Indian Journal of Research in Anthropology

Book: New Horizons in Indology (Prof. Dr. H.G. Shastri Commemoration Volume)
ISBN: 978-93-5300-403-3
Year: 2018
Editors: Prof. Bharati Shelat and Prof. Thomas Parmar
Publisher: Sh. Nandan H. Shastri, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), India

This is an edited volume containing sixty fi ve articles in two sections. The articles are in English, Hindi and Gujarati. This is a commemoration volume of late Prof. H.G. Shastri and many Indian and international scholars and students of late Prof. Shastri contributed their research and review articles in this volume. Both the editors, Prof. Bharati Shelat and Prof. Thomas Parmar did their Ph.D. under the guidance of Prof. Shastri. First part of this book is dedicated to late Prof. Shastri. This section of the book contains eleven articles related to the memories associated with Prof. Shastri, his works and students. This section focuses on the personality of Prof. Shastri as teacher, academician, researcher and a noble human being. Prof. Shastri was a very supportive and inspiring teacher as well as propagator of Indian culture, history and heritage specially of Gujarat. He was a learned scholar of Sanskrit, Archaeology and Indian Culture. This section contains two articles in English, two articles in Hindi and seven articles in Gujarati language. These articles are homage to Prof. Shastri. First two articles are from Sh. Nandan Shastri and Sh. Nilay Shastri, son and grandson of Prof. Shastri. These articles present fine caricature of late Prof. Shastri and his works. Second part of this edited book contains scholarly research and review articles relate to Indology, Culture, Art, Archaeology, Linguistics, Numismatics, Architecture, History, Literature, Philosophy, Museography, Museology, Political and Vedic Science. This section contains altogether fifty four articles composing twenty eight articles in English, twelve articles in Hindi and fourteen articles in Gujarati language. The articles cover various ancient archaeological sites from Gujarat and other parts of India. The vast number of articles cover Mesolithic site of Vadaagaam, Maitrika Copper-Plate Charters, Buddhist architecture and remains of Sanchi, Vadnagar, Koushambi, Vishnu sculptures of Aulikara and regional history of Gujarat. There are also articles related to temple architecture and Jewish epitaphs in Gujarat. Articles on Numismatics covers Saurashtra Punch marked coins, Arach coins and Aulikara Gold Seal. Apartfrom this there are articles related to Kachchh Museum (Bhuj), Paintings, Motifs, Manuscripts, Museum Management and Heritage Preservation.
Along with this a good number of fine articles are on Philosophy, ancient inscriptions, Vedic and Sanskrit Literature, which includes the domain of Kheralu inscriptions, Ahimsa Warriors (Jaina Literature), Rigveda, Yajurveda, Vaidik Mathematics, Valmiki Ramayana,
Mahabharata, Bhagavat Gita, Isavasyopanisad, Kautilya Arthasastra, Bagwan Swaminarayan, Dada Bhagwan, and so on. This book covers vast history, culture, art and philosophy of Gujarat and associated regions of India.

