Summary:
Anthropos India Foundation organized a very interactive and thought-stimulating lecture by Prof. Geetika Ranjan, a well-known anthropologist with a wide range of research in political anthropology, childhood studies, and tribal society. The lecture delved into the role of anthropology in development using the framework of meticulous ethnographic studies, critical thought, and ethical involvement. Prof. Ranjan stressed the integrated nature of the discipline, using notable anthropologists whose works are still defining development. She emphasized the pioneering work of Bronislaw Malinowski in ethnographic fieldwork using his intensive studies in the Trobriand Islands, as presented in “Argonauts of the Western Pacific.” D.N. Majumdar’s M.A.R.C. (Man, Area, Resource, Cooperation) approach was also debated as an innovative model for tribal development in India. L.K. Mahapatra’s critical evaluation of displacement policies, specifically his support for displaced tribal populations, was presented as a relevant instance of applied anthropology. Prof. Ranjan also commented on S.C. Dube’s “India’s Changing Villages” and Irawati Karve’s ethnographic study of the social effects of the Koyna Dam displacement, highlighting how such studies are exemplars of the ability of anthropology to shape policy and promote participatory development.
One of the main themes of the lecture was the position of anthropologists as mediators between excluded groups and policymakers. Prof. Ranjan recognized the field’s obligation to transcend scholarly debate and become a source of practical advocacy. She also warned, however, against the dangers of unbridled cultural relativism, contending that anthropologists need to remain critical when faced with practices that reinforce inequality. This balanced approach reinforced the value of what Clyde Kluckhohn called “detached attachment” — a combination of empathic understanding and detached analysis.
The interactive Q&A session added additional depth to the discussion. Questioners asked how to deal with emotional biases during research with vulnerable populations and looked at anthropology’s potential contribution towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Questions also touched upon the difficulty of turning ethnographic knowledge into concrete policy changes, the changing function of digital ethnography, and other career opportunities for anthropologists outside of academia. Prof. Ranjan’s answers stressed the value of interdisciplinarity, communicating research in plain language, and developing advocacy skills.
Although the lecture presented persuasive visions of anthropology’s practical possibilities, it also raised inherent dilemmas. The field continues to be stuck between intellectual seriousness and activist leanings, usually bound by institutional hesitation to confront policy processes directly. Furthermore, although new digital media allow for broader reach, they also have the potential to oversimplify ethnographic understandings. The idea of “attached detachment” remains idealized, as scholars grappling with the complexities of injustice frequently become emotionally committed to the plight of their subjects.
In conclusion, Prof. Ranjan’s lecture highlighted that anthropology’s ultimate benchmark of success lies in its ability to effect meaningful change while upholding scholarly integrity. Going forward, the discipline’s relevance can be further reinforced through more systematic means of policy engagement, cross-disciplinary research collaborations, and moral guidelines for activist anthropology. By transcending the divide between knowledge and action, anthropologists can continue to make their contributions towards creating equitable and inclusive societies.
