Anthropological Survey of India is an unique organization. Nowhere in the world do we have an organization entirely dealing with Anthropological research, either in public or private sector. Since its inception the Survey has been mapping the bio-cultural profile of Indian populations for over half a century, from its headquarters in Kolkata and seven regional centres spread over the length and breadth of the country. “People of India”, a massive project accomplished recently, is a testimony to the fact that the Survey can undertake, implement and publish the data of such a magnitude in a remarkably short time frame.

I joined the Survey in 1975 at Central Regional Centre, Nagpur, immediately after my post-graduation in Anthropology, with specialization in Physical Anthropology. Later I moved to Indian Council of Medical Research, Mumbai, and subsequently to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, before I took over the reins of Survey as Director-in-Charge, in 2003. My conviction, when I took over this great organization, was the immense potential of ‘Anthropology’ as a discipline with its holistic approach dealing directly with humans in terms of biology and culture. I wondered, ‘if not Anthropology, which is the other discipline that is more concerned with human welfare!’. Besides, the organization is structurally bestowed with manpower specialized in Cultural and Biological Anthropology, Human Ecology, Biochemistry, Linguistics and Psychology; and it is directly under the tutelage of the Central Government. Moreover, the Survey cannot be immune to such developments that have revolutionized thinking in the application of technology based research for human welfare. The points in reference are the Human Genome and Indigenous Knowledge. These two issues, are of paramount importance in a country like India. As a country with immense human genome and cultural diversity, the immediate realization is that both are interrelated and need the holistic understanding, before they are fully employed for human welfare. In fact I strongly believe that Anthropology could be the launching pad for high technology based research to be applied in human development.

Given this conviction, the immediate task before me was to initiate a dialogue with all colleagues at different levels, hold workshops on the research projects that were being implemented under 10th plan with involvement of external experts, re-orient some of the projects in line with the overall perspectives evolved through discussions. As I proceeded, one daunting task was the infrastructure. Certain facilities had to be created from scratch, at the same time planning for the manpower training, as the facilities were created. Looking back at the past three years, what we achieved is unbelievable. The guiding principles are “objectivity” and “transparency”. It was a dream becoming true. A dream, not dreamt by one individual, but a dream dreamt by all in the Survey, and most importantly the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, under whose guidance the Survey implements all its schemes and which in principle approved ‘The Mission Statement’ and ‘The Vision Document’ for the Survey.

The Mission Statement
To build Infrastructure of World Standards for Anthropological Research in the country and pave the way for the fulfillment of Developed Nation by 2020

The Vision Document
Understanding the Bio-Cultural Variations in Human Populations is the Central Theme of Anthropology as a Discipline.

Anthropological Survey of India is the Unique Organization in the World, solely Devoted To Anthropological Researches in the Country.

Since its inception Survey has been Mapping the Bio-Cultural Profile of Indian Populations. Recently accomplished the massive project ‘People of India’ is the testimony of completing a gigantic task.

‘Human Genome’ project, solely technology driven, has Revolutionized the Understanding of the Bio-Cultural Landscape in Human Populations.

Paradigm Shift in Understanding Bio-Cultural Variation with Technology as a basis, Emphasis on ‘Processes’ alongwith ‘Documentation’ and Integrated Approaches with Multidisciplinary Intervention for Human Welfare : Shall all form a Strategy for Re-Inventing The Survey.

This Newsletter is the record of whatever we planned and implemented in the last three years, as a report of the 1st half of the year 2006-07. Being the first of a series to come, it provides the profile of the organization in detail. In future, I wish that the Newsletters of the Survey will become a means to gauze the discipline ‘Anthropology’ as it is practiced and given the momentum in the Survey, the great future for Anthropology in the Country.