Editorial:- 

Anthropology originated in European countries due to their colonial needs to study about the environment,resources, society, culture and people of the countries under their regime. It got a boost after the publication of Charles Darwin’s theory of biological evolution in his seminal book ‘Origin of Species’ in 1859. After this, Anthropology developed as an academic discipline in the 19th century. The term Anthropology is derived from the combination of two Greek words: anthropos and logos. The English synonym of the word ‘anthropos’ is humankind, while ‘logos’ means study or science. Thus literally, Anthropology is the holistic study of humankind. It is interdisciplinary in nature and correlates all aspects of human life across time and space. Initially, anthropological studies were started with non-western societies of rural and remote areas. Later, its scope is extended to the studies of all sorts of rural, urban,developed, undeveloped and developing societies and their problems. Anthropology is broadly divided into four main branches namely socio-cultural anthropology, physical or biological anthropology, archaeological anthropology and linguistic anthropology. Social or cultural anthropology, popularly known as socio-cultural anthropology, is further sub-divided into many specialized fi elds of study which shares knowledge from different facets of social sciences, such as, medical anthropology, urban anthropology, rural anthropology, economic anthropology, political anthropology, development anthropology, anthropology of art, anthropology of religion, legal anthropology, psychological anthropology, demographic anthropology, ecological anthropology, ethnomusicology and ethnomuseology, etc. Physical or biological anthropology is further divided into three primary sub-branches; paleoanthropology,primatology and anthropometry. Apart from these, many other sub-fi elds under biologicalanthropology serve to solve various practical problems. One of these is population genetics; the study of biological inheritance plays a vital role in human evaluation and distribution. Another critically associated sub-fi eld is forensic anthropology, which is related with the identifi cation of human skeletal remains for medical purposes and criminal investigations for legal purposes. Determination of sex, stature, age at death, ancestral background of the deceased person, etc., is done to identify crash victims, homicide victims, war causalities and skeletal remains. Archaeological Anthropology is subdivided into prehistoric archaeology, ethno-archaeology, historical archaeology and classical archaeology. Several other specialized areas of study and research are associated with archaeological anthropology, such as, industrial archaeology, underwater archaeology or marine archaeology, cognitive archaeology, experimental archaeology, biblical archaeology and cultural resource management. Linguistic anthropology or ethnolinguistics is the study of language as a cultural resource and speech as a cultural practice. The sub-branches of linguistic anthropology include sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, and structural linguistics. After 1870s, in the nineteenth and succeeding twentieth century, many increasing anthropological studies, especially ethnographical studies, resulted in the development of museums having anthropological collections including huge number of paleo-anthropological, ethnoarchaeological and ethnographical artifacts. Museum Anthropology and Ethnomuseology developed as a professional stream in Anthropology. Later, two major approaches for anthropological studies were subsequently developed, namely Applied Anthropology and Action Anthropology. Applied Anthropology, also seen as the fi fth major branch of anthropology, provides the solution to human problems. Action Anthropology includes experiments and the application of solutions for human needs and problems while continuing research. Applied anthropologist now work in quite many areas of relevance, such as urban problems, education, mass medicine, agriculture, poverty, development, business, crime, etc. Business Anthropology is a budding fi eld of applied anthropology addressing the needs and solutions Indian Journal of Research in Anthropology / Volume 8 Number 2 / July - December 2022 for business related problems. Before the 1980s, it was also known as industrial anthropology, denoting business related research and application. Business anthropological research is vital in providing ground solutions to corporates, especially multinationals, in developing culturally appropriate products or services and ways of doing business with suppliers, business partners and customers. It also helps to develop smooth working relationships among employees representing different age groups, ethnic groups, and gender. It includes studies on consumer behaviour, product design, marketplace, marketing strategy, publiccorporate relationship, etc. Business anthropology is developing as a subfi eld of applied anthropology and taught in graduate and post-graduate programmes or degrees in higher educational institutions. Anthropological studies and their applied aspects can play a signifi cant role in better managing natural or man-made disaster situations. Disaster causes damage or loss to a community's major socio-cultural elements and physical systems, resulting in individual and group stress. The major anthropological approaches to disaster management are behavioral response approach and social change approach. The behavioral response approach includes studies and applied aspects related to the adjustment of individuals,groups, and organizations to the stress of disaster warning, impact, and immediate consequences. The social change approach includes the development of a culturally appropriate environment as per the former lifestyle in the post-migration situation to better cope with the disaster situation. Sport Anthropology is a recently developed branch of anthropology. In this branch, nutrition is mainly determined according to the body composition of different players, and clothes, shoes, and other accessories are determined according to the BMI of the player. Sports Authority of India (SAI) and many sports product brands have employed many anthropologists as scientists for research and development for fulfi lling the needs of sports personals and increasing their effi ciency. Tribal tourism, ethnic tourism and eco-tourism have also attracted anthropologists as professionals. Anthropological studies are holistic, relativistic, comparative,emphasizes on insider’s view or emic perspective through empirical fi eld based study. Anthropology has developed far from primitive, rural or ethnic studies of homogeneous societies. Now, anthropology is also providing solutions for rural as well as urban, industrial and developmental problems. Anthropological studies and their applied aspect can play a vital role in solving modern-day problems and sustainable development while preserving cultural heritage and generating mass awareness. The current issue of this journal (IJRA Vol.8, no.2) includes research and review articles from the physical, medical, developmental, socio-cultural, archaeological, rural and urban fields of Anthropology.

