CONCEPT AND SCOPE

OF DEVELOPMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY

INTRODUCTION
Developmental anthropology refers to the actual application of
anthropological knowledge. It came into being in response to the
repeated questions within the community of anthropologists and
outside. The question –‘could anthropological knowledge be put to
practical uses in solving the problems of man? ’- is a fact that most of
the scientists involved in diverse branches and devoted to ‘pure’
research also cherish the idea. The matter is proved ‘useful’ or the
concerned subject can contribute to the welfare of human society.

CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Some scholars like to designate applied anthropology as
‘developmental anthropology’. Actually, developmental
anthropologists are mostly involved in
programs designed to improve technical
skills and raise the standards of living of
people. They are also involved in
improvements in farming and other
productive activities, health education,
community developmental, etc.
Developmental anthropology was first
adopted by officials from some of the
larger countries of Europe in their colonial
administration. Such officials were
generally not anthropologists. But their
work required them to gain at least a
basic understanding of the people whose
lives they had come to administer.
Unfortunately, this knowledge once
gained, was so frequently used to undermine the needs and wishes
of the native people. Thus developmental anthropology began its
career with a questionable reputation.

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The relation between anthropology and developmental anthropology
is just like the relation between engineering and physical science.
Just as engineering depends for its effectiveness upon physical
scientist’s understanding of the laws of nature, developmental
anthropology depends for its effectiveness upon anthropologists’
understanding of the laws of cultural variation and change.
This branch of anthropology concerns itself with planned cultural
change, when it is presumably an application of anthropological
knowledge. The role of developmental anthropologist is just not to
cure the ills of the society, he is to describe the cultural reality with
which the administrator must deal. Here he acts as an advisor who is
to recommend practical measures to achieve given programme
objectives. He is to maintain the balances between science and
action in his work. He is the man who has a closer touch with the
people on whom actions are going to be taken.
Moreover, it is to be judged whether an anthropologist cum
administrator or an administrator with anthropological training may
serve equally to reorient the older values of a community and to plan
for social remedies for the ills of that society. To plan for social
remedies both of them should be cautious about the ethics of their
operation. Thus the application of developmental anthropology has
gained popularity in the context of anthropological knowledge.

SCOPE OF DEVELOPMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Developmental anthropologists have studied human problems
resulting from the technological changes in backward areas. They
have studied the evolution of ethnography and comparative aspect
which has helped in the solution of social problems. Anthropological
studies have made it definite that no mental characteristics are either
related to any special tribe or racial factor.
Anthropologists have also carried on experiments about Serology
which are useful in the field of medical science. They have studied
the relation between employees and employers in order to reduce the
different group tensions. Anthropologists have studied the patterns of
value and inclinations to control and cure many diseases of social
relations. Anthropology is a branch of humanity. Raymond firth has
gone far as to call anthropology a science of social engineering. He
has attached great importance to the safety of primitive society from
destruction likely to result from its association with civilized society.

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According to him, anthropology fills the gap between primitive and
modern society.
The real interest on this specific branch of practical anthropology
could be marked during later 1920s and the middle 1930s. The
increasing popularity of developmental anthropology has been the
feature of post-independence in India,
especially after 1952, when the
upliftment of the backward
communities living in India was given
serious thought. At a conference of
Tribes and Scheduled Areas held at
New Delhi in 1952, Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India,
made an open declaration that the
government of independent India
would give proper emphasis in
protecting, ameliorating, and uplifting
the down- trodden people of the
country including the tribals and
untouchables.
He had the appreciation for the virility
and test of these backward
communities and he recommended for
an anthropological-oriented approach
to promote welfare programmes
amongst them without the adverse
effect of imposition. Simultaneously, the government of India had
adopted different provisions in the constitution as statutory safe-
guards for the scheduled tribes and castes. Inspite of the best effort
given in the matter of their welfare, it is not practically possible to
cover all the backward communities simultaneously, that is why,
some of them have been declared as ‘scheduled tribes’ and
‘scheduled castes’ to give justice of distribution in development.
The Indian anthropologists of 1950s and 1960s do not support the
earlier anthropologists view concerning the adverse effect of tribal
and non-tribal contract and also of preserving the age-old tribal
customs and norms. The present day anthropologists are
emphasizing upon the need of careful planning before taking up the
developmental programme amongst these backward people. The
anthropologists are the best fitted persons to judge the stresses and

