The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : `Relief work a learning experience for academics'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 23, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

`Relief work a learning experience for academics'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JAN. 22. The involvement of teachers and students in putting back on track the lives of people hit by a disaster such as the tsunami is not only a societal commitment but also a learning experience, the Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, said today.

Inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Department of Anthropology in the University of Madras, the Governor said the spirit of commitment must be perpetuated in the educational system.

The impact of modern industrial civilisation on indigenous people raised concerns of the destruction of tribal cultures. Though the majority viewed it as an inevitable change in the progress of civilisation, issues such as cultural relativism and ethnocentrism could not be ignored.

Stating that the tsunami disaster raised concerns of safety of the native tribes of the Andamans, the Governor commended the efforts by the department along with the non-governmental organisations in helping the victims.

He suggested that the university launch employment-oriented educational programmes along with community-oriented research. The department must develop international and industrial linkage for launching courses on disaster management and nanotechnology.

The Governor said anthropology had developed its own sense of social and cultural environment and was well-equipped to challenge the separation of modernity from tradition.

S.P.Thyagarajan, Vice-Chancellor, said a multidisciplinary approach to ethnography and ethno-medicine for tribal welfare was necessary. M. Anandakrishnan, chairperson of the Madras Institute of Developmental Studies, described anthropology as "a study of man by man."

He released the first volume of the diamond jubilee publication, `Reminiscing Anthropology' and the Vice-Chancellor received the first copy.

The year-long celebrations would include an international seminar on anthropology.

Kannegi Packianathan, director of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and V. Sudarsen, head of the Department of Anthropology, participated.

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