):
- It is a government-funded organization that conducts anthropological research and studies on the diverse cultures of India.
- It is the only research organization to pursue anthropological research in the Central Government under the Ministry of Culture.
- Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.
- It was established in 1945 under the leadership of Dr. S.C. Roy, a renowned anthropologist.
- AnSI was initially set up to study the tribes and castes of India and their way of life.
- AnSI’s early research focused on collecting ethnographic data on the different tribes and castes of India, including their social structure, kinship system, religious beliefs, and economic activities.
- Over the years, AnSI has expanded its research ambit to include the study of the entire gamut of Indian society, including the rural and urban population, the marginalized sections, and the diaspora.
Principle Objectives of AnSI:
- To research the tribes and other groups that make up India’s population from a biological and cultural perspective.
- To examine and conserve human skeletal remains from both contemporary and archaic times.
- To gather examples of Indian tribal arts and crafts.
- To serve as a training ground for management and advanced anthropology students.
- To publish the research’s findings.
- AnSI has several branches located in different parts of India, including Delhi, Lucknow, Shillong, and Pune.
- AnSI has a multidisciplinary team of anthropologists, sociologists, linguists, archaeologists, and other allied professionals who conduct research and studies on various aspects of Indian society.
- AnSI’s research findings are published in its various publications, including the Journal of Anthropological Survey of India, Occasional Papers, and Monographs.
