Arunachal Pradesh: World Anthropology Day Celebrated at Rajiv Gandhi University

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itanagar: The Anthropology department at Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) on Wednesday successfully celebrated World Anthropology Day, emphasising the significance of anthropology in understanding human societies and addressing global challenges.

The event featured insightful discussions on the evolving role of anthropology, the importance of fieldwork, and the need for indigenized research methodologies. Head of the anthropology department, Dr. Radhe Amung, in her welcome address, underscored the importance of fieldwork in anthropology and the ethical dilemmas faced by researchers in the changing social landscape of the state.

Delivering the keynote address on "Anthropology and Public Interface," Prof. M. C. Arun Kumar from Manipur University highlighted the uniqueness of anthropology in studying individuals within groups.

He stressed the importance of breaking stereotypes in the discipline and engaging in collaborative ethnography.

Prof. Kumar also emphasised the need for anthropologists to critically examine social issues such as suicide and drug use, ensuring that research findings benefit affected communities. He touched upon the challenges of transboundary studies, citing the Mishmi and Tangsa communities as examples.

Director of AITS at RGU, Prof. Jumyir Basar, spoke about the difficulties anthropologists encounter during fieldwork, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, where modernization and globalization are rapidly transforming societies. She strongly advocated for indigenized research methodologies to ensure local voices and knowledge systems are accurately documented.

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