About the Department
-------DEPARTMENT AT A GLANCE------
Jawaharlal Nehru College, Boko, is the third institution affiliated with Gauhati University to introduce Anthropology, following the prestigious Cotton College and Arya Vidyapith College. The college embarked on offering Anthropology as a subject in 1979, receiving formal permission from Gauhati University in 1986 to present it as a general course within the framework of the Three-Year Degree Course (T.D.C.). It stands as the third college in Assam to incorporate Anthropology into its curriculum under the auspices of Gauhati University. The department initiated its major course in Anthropology during the 1993-94 academic session, facilitating the study of this discipline across both Arts and Science streams, commencing from Higher Secondary (H.S.) classes and extending to degree programs. The affiliation dates for the courses are significant: the general T.D.C. Part-I course received its accreditation on February 28, 1986, while the major course was formally authorised on February 24, 1996. In the formative years of this department, the late Paramesh Dutta served as the founding faculty member from 1979 to 1980. Subsequently, esteemed educators such as Mr Bhabesh Goswami, Dr. Joysri Bhuyan, and Dr. Binaya Devi joined the department as permanent faculty members, contributing invaluable service to the department's growth and academic rigour until their retirement. The Department of Anthropology received a substantial enhancement when Professor Rani Hazarika Kakati, a retired Professor of Anthropology at Gauhati University, generously donated 2 lakh rupees for the expansion of the departmental museum. This donation was made in memory of her late husband, Banomali Kakati, a prominent professor in the Department of Linguistics at Gauhati University, on June 4, 2024. Throughout the decades, the department has been actively involved in pedagogical and research activities, engaging with a diverse array of topics, such as ethnographic studies, gender dynamics, ethnomedicine, the food habits of different tribes and castes, human growth and development, social change, and the intricacies of customs and customary law. The department's overarching goal is to cultivate an academic environment that is both socially relevant and holistic in its approach.
THE PRESENT FACULTY MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT:
1. Dr. Mahananda Das (Assistant Professor, Date of joining 22-02-2017)
2. Dr. Himarjyoti Talukdar (Assistant professor, HOD, Date of joining 23-01-2020)
3. Dr. Mitali Rabha (Assistant professor, Date of joining 08-02-2020)
4. Mr. Nripen Ch. Sarania (Assistant professor (Guest), Date of joining 01-08-2013)
5. Mr. Bhaskarjyoti Boro (Assistant professor (Guest), Date of joining 02-09-2024)
DEPARTMENTAL LABORATORY:
The Anthropology department boasts a well-equipped laboratory dedicated to conducting various practical experiments and tests, including blood tests, fingerprint analysis, PTC testing, colour blindness assessments, and various somatometric and somatotopic evaluations.
DEPARTMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL MUSEUM:
The Anthropology Department at Jawaharlal Nehru College has established a specialized anthropological museum. A significant portion of the museum exhibits and specimens were originally curated by former faculty members during the department's inception. Over the years, this museum has evolved into a critical resource for the study of social and cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, and prehistoric archaeology, essential components of the discipline. The material culture represented in the museum provides both tangible and intangible cultural knowledge, enriching the learning experiences of visitors, scholars, students, and educators from various academic fields.
DEPARTMENTAL STUDY CENTRE :
In its capacity as the nodal department of Anthropology, the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Culture and Creative Studies was inaugurated in 2021. This centre actively organizes a myriad of cultural activities, including workshops focused on traditional dance and music, as well as various other enriching events.
CERTIFICATE COURSE:
The Department of Anthropology has recently launched a new Certificate Course in Museology, inaugurated on June 4, 2024, for its first cohort, which is currently in progress. This endeavour reflects the department's commitment to fostering interdisciplinary studies and enhancing practical skills within the field of anthropology.