The district Balaghat of Madhya Pradesh comprises eleven Tehsils viz; Balaghat, Baihar, Birsa, Paraswada, Katangi, Waraseoni, Lalbarra, Khairlanji, Lanji, Kirnapur and Tirodi. Various sites and monuments of the Baihar Tehsil were covered during the archaeological exploration. This paper presents the results of archaeological investigations carried out in the Baihar Tehsil of Balaghat District. Variegated material has been noticed and analysed in the present study to gain insight of the past culture. Besides some known archaeological sites, exploration brought to light a series of new ancient sites. Sites, monuments and art-relics of Baihardivulge the religious, social, artistic and different customary practices of ancient period.

Politics is a major and integral part of society. Every individual who is physically impaired is also involved and affects the political process. The concept of a disabled person has modified into a differently abled person as disability depends upon the almighty’s decision or not in our hand so it’s never be neglected. India is a democratic and developing country; differently-abled people are also a part of the people. Without their political inclusion and participation, we cannot imagine the development of a democratic state. People possessing the nationality of a country are called citizens. All citizens have the right to say about, regulate, or access their own country’s progress and prosperity. The main motto of this presentation is to identify the Political Rights of Indian citizens. It also identifies the Political Rights of differently-abled persons in the 21st century. As Article 29 of UNCRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) said, all people with disabilities have the same right to take part in politics as other citizens. Convention says that governments must be confirmed about the accessibility of differently-abled persons in the election process. This means: Making sure that the ways of voting and the voting papers are easy to use and understand. Being assured differently-abled people can vote secretly as other citizens can. During the vote, every Govt. can allow an assistant with each differently abled person to express their own choice or to elect easily. This study describes the Electoral Rights of physically and sensory disabled persons and related to this it examines the effectiveness of “The Right to Vote for All” in India. Numerous discrimination differently-abled people have witnessed as they are considered ‘inferior’ and ‘abnormal’ and received uneven treatment. Although the Disability Rights Movement in the 1970s said about equality, the differently abled still faces discrimination to take part in elections. In our country, the exclusion of differently-abled people from political participation takes place at all levels in different ways. The present investigation finds out the issues of differently abled person’s political participation and explores how to cope up with this for political and electoral inclusion.

One of the most pressing concerns on a global scale is getting more power into the hands of women. In India, there is an illustrious history of realising the significance of giving women more agency over the course of several centuries. One of the primary goals of India's 9th Five Year Plan is to advance women's rights, which the Indian government has declared a priority. The process of enabling women to realise their identities, individualities, and strengths throughout all aspects of life is referred to as empowering women. The government has developed a number of different plans and programmes in the hope of rescuing more women from impoverishment and the dangers of everyday life. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which was passed into law in 2005, is an example of one of these programmes. The MGNREGA is an extremely important institution that helps fulfil both the tactical and the strategic requirements for women's participation. It has been a ray of hope for rural women's empowerment and contributed significantly to the improved living standards and economic situations by establishing equal remuneration for male and female workers. Additionally, it has become a glimmer of hope for rural women's empowerment. In the current study, an attempt was made to investigate women's empowerment in a hamlet located in the Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal by using the MGNERGA programme.

