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World Anthropology Congress is being held in India after 45 years
On a momentous occasion that marks the return of
the IUAES World Anthropology Congress to India after a span of 45 years, the
19th IUAES-WAU World Anthropology Congress 2023 (14-20October 2023) began its
proceedings at the University of Delhi.
The inauguration ceremony of the
conference was held on October 15, 2023. Distinguished dignitaries and scholars
from the fields of anthropology and allied disciplines from 70 countries graced
the event, ensuring a grand inauguration and a promising week ahead.
Finally, Professor Yogesh Singh, Chief Guest,
remarked on the historic setting of the inauguration, being held in a historic
hall that had hosted the Indian government before Rashtrapati Bhavan cameinto
existence. He acknowledged the rich history of both the venue and the entire
Delhi University campus. In addition to this, he emphasized the significance of
anthropology not just as a field ofstudy but also in terms of its relevance to
life in general.
In his address, Professor Junji Koizumi, President
of IUAES, expressed gratitude to Professor Soumendra M. Patnaik, who was elected
as Senior Vice President for another four years after serving as Vice President
of IUAES since 2018.
He provided an overview of the history of IUAES,
highlighting that the first Congress was held in London in 1934 and
subsequently in various regions worldwide, including Asia, with India hosting
the event in 1978, led by Professor L.P. Vidyarthi.
He emphasized that IUAES had
become more active through institutions and now returned to India at a
significant moment in the intellectual development of Anthropology as a
discipline.
Addressing the gathering, Professor Soumendra M.
Patnaik, Conference Chair and the Head of the Department of Anthropology,
University of Delhi, acknowledged that the event, this time, is being held on
the Delhi University campus itself, showcasing the institution's advanced
infrastructure and the capability to host a conference of this magnitude.
He
underlined the conference's potential to capture the meaning of phenomena
beyond disciplinary boundaries and the unique timing of the event, coinciding
with auspicious moments in Indian traditions.
G.B. Pattanaik, the Chair of the conference
Steering Committee compared the Congress to a G20of Anthropology, where top
academicians from across the globe gather, emphasizing the importance of
Anthropology as a predictive science that could aid in better preparedness for
global challenges.
The International Union of Anthropological and
Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) is a world organisation of scientists and
institutions working in the fields of anthropology, ethnology, archaeology and
linguistics.
Since 1934, it has been organising International Conferences on
Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences at a global level. It aims to enhance
and enrich communication among scholars from all regions of the world, to
expand understanding of human experiences for a sustainable future based on
harmony between nature and culture.
The 19th IUAES-WAU World Anthropology Congress
2023 promises to be a week of intense intellectual exchange, fostering global connections
and the pursuit of knowledge in the field of Anthropology.
It features an
extensive roster of events, with 165 technical sessions, 10 plenary sessions,
160 panels, 15 round tables, 10 workshops, screening of 16 ethnographic films.
The conference also features exhibitions from the Indira Gandhi National Centre
for the Arts' JanpadSampda division, Rock Art division, and Indira Gandhi
Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. The Conference intends to bridge theory and
practice, encourage international collaboration, and provide a venue for policymakers and academicians to engage in meaningful
conversations.