North Bengal Anthropologist

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/5276

The special focus of the department of anthropology is to examine and analyze the regional and local issues of greater anthropological significance. The department has an innovative plan to develop interdisciplinary interaction for strengthening its teaching and research programmes. Participatory approach and Lab to Land method has been adopted to develop the teaching and research activities of the department. The thrust areas of the department are human nutrition, forensic anthropology, ethnomedicine, medical anthropology, developmental anthropology and tribal development.

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Open Access
Advent of Vaishnavism in an Animistic Environ: The case of the Deoris of Assam
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Medhi, Birinchi K.; Bhuyan, Monimugdha
Animism is one of the oldest form of religion, which is professed by almost all the tribes of the world. Most of the tribes of North East India, both in the hills and plains, professed animism from time immemorial. The Deoris of Assam, a scheduled tribe principally concentrated in the Brahmaputra valley, are traditionally animist. The Deoris are a patriarchal tribe divided in to four sections. Agriculture is their mainstay and their material culture has been developed centring paddy cultivation. Traditionally they were the worshippers of natural objects. Data for this paper have been collected from Majar Chapari Village of Lakhimpur District, Assam. The village is surrounded by the Assamese Hindu villages and the inhabitants of those villages practised Vaishnavism – a form of Hinduism. Gradually good number of traits of this religious system percolated to the society and culture of the Deoris of Majar Chapari village. In this paper a modest attempt has been made to examine the Vaishnavism practised by the Deori inhabitants of Majar Chapari Village.
Open Access
Anoxia Nervosa: A Brief Introduction
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Tigga, Pushpa Lata
Anoxia Nervosa Eating disorders are relatively rare among the general population. This review discusses the literature on the incidence, prevalence and mortality rates of eating disorders. Study searched online Medline/Pubmed, Embase and PsycINFO databases for articles published in English using several key terms relating to Anoxia Nervosa an eating disorders and epidemiology. Anorexia nervosa is relatively common among young women. While the overall incidence rate remained stable over the past decades, there has been an increase in the high risk-group of 15–19 year old girls. It is unclear whether this reflects earlier detection of anorexia nervosa cases or an earlier age at onset. All eating disorders have an elevated mortality risk; anorexia nervosa the most striking. Compared with the other eating disorders, binge eating disorder is more common among males and older individuals.
Open Access
Assessment of nutritional status in respect of Anthropometric Profile among the Indigenous Santal children of Santuri Block, Purulia, West Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Mahato, Aparna; Mitra, Maitrayee
Background: The prevalence of undernutrition is higher among the tribal population with respect to all anthropometric measures. The prevalence is twice as high among the economically indigent families. The situation is worse among the girl children. Santals are predominantly distributed in different parts of West Bengal. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study aimed to assess age and sex variation in nutritional status with respect to anthropometric profile among the Santal primary school-going children aged 5 to 9 years of Santuri block, Purulia, West Bengal. Materials and methods: A total of 200 children (58 boys and 142 girls) were included. Height, weight and body mass index of the children were converted into age-specific Z-scores. Under- (stunting, underweight and thinness) and over-nutrition (overweight and obesity) based on age and sex-specific Z-score were assessed as per the criteria of WHO, 2003. Results: The majority of the children were found with normal HAZ, WAZ and BMIZ. Prevalence of under-nutrition (3% stunting, 0.5% underweight and 1% thinness) and over-nutrition was very low. It is noteworthy that the prevalence of both under- and over-nutrition is higher among girls than boys; all the over-nourished children were girls. Conclusion: The population is mostly normal in nutritional status. Effective measures should be taken to eradicate the existence of malnutrition with a special focus on girls.
