Port Blair, April 28: The Anthropological Survey of India's (ASI) regional centre at Port Blair will hold a two day national seminar to mark the culmination of the year long Diamond Jubilee Celebration at Port Blair on 6th and 7th May.
Addressing the Inter Media Publicity Coordination Committee meeting held at ASI centre on Friday, Dr. M. Sasi Kumar, Dy. Director ASI, Port Blair said the seminar will be held on "Life, Livelihood Strategies and Technology among the Hunter -Gatherers" at the ASI auditorium at Port Blair. Anthropological experts from different parts of the country will take part in it. The objective of the seminar is that anthropological appraisal of the course of human adaptation with special focus on hunter-gatherers as prevails in contemporary time. He also revealed that a Photo exhibition on Islands Cultures of India will also be organised as part of the celebration and it will be open for the public for the next six months.
Dr. Sasi Kumar also informed that the ASI launched the prestigious project of People of India in 1992 and published a multi volume series of books under two collections with first eleven comprising the national series and the remainder as states series. He said all these collections are available in the well maintained library of the ASI centre at Port Blair and invited the IMPCC members to visit the library to view these rare collections.
Briefing on the seminar, the Superintending Anthropologist, Shri A. Justin informed that the theme has been chosen for the seminar, since Andaman and Nicobar region is considered as abode of many hunter-gatherer communities including Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese and Shompens. He revealed that in the earlier seventies friendly contact programmes were conducted for these tribes through Aadim Janjathi Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) and all of them except Sentinalese have gradually given up their hostility towards the outside world. The Sentinalese dwelling on the sentinel island still follow their traditional life style and distinct identity without any outside intervention and also managed to survive through 2004 killer tsunami that ravaged these islands, he added. Justin also clarified that the friendly contact programmes with the Sentinelese could not be continued on regular basis due to the policy decision of the government.
The hunter gatherers face problems of health, nutrition and other resources due to various factors and the impact of economic policies, explained Justin. However, they successfully managed to continue their hunter gatherer way of life by adopting economic and residential flexibility and diversification. The seminar will deliberate on the course of such adaptations of hunter gatherers in a fast changing human livelihood and emerging social and cultural patterns, he explained.
Earlier, the Chairman of the IMPCC, Shri R Mohan addressed the members. He said the national seminar by ASI to be inaugurated by the Islands Chief Secretary, Anand Prakash will be covered appropriately by both Print and electronic media.
The Regional Director of IGNOU, Kasturi Pesala informed that the IGNOU will launch MA course in Anthropology from this academic year for the benefits of the island students. She also sought the co-operation of ASI centre to conduct the course effectively.
The heads of the media units and different departments and officers from member organisations actively participated in the deliberations of the meet and presented the brief report of their activities during the previous months.
The Vice chairman of IMPCC, Shri DVS Deep thanked all the members for having attended the meet.