ANT-HC-3016
Tribes and Peasants in India
Credit 6 (Theory: 4; Practical: 2)
COURSE OBJECTIVE: To impart the anthropological knowledge of tribes, villages and peasantry of India
COURSE OUTCOME:
• The anthropological knowledge and approach to study of tribes, villages and peasantry can be gained.
• The problems, prospects, development, and government policies for tribes, villages and peasants can be achieved.
Theory
Unit I: Anthropological Concept of Tribe
1. Problems of nomenclature, definition and classification.
2. Features of tribes in India.
Unit II: Tribes and Wider world.
1. The history of tribal administration; Constitutional safeguards
2. Draft National Tribal Policy, Issues of acculturation assimilation and integration.
Impact of development schemes and programme on tribal life
Unit III: Anthropological Concept of Village
1. The concept of peasantry.
2. Approaches to the study of peasants – economic, political and cultural.
3. Characteristics of Indian village: social organization; economy and changes.
4. Caste system and changes.
Unit IV: Ethnicity Issues: Tribal and peasant, movements; Identity issues
Practical
A. Reading of Ethnography: Students are required to read and analyze any two of the Ethnographies (as listed below) and prepare a report based upon it. The report should clearly link up the study with the concept of tribe and peasantry and delineate clearly the concept used in the text.
1. Research questions/objectives of the study and their relevance.
2. Theoretical schema.
3. Methods and techniques used in the study.
4. Key findings and their significance in the context of the objectives of the study.
5. Critical analysis of the finding on the basis of contemporary available resources.
B. Museum visit and preparation of a report: the report should include relevance of museum in anthropology, arrangement of specimens in ethnographic museum; Cleaning, treatment and preservation methods.
List of Ethnographies:
• Walker A. (1986).The Todas.Delhi : Hindustan Publishing Corporation Verrier Elwin (1992). TheMuria and their Ghotul. USA: Oxford University Press.
• Malinowski M. (1922).Argonauts of the Western Pacific.London: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd.
• Furer-Haimendorf C.V. (1939).The Naked Nagas.London: Methuen and Co.
• Evans-Pritchard E.E. (1940).The Nuer: A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People.Oxford : Clarendon Press.
• Majumdar D. N. (1950).Affairs of tribes. Lucknow: Universal Publishers Ltd.
• Dube S.C. (1955).Indian Village. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd.
• Berreman G.D. (1963).Hindus of the Himalayas.Berkeley: California University Press.
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ANT-HC-3026
Human Ecology: Biological & Cultural dimensions
Credit 6 (Theory: 4; Practical: 2)
COURSE OBJECTIVE: To impart the knowledge about human adaptation in the ecological setting and on urbanization and industrialization process.
COURSE OUTCOME:
• The knowledge on human adaptation in ecology will be gained.
• The knowledge on urbanization and industrialization in human societies will be achieved.
Theory
Biological Dimensions
Biological Dimensions
Unit 1: i..Definition and concept of the term ecology, human ecology, ecosensitivity adaptation, acclimation, acclimatization, biotic and abiotic component.
ii. Method of studying ecology
Unit II: Bio-cultural adaptation to environmental stresses: heat, cold and altitude.Homeostasis and thermoregulation. Ecological rules and their applicability among human beings (Gloger’s, Allen’s and Bergmann’s rule).
Unit III: Impact of urbanization and industrialization on Man.
Unit IV: Bio-cultural factors influencing the diseases and nutritional status.
Evolution of Human diet.
Cultural Dimensions:
Unit V: Culture as a tool of adaptation; Various modes of human adaptation in pre-state societies.
i. Hunting and food gathering
ii. Pastoralism
iii. Shifting cultivation
Unit VI: Ecological themes of state formation: i. Neolithic revolution, ii. Hydraulic civilization
Unit VII: Agriculture and peasantry; Industrial civilization and growth of urban societies Impact of urbanization and industrialization on Man.
Practical
1. A. Biological
Dimensions: Indices
1. Body Mass Index 4. Relative Upper Extremity Length Index
2. Ponderal Index 5. Relative Total Lower Extremity Length Index
3. Relative Sitting Height Index 6. Nasal Index
B. Cardiovascular function: Blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate
2. Cultural Dimensions
1. Make a research design pertaining to any environmental problem and do a project based on it.
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ANT-HC-3036
Biological Diversity in Human Populations
Credit 6 (Theory: 4; Practical: 2)
COURSE OBJECTIVE: Provide an understanding of how to assess human biological diversity.
COURSE OUTCOME:
• The students will learn about markers for understanding biological diversity.
• Classical markers use for classifying races.
• Classification of Indian population.
Theory
Unit I: Concept of Biological Variability, Sources of Genetic Variation, Interpretation of Human Variation, Genetic Polymorphism (Serological, Biochemical and DNA markers).