The present study has been carried out to analyze population-wise growth progression in linear body measures among the Jenukuruba, Kadukuruba, and Yerava (boys aged 10- 16 years) Scheduled tribes of Karnataka. A total of 475 subjects were measured cross-sectionally for 12 linear body measurements following the standard measurement techniques. Analysis results of the present study exhibit the prevalence of Cephalo-Caudal and Caudo-Cephalic sequence of maturation within the components of extremities among Jenukuruba and Kadukuruba boys, but in the case of Yerava boys shows only Cephalo-Caudal sequence of maturation throughout the age range studied. When taking account of within the subsegments of the upper extremities Jenukuruba boys at all ages show only CaudoCephalic sequence of maturation, where as Kadukuruba boys show Caudo-Cephalic as well as mixed gradients of maturational sequence, but in case of Yerava boys shows Cephalo-Caudal sequence besides mixed gradients of maturational sequence. And in the sub-segments of the lower extremities, Jenukuruba shows Caudo-Cephalic the sequence of growth, where as among Kadukuruba and Yerava exhibit Caudo-Cephalic as well as mixed gradients of maturational sequence throughout the age range studied.

Background: Morbidity is a state of disease, disability, or poor health condition due to any cause; it may be referred to as the existence of a disease that affects the person's health condition. Traffic police personnel are involved in the occupation of controlling traffic in urban areas. The physical and social environment of the workplace contributes a significant role in occupational health, as traffic police personnel spend at least 8 to 10 hours a day at work. That's why health is affected by the working environment to a large extent. The lifestyle and food culture likely contribute to the elevated morbidity pattern. Several studies indicate that police officers have a risk of increasing specific diseases related to their occupation and lifestyle. Objective: To assess the morbidity pattern concerning the occupational health of traffic police personnel. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted during the fieldwork of Ph.D., among the Traffic police personnel of Nagpur and Wardha district of Vidarbha region Maharashtra. The procedures contributing to this work comply with the ethical standard as per the University's Ethical comity. The traffic police personnel were told about the study's objective, and their written consent was obtained. Result: The present study revealed significant differences in Age, Height, Weight, and Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure among males and females (p = 0.001). Out of 277 personnel, more than fifty percent of traffic police personnel suffered from Musculo skeleton disorder, followed by respiratory problems (17 percent), obesity, and eye-related problem (both in 14.1 percent). 7.6 percent of traffic personnel suffered from skin infections, 7.2 percent from diabetes, 5.4 percent from heart problems, and 2.5 percent from hypertension (High blood pressure) reported by the traffic police personnel. 26.02% of personnel are Systolic and 45.37% of personnel were found Diastolic hypertensive blood pressure category according to physiological measurement.

Tribal lifestyle is deeply associated with their culture, art and craft. A larger mass of tribal people live in rural areas. In central India, the area of Vindhya, Satpuda and Aravali Mountain ranges, starching from east to west in the states of West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan form a big tribal belt. Gond, Bhil and Santhal are the three biggest tribal communities residing in this central tribal region of India. These three dominating groups are comparatively developed then other tribal groups of the area, though their overall economy is still based on agriculture and labor work resulting in economic backwardness. But, new generation is gradually, getting educated and exposed to salaried jobs and modern technology. Due to better communication, exposure, marketization and modernization their culture is changing with time and need. Though, they have strong bond with their indigenous culture, religion and art, which has kept their tradition and lifestyle intact with relevant changes. But, changing lifestyle and economy has affected their art and craft. Themes, raw material and technology are changing their forms, symbols and patterns. Paintings have shifted from walls to canvas and taken professional shape. Festive and regular enjoyment with dance and music had developed as stage performance. But, they have not at all lost touch with their roots and cultural awareness is again revitalizing their bond with traditional dance, music and other art and craft forms. Celebrations are still celebrated with tribal songs and dances within the village's open courtyard. There are also several cultural and culinary habits, languages, social structures inclusive of marriage, and varieties of consciousness.