Open Access
The Asur: A Study in North Bengal Areas
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Das, Sutapa; Biswas, Samar Kumar
Asur, primarily an ethnographic stock is said to be the descendant of the Vedic Asura. Evidence proves that the Vedic struggle drove the Asur from the Indus Valley. From the Indus Valley, the Asur moved towards the northwest and settled down at Chota Nagpur. They started residing Gumla, Latehar, Lohardaga, Ranchi and Palamau districts of Jharkhand. The Asur of the Indus Valley Civilisation were iron smelters and many ancient metal relics have been discovered from various Asur sites in Ranchi district. The implementation of the Forest Conservation Policy by the Government and the introduction of the latest metallurgy techniques have given death blows to the industry of iron smelting by the primitive Asur. They have shifted towards cultivation, hunting, collection of forest products, rearing of animals etc. For the purpose of establishing of tea estate in North Bengal, the East India Company brought the Asur people with other tribes to different areas of Alipurduar, Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri districts. Since then, they had to change their livelihood and become tea garden labourers. This nomadic group was much exploited during the colonial period and is still suffering in the post-colonial period. The Asur, who are facing the brunt of government neglect, are forced to live a life of poverty, illiteracy and backwardness. The Asur society in India is designated as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Bihar, but they are not granted the same status in West Bengal, putting their survival at risk. The study found that they are still lagging behind other tribal communities in respect of education, health and economy. Initiatives must be taken to preserve the ethnic culture of this legendary tribe at the administrative level as well as at the research level.
Open Access
Awareness of Education and Scheduled Caste: A Case Study
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Chowdhury, Madhurima
A trend has emerged of not defining education as a "human right" anymore, but of rather calling it a "human need". The Scheduled Castes are historically disadvantaged people who are given express recognition in the Constitution of India. During the period of British rule in the Indian sub-continent they were known as the Depressed Class. The caste system has created and sustained an unequal opportunity structure, which is anathema to the egalitarian principles which are the basis of a modern democratic society. What is worse, it intensifies and perpetuates the sufferings and servitude of disadvantaged caste class groups by reducing their access to development benefits vis-a-vis the higher caste class groups. The right to education originates from the apparent motion that it is obligatory for the state to provide education to its citizens. The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2010 describes the modalities having the provision for free and compulsory education for children between 6 to 14 years under Article 21A of the Indian constitution. This Act makes education as fundamental right of every child enforceable by law. Education is empowerment for socio-economic mobility, an instrument for reducing socio-economic inequalities, and equipment to trigger growth and development. In India, the total literacy rate is 74.04%. The male literacy rate is 82.14% and the female literacy rate is 65.46%. The literacy rate of Scheduled Caste males is 73.0% and that of the female is 52.1%. The study was conducted at Ramchandrapur village of Bangaon Sub-Division of North 24 Parganas covering both the sexes of the Scheduled Castes to understand the gender disparity, if any, in the studied villages. The objective of the study is to understand Right to Education and Right to Equality of Scheduled Caste, to study the nature and level of education of Scheduled Caste, particularly examining the disparity of education, if any, and to study educational rights and awareness about the rights among the Scheduled Caste.
Open Access
Barpeta Satra and its Economic Impact on the Society of Barpeta Town
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Goswami, Mridusmita
The most important characteristic of the Satra is that they are self sufficient. This was an imperative of the medieval economy, when self-sufficiency was considered a virtue. Srimanta Sankaradeva devised the model of Satra in such a manner that the residents of that complex did not have to depend on the outside world for any of their requirements, but it is to be noted that their lives were very simple. Barpeta Satra is the earliest and most influential Satra of Mahapurushiya sect (Sarma, 1999: 177) as well as the chief monasteries of Assam (Neog 1965 rprnt 2008: 137) which was established by Madhavadeva the chief disciple and apostle of Sankaradeva with proper help to Mathuradas Burha Ata (one of the chief followers of Madhavadeva and the first Satradhikar of Barpeta Satra) in 1504 Sakaabda (Pathak, 1959 rprnt 2006: 12). The people of Barpeta live in different hatis are closely related with the Satra and the Satra has lots of impacts like- social, religious, political economic etc. among the people living in the society of Barpeta. This paper is a humble attempt to study the economic impact of Barpeta Satra to the society of Barpeta town.