Unit II: i. Classical approaches of classifying human population: Racial groups of mankind and racial criteria.
ii. A critical appraisal of contribution of Risley, Guha, Rickstett and Sarkar towards understanding ethnic elements in the Indian populations.
Unit III: Pre and Proto historic racial elements in India. Linguistic classification of Indian population.
Unit IV: Genetic diversity among Indian Population.
Racial elements in NE India, with special reference to Assam
Unit V: Recent understanding of human biological categories in the context of human genome research.
Unit VI: Demographic Perspective
Demographic Anthropology; Sources of Demographic Data, Demographic Processes,
Demographic profile of Indian populations and its growth structure.
Practical
1. Craniometric Measurements (Skull and Mandible)
Students should be trained for identifying landmarks on the skull, taking accurate measurements on at least 3 skulls by following standards techniques.
I. Linear measurements:
Maximum cranial length Maximum cranial breadth
Maximum bizygomatic breadth Maximum frontal breadth
Minimum frontal breadth Nasal height
Nasal breadth Bi-mastoid breadth
II. Angular measurements
Greatest occipital breadth Upper facial height
Bi-maxillary breadth Outer bi-orbital breadth
Inner bi-orbital breadth Greatest Occipital breadth
Glabella-inion length Nasion-inion length
Nasion-basion length Nasion-prosthion length
Frontal chord Parietal chord
Occipital chord
III. Curvilinear or arc measurements
Frontal arc Parietal arc
Occipital arc sagittal cranial arc
Horizontal circumference of head
Metopic angle Facial profile angle
Nasal profile angle Alveolar profile angle
2. Collection of demographic data from primary or secondary sources.
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ANT-HG-3016
ArchaeologicalAnthropology
Credit 6 (Theory: 4; Practical: 2)
COURSE OBJECTIVE: To provide an understanding of the prehistoric and archaeological background of evolution, variation and continuity of human society and culture.
COURSE OUTCOME:
• Student will be acquainted with archaeometrical background of prehistoric, protohistoric and historical evolution of human culture.
• Students will have practical understanding of prehistoric culture through tool technology and pottery technology.
Unit I: Introduction
Definition and scope of archaeological anthropology, Relation with other Disciplines. Division of Prehistoric period: Stone age and metal age; Lower Paleolithic, Middle Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic (Characteristic features of the period in general).
Unit II: Methods of studying archaeological anthropology: Archaeological, Paleontological and Geological Methods of classifications, Methods of Field Archaeology: Concept of site, artifact, culture and industry, Site survey and Aerial photography Excavation: Concepts, tools and test pits. Concept of Ethno archaeology and new archaeology
Unit III: Methods of Estimation of Time
Absolute dating methods ( Radio-Carbon,Potassium Argon, Dendrochronology), Relative dating methods ( Stratigraphy, Typology, Patination, Seriation, , Flurin Analysis, Varve-Clay analysis).
Unit IV: Geochronology of Pleistocene Epoch
Plio-Pleistocene Boundary
Glacial and Interglacial
Pluviation and Inter Pluviation
Unit V: Typo-Technological study of the prehistoric tools
Unit VI : Bronze age culture in Indus Basin : Harappan Civilization : Sites, Town planning Architecture, Artifacts and Causes of declination .
UnitVII: Megalithic Culture: Different Types of Megaliths. Megalithic culture of Northeast India.
Practical
3. Typo-technological Analysis of Prehistoric Tools: Identification, Interpretation and Drawings of the tool Types
a. Core Tool Types
b. Flake Tool Types
c. Blade Tool Types
d. Bone tools
e. Microlithic Tool Type
f. Neolithic Tool Type
4. Ceramic Technology: Basic concept (Students have to draw one wheel made, one hand made and one partly wheel made and partly hand made pottery.
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ANT-SE-3014
Tourism Anthropology
Credit: 4
COURSE OBJECTIVE: To understand the anthropological perspective of tourism in the current context.
COURSE OUTCOME:
• The students will learn about the socio-cultural background of developing tourism.
• The students will learn the basics of eco-tourism and heritage tourism in the current situation.
Unit I: Tourism- aspects and prospects, Definition and Concept
History and Development of Tourism anthropology , Anthropological issues theoretical concerns and Authenticity Issues.
Unit II: Study of Socio- cultural impact of tourism
Tourist as ethnographer
Unit III: Understand the implications of tourism as a major mechanism of cross- cultural Interaction: role of symbolism and semiotics.
Tourism and the commoditization of culture or cultural degradation .
Unit IV: Contemporary tourism and sustainable Tourism : concept of alternative tourism , Concept of Cultural Tourism :Heritage tourism, Religious tourism, Ecotourism, Rural tourism , Community Based Tourism and Conservation of heritage.
Role of museums and other branches of the cultural industries (including art, performing art, food, handicraft in tourism economies. )
Unit V: New Directions in the Anthropology of Tourism: Globalization, Tourism and Terrorism; applied aspects of anthropology in tourism development and planning.
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