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strains of underprivileged groups, or of natives who no longer control
own live.
Thus the Indian anthropologists after Independence have committed
themselves to see the problems of the natives as no administrator
maintaining the fundamental values, ultimate aims and the ethnics of
anthropological science, the present generations of anthropologists
have taken up the task of advising the various concerns. They acted
both as official members of the government organization and as
outside members, regarding the solution of problems of immediate
concern, one of the important contributions of science lies in human
understanding and welfare.
Thus, along with the development of basic sciences a challenge has
also been posed to social scientists, particularly to anthropologists.
Hence, an anthropologist engaged in development programme
carries a heavier responsibility. When he seeks to alter a people’s
way of life, he is dealing not with one individual, but with the well-
being and happiness of a section of men and women. In our efforts
towards better lives, the cultural background of the community
concerned are studied and make amicable efforts to alter the way of
life by introducing modern technology and method in tradition-bound
Indian societies.
In India, study on the individual tribe or caste group is conducted to
provide the basic problems, needs and other necessities of the target
group. On the basis of these studies, careful plannings with regard to
the specific problems are being made. The anthropologists are to
advise the administrator in planning the welfare programmes.
Attempts have also been taken to educate adequate number of social
workers to be employed in the tribal areas and also in making of
anthropologically-oriented administrators engaged in developmental
works in tribal areas. Active participation of the tribal elites in the
planning and in the execution of schemes should also be sought.
The ultimate aim of India’s planning programme essentially depends
on the organization and utilization of resources to the maximum
advantage in terms of defined social ends. These social ends can be
viewed from international and national levels. From the international
levels it is being realized that the unity of mankind could only be
achieved through co-operation with various international agencies to
effect a general improvement in the standard of living of the common
man. On the contrary, at the national level, India could achieve the

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social ends by the follow up of “the directive principles of state policy
of the constitution”.
Though an anthropologist is the best person to evaluate the strains
and stresses of the underprivileged groups, yet a significant question
has posed before him whether he should respond when called on by
administrative agencies for advice. M.J. Herskovits have revealed
their antagonistic attitude towards the anthropological contributions of
various forms. The majority of the Indian anthropologists endorse the
idea to give impartial advice as official member of a government
organization or a non-governmental agencies, regarding the solution
of the problems of immediate concern. But, if he finds that his advice
has not been given proper value or due weightage, then what should
he do as a scientific researcher?
In India, there is no scope of denying the fact that inter-disciplinary
and inter–departmental communication gap act as a barrier in the
proper execution of the different government-sponsored development
programmes for whatever projects being introduced. Now the
question is, “who is going to take the responsibility of a planned
project running”? For the want of proper ‘follow-through’ programmes,
and partly due to ‘ethnocentrism’, most of the programmes do not
have the desired effects on the target population.

Even at the lapse of so many five-year plans underprivileged sections

of India stand almost on the same footing as they were during the
pre-independence British regime. The desired result in their appraisal
is yet to achieve. The administrators, in fact, care little for the expert
opinions of the anthropologists in implementing these programmes.
The little knowledge in anthropology which these proud
administrators may have, creates lot of confusion in such
developmental programmes.

CONCLUSION
As the contribution of anthropology to our knowledge of man and his
works, the applied section of anthropologists wants themselves to
involve in development programmes with their unique method and
theory. All those who accept the fundamental postulates of science
and admit the need for scientific analysis of all aspects of the natural
world and human experience in it take this for granted.
This is to be seen in all phases of anthropological science-in the
increase of the available data, in refinements in method, and in the

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constantly growing number of anthropologists equipped to carry on
the necessary researches. New cultures are under investigation, new
problems are being studied, while the training of students in the basic
concepts of anthropology makes these known ever more widely and
lead to the more intensive disciplining in anthropological method and
theory necessary for these who contemplate making anthropology a
career.

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