Open Access
Breastfeeding Practices in Tribal and Caste Population of West Bengal: A Comparative Study
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Mitra, Shreyosi; Ray, Subha
Breastfeeding has typically been studied as a discrete behaviour predicted by biological and social-cultural factors. The objectives of this study were to investigate into the pattern of and understand the knowledge and attitude of breastfeeding practices among the lactating mothers belonging to Bengali Hindu caste (BHC) and tribal groups. A total number of 167 lactating mothers were selected from Bengali Hindu caste population residing in the rural (100) and urban(40) areas of South and North 24 Parganas districts and from the tribal groups residing in rural areas (27) of Purulia district West Bengal. The selection of the study areas and of the participants was done on the basis of operational convenience. Data types include the time of initiation and duration of breastfeeding, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, feeding colostrums and the knowledge and attitude of the mothers towards breastfeeding. Data on socio-economic information of the participants were taken as additional variable. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire. Trend in the results indicate that the practice of exclusive breastfeeding was lower in the Bengali Hindu caste population compared to the tribal population; feeding of colostrums is very common to the tribal mothers but not for their Bengali Hindu caste counterparts. Although the participants from both tribal and Bengali Hindu caste population were aware about the beneficial effect of breastfeeding, yet their attitude towards this behaviour varied widely.
Open Access
Childhood Obesity
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Roy, Susmita
The purpose of this review is to highlight the risk factors of childhood obesity. The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased worldwide in recent decades. Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature illness and death later in life. This book presents childhood obesity trends across multiple demographics. It discusses the contributing genetic and environmental factors of childhood obesity and shows the adverse health consequences of childhood obesity, both as they relate to childhood and as they last into adulthood. The final section presents multiple methods for obesity treatment included community and family–based intervention, pharmacotherapy, and surgical procedures. As childhood obesity increases, scientists think that heart disease, including the condition that may have killed Jonathan, will become a common pediatric disorder. Obesity increases a child’s risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and thickening of the arteries, all of which can lead to heart disease. Obesity also increases a child’s risk of type 2 diabetes, in which the body becomes resistant to insulin, and metabolic syndrome, in which the body simultaneously develops several different risk factors that make a young person more likely to develop heart disease or diabetes, or to have a stroke.
Open Access
A Comparative Analysis of Rabha Society's Socio-Economic Landscape amongst Males and Females: Insights from a Household Survey
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Sarkar, Samar Kumar; Rabha, Ruma
This study addresses a critical gap in existing literature on the Rabha people by conducting a comparative analysis between male and female members. Sixty Rabha households were surveyed ensuring an equal distribution of 30 male and 30 female respondents. The data collection process utilized a survey schedule to gather comprehensive information. The survey covered four forest villages namely MelaBasti and Mangolkata in Salbari 1 gram panchayat, located in Banarhat block, and KhuklungBasti and Gossaihat in Jharaltagram 2, situated in Dhupguri block of Jalpaiguri District. This study explores socio-economic aspects and reveals differences in employment, education, and traditional practices between males and females emphasizing the need for targeted initiatives to improve opportunities for Rabha women. This study highlights a significant disparity in literacy levels, particularly among illiterate individuals aged 40 to 70, where approximately 82% are females. While males slightly outnumber females (53% to 47%) at the below secondary level, this gap widens at the secondary and higher secondary levels, with males constituting 57% compared to females at 43%, indicating a higher literacy status among male respondents. Interestingly, both male and female respondents in the youngest age group (20 to 30 years) are actively pursuing higher studies, suggesting a potential shift towards improved educational opportunities for younger generations. The study highlights the occupational dynamics within the Rabha community, revealing distinct patterns between male and female respondents. Male participants predominantly engage in farming, Government service and businesses, with minimal involvement in fishing activities, indicating potential cultural and societal influences on occupational choices. A significant portion (33%) of female respondents are homemakers, reflecting the community's emphasis on family and community life. Keywords:
Open Access
A Comprehensive Illustration of Water Pollution Being a Pitfall of Human Activities
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Biswas, Samar Kumar; Dutta, Tanushree
Water is one of the prime utilized environmental resources that is currently under threat for its quality and continued existence. Pollution has a significant influence on this matter of concern. The existence of impurities in water that change its chemical and biological composition is referred to as water pollution i.e. a major threat to symbiosis between human beings and the environment. Due to its multipurpose use, the sources of water contamination must be varied. Thus, in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the pertinent inclusive circumstances and responsible causes of water pollution, laboratory tests have been performed on water samples to identify any pollution. Additionally, three distinct sites on the bank of the Mahananda River in Siliguri City have been chosen and relevant information regarding the genesis of water pollution has been gathered. The current study investigates the many causes of water contamination with proper analytical descriptions in Siliguri City as well as people's perspectives on the sources from a social standpoint.
