The 2021 edition of the Indian Anthropology Congress marked a significant milestone in the history of this important academic forum. Held virtually due to the ongoing global pandemic, the congress successfully adapted to the changing circumstances and continued its tradition of scholarly discourse while expanding accessibility to a wider audience.
Anthropology in India has a rich history dating back to the colonial period, with the discipline playing a crucial role in understanding and documenting the country's incredibly diverse cultural tapestry. The IAC-2021 celebrated this legacy while focusing on contemporary challenges and emerging research directions within Indian anthropology.
Over 500 participants attended the three-day congress, which featured keynote addresses, paper presentations, panel discussions, and workshops. The event fostered intellectual exchanges across various sub-disciplines of anthropology, including social/cultural anthropology, biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and applied anthropology.
Key Themes of IAC-2021
The Indian Anthropology Congress 2021 centered around several cutting-edge themes that reflected both perennial concerns and emerging areas of interest in anthropological research:
- Anthropology of Health and Healing: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this theme explored medical anthropology perspectives on public health, traditional healing systems, and healthcare access across diverse Indian communities.
- Indigeneity and Rights: This theme examined the contemporary challenges faced by indigenous and tribal communities, including issues of identity, rights to resources, and cultural preservation in a rapidly changing India.
- Migration and Diaspora Studies: Researchers presented work on internal migration within India, international migration patterns, and the formation and maintenance of Indian diaspora communities worldwide.
- Climate Change and Anthropology: This emerging focus area explored anthropological perspectives on environmental change, sustainability, and human adaptation to ecological challenges, particularly relevant to India's vulnerable communities.
- Digital Anthropology: A timely theme investigating how digital technologies, social media, and virtual communities are reshaping social relationships, cultural practices, and research methodologies in India.
- Anthropology of Development: This theme critically examined development policies and practices, infrastructure projects, and their impacts on communities and cultures across India.
Distinguished Speakers
IAC-2021 featured presentations from leading anthropologists who offered insights from their extensive research and experience:
Prof. Veena Rao
Delivered the keynote address on "Anthropological Perspectives on Public Health in India" drawing on her decades of work in medical anthropology among rural and tribal communities.
Dr. Ashish Gupta
Presented on "Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Contemporary Context: Challenges and Possibilities" highlighting his research among the Santhal communities of eastern India.
Prof. Meera Chakraborty
Spoke on "Reimagining Fieldwork in the Digital Age: Methodological Innovations in Anthropological Research" reflecting how remote research methods can complement traditional ethnography.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar
His presentation on "Climate Vulnerability and Indigenous Adaptive Strategies" drew from his work among mountain communities in the Himalayan region.
Prof. Lakshmi Menon
Presented on "Gender, Migration, and Social Transformation" based on her longitudinal research on migrant women workers in Indian metropolitan cities.
Conference Sessions
The congress was organized into multiple thematic sessions that allowed for in-depth exploration of specific research areas:
Health and Well-being Session
This session explored medical anthropology perspectives on health, healing, and healthcare systems. Presentations examined traditional healing practices alongside modern medicine, the impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities, and anthropological contributions to public health policy.
Indigenous Studies Session
Focused on Adivasi and tribal communities, this session featured research on cultural preservation, language maintenance, land rights, and contemporary challenges facing India's indigenous populations.
Digital Ethnography Session
A pioneering session exploring how digital technologies and online platforms are transforming both anthropological research methods and the cultural phenomena being studied. Presentations covered virtual communities research, social media ethnography, and digital divide issues.
Migration Studies Session
This session addressed patterns of migration within India and beyond, examining their causes, consequences for sending and receiving communities, and implications for identity formation among migrants.
Environmental Anthropology Session
Focusing on human-environment relationships, this session featured research on climate change adaptation, environmental movements, resource management, and ecological knowledge systems.
Methodological Innovations Session
This session discussed new approaches to anthropological research, including multi-sited ethnography, collaborative research methods, visual anthropology techniques, and research ethics in changing contexts.
Impact of IAC-2021
The Indian Anthropology Congress 2021 made significant contributions to the field through several noteworthy impacts:
- Provided a platform for early-career researchers to present their work alongside established scholars, fostering mentorship and the development of new academic networks.
- Facilitated cross-disciplinary dialogue between anthropologists and researchers in related fields such as sociology, history, environmental studies, and public health.
- Highlighted contemporary anthropological perspectives relevant to policy-making in areas such as tribal welfare, public health, environmental conservation, and cultural heritage.
- Documented and discussed the methodological shifts necessitated by the pandemic, contributing to ongoing conversations about the future of fieldwork and ethnographic practice.
- Increased visibility of anthropological research and its relevance to understanding Indian society through media coverage and public engagement activities.
The Indian Anthropology Congress 2021 successfully demonstrated the vitality and relevance of anthropological research in contemporary India while adapting to new challenges. As the field continues to evolve, gatherings like IAC play a crucial role in shaping its direction, fostering scholarly community, and ensuring that anthropology continues to contribute meaningfully to our understanding of human diversity and social change.
