On Wednesday, Delhi University announced the establishment of its Centre for Tribal Studies. According to administrators, the center is already operating out of the Department of Anthropology and will shortly begin accepting research applications from academic members.
“The advisory committee will convene a meeting in the coming week and start a few research projects along with faculty members,” said Shri Prakash Singh, chairperson of the center’s governing board.
Initially, faculty members will be able to conduct research at the center. Singh went on to say that they will try to recruit DU’s indigenous students, who will be able to explore and document concerns in their home villages.
According to a press release issued by the university on Wednesday, “the inception of the Centre for Tribal Studies (CTS) will be a transformative step in advancing and addressing contemporary issues relevant to tribal communities in terms of their overall development and well-being in present as well as future progression.”
Previously, a governing board comprised of DU officials was formed. External specialists will also provide advice to the center, including T V Kattimani, Vice-Chancellor of Andhra Pradesh’s Central Tribal University, and Chander Mohan Parsheera, Director of Himachal Pradesh University’s Institute of Tribal Studies.
Among the areas where scholars can focus, according to Singh, are lost heroes and neglected tribal languages. For the time being, the center is largely focused on research, but will explore certificate courses in the future.
The center’s objectives, according to the university’s concept note, include studying the term “tribe” from an India-centric perspective. Another main goal of the institution is to research the role of tribal leaders throughout Indian history and to highlight the importance and significance of tribal leaders throughout Indian history.
The center also intends to research and document tribal customs in India, as well as to transmit this material to the general public and students. According to the concept note, the center’s goal will be to identify particular challenges and needs of denitrified and nomadic tribes, as well as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), with a focus on conservation, development, and special health needs. It will also look into the significance of forest-tribal linkages and current concerns affecting tribal populations.
The note, which was issued earlier this year, specified that the center’s faculty will consist of all fellows and associates. Scholars with verified academic credentials in relevant subjects can work as visiting or adjunct lecturers at the center. Full-time university and college faculty members with suitable expertise and research interests may be appointed as fellows for a three-year term.
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