Open Access
Conflict, Tension and Violation of Human Rights in West Bengal, India with Special Reference to Lalgarh, West Medinipur
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Biswas, Samar Kumar
The Marxist-based social theory argues that individuals and groups (social classes) within society have differing amounts of material and non-material resources (the wealthy vs. the poor) and that the more powerful groups use their power in order to exploit the groups with less powerful groups. In this regard, extreme level of inequality in all forms and in all fields such as economy, politics, religion, education, social etc. exist in the traditional Indian society since long and because of these, continuous conflicts, unhappiness between powerless poor/downtrodden people and powerful elites are reported. The prime aim of this article is to know the recent-past conflicts, abductions, killings, torturing, violation of basic human rights etc. that took place in West Bengal; and its effects on the development of local the people; and the reasons and interest behind those conflicts.
Open Access
Decision Making in Family Planning: A Human Rights Issue
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Biswas, Homprabha; Ray, Subha
A woman has the right to control over her own body and take decision regarding reproductive health free from any form of coercion, discrimination and violence. She further has the right to be informed and have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning. The present study was conducted on a group of married Muslim women of West Bengal with the objective to understand the role of these women in taking decision in adopting family planning practice and choosing contraceptive types. Data on socio-economic details, family planning practices and decision making ability were collected on 100 women, who were in wedlock and with at least one child. Results of the study reveal that 69 per cent of the study population was adopters of family planning, and in all the cases the husbands of these women took decision in choosing contraceptive types.
Open Access
Deforestation: Issues and Impacts on Agriculture- an Ethnographic Study in the village Chirudih, Purulia, West Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Ray, Bedprakash
Open Access
Effect of Family Environment on Children’s Well-Being: A Case Study
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Gan, Biswanath; Biswas, Samar Kumar
Family environment is an important issue which influences on child’s well-being including social, emotional or psychological part. Family plays an important role in educatingsocializing children. It is said that family is a primary institution where a child learns a lot by observing and teaching, and know what is wrong or right, should or should not. Our child is a vulnerable asset and future wealth of society. Thus, it is a duty of every parent to protect their children against all forms of exploitation and nourish them properly to make a healthy society. But there are so many children in our country are being exploited by their poor family environment and in this context the present studied families are a burning example. The focus of this paper is on family environment that influences the social, emotional or psychological well-being of children in the stone crushing society of Balasan River Basin, Darjeeling district, West Bengal.
Open Access
Effect of Family Structure on Child Immunization in the Rural Area
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Srivastava, Namita
Negligence towards immunization may result in serious health risks not only for the deprived child but for the society too as diseases meant to be controlled by vaccination are infectious. Apart from technical loopholes, there are many factors embedded in social and cultural set up of the people which act as obstacle for success of such programs aimed at improving public health. In rural society the type of family, in which child is reared, is also significant importance in this regard. This paper aims to explore how a particular family type, nuclear or joint, affects the immunization status of children.
Open Access
Effect of Student Teacher Ratio on Class Time Management in Primary Schools of West Bengal: A Study based on Implementation of RTE, 2009, India
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Majumder, Arup
Education is the basic way for accelerating the human development process of a country. Under the sphere of education system, primary education gets the highest priority regarding itself as the base of formal education. Primary education in West Bengal, as all over the country, suffers from many deficiencies including problems of infrastructure, shortage of schools, shortage of teachers, the financial handicap of the parents, and so on. These deficiencies have long been recognised and formed part of the popular discourse on the shortcomings of primary education in the state. The student teacher ratio have been an effect on school management where the number of student is very low in number, but according to our Right to Education Act 2009, it have been clear by our general observation that the 30: 01 pupil teacher ratio (PTR) effect on the primary school in both rural and urban areas. In where, mainly two or three teachers primary school, situated in different parts of India as well as West Bengal. Directly or indirectly our educational system means student teacher ratio has been effect on school management. There are so many works which are very essential to do for a head teacher as well as teacher-in- charge to maintain the official works which are also effect on the class as well as the teaching learning process in a primary school. Beside this also effect on the student achievement, it is also leads to minimize the learning quality in a primary school. Mainly by this study we would try to understand the effect of student teacher ratio on the primary school management in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, according to Right to Education Act, 2009. On the basis of this background we would try to understand the original effect of Student teacher ratio on the primary level. The main objectives of this anthropological study were to know the effect of pupil teacher ratio in the maintenance the school daily time table, effects on the classroom management by the Head teacher/ Teacher in charge, to coordinating school management at the primary level as well as the student achievement. The study reveals that the pupil teacher ratio is important but number of teacher against each class is equally important for preserving and increasing the standard of the primary school education.
Open Access
Exotic Food and Beverages of the Limbus in the Himalayas and Sub-Himalayan Region
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Biswas, Samar Kumar; Sharma, Gaurav
The diverse and intriguing world of exotic food and beverages within the Limbu community, an indigenous group, of the Himalayan and Sub-Himalayan regions boast a rich culinary heritage deeply entwined with their cultural roots and local ecosystems. From fermented soybean delicacies like Kinema to various traditional dishes, the article delves into the unique flavours and preparation methods that define Limbu cuisine. Additionally, traditional beverages like Tongba and Jaar add a distinctive touch to the exploration of this culinary landscape. The discussion extends to the broader context of preserving and celebrating indigenous food traditions in the face of modern influences. Through this exploration, readers gain insights into the exotic gastronomic treasures of the Limbu people, highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and appreciation in the realm of diverse global cuisines.
Open Access
Extremist Violence and Life of the Indigenous People inside Red Corridor in India
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Midya, Dipak K
India’s mineral-rich districts in and along the so-called Red Corridor are the abode of the country’s poorest of the poor indigenous people. It is no surprising that these people are mostly illiterates and have been suffering from severe malnutrition. For the last four decades or more, the region has been extremely affected by the extremist violence led by the Maoists vis-à-vis the counter-insurgency programme of the state. The people, mostly tribals, living in the midst of the two embattling forces operating across the region are now bewildered. They are losing many of their socio-cultural distinctiveness. The paradoxes between the Maoist ideology and acts made the indigenous groups worry of about the contradictions between the projected aspiration and apparent result of the extremist violence. In the course of time, they are found to distancing themselves from the movement and adopt a survival strategy based upon the revival of their ethnic consolidation. With a case study of Junglemahal in Southern Bengal, the present study observes that stronger the elements of ethnic consolidation, lesser the possibility of engaging with the extremist violence.
Open Access
Fertility and Mortality Differential among the Dibongiya Deori of Lakhimpur District, Assam
(University of North Bengal, 2016) Borah, Juri; Sengupta, S.
An attempt is made in this paper to look into the fertility and mortality differentials among the Dibongiya Deori of Assam. Apart from these, distribution of women according to age group, age at marriage, age at first conception, age at first child birth are also taken into consideration for the present study. The analysis demonstrates that the Dibongiya Deori women married at relatively younger age exhibits moderately higher conception and higher reproductive wastages.
Open Access
Forms and Applications of Folk media in West Bengal: Notes from Empirical Observations
(University of North Bengal, 2015) Bandyopadhyay, Sumahan
Folk media are a part of traditional media that do a great deal of communication in our society particular in the areas where the reach of conventional media is limited or discouraging. There are a number of folk media traditionally present in predominantly rural West Bengal. An attempt has made in this paper to classify these folk media and to know the current state of their applications. Here evolution of folk media vis-à-vis folk journalism has been discussed. The examples of various forms of folk media have been presented to show that it basically rooted in the particular socio-economic context. Thus one cannot deny the relevance of folk media even today.