Mokokchung, 31 August (MTNews): In a noteworthy recognition of his contributions to the field of anthropology, Dr Somenath Bhattacharjee, the Professor and Head of the Department of Anthropology at Nagaland University’s Lumami campus, was honored with the prestigious Promising Indian Anthropologist award. The award ceremony took place on the 13th of August 2023 at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) located in Bhubaneswar.
The award was presented to Dr Bhattacharjee by Arjun Munda, the Minister of Tribal Affairs of the Government of India. The recognition comes as a result of his remarkable dedication to the study of anthropology and his significant academic and research contributions.
The recognition was part of the larger backdrop of the World Anthropology Congress 2023, an event of paramount importance in the anthropology community. This congress was held at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences from 9 to 14 August.
Dr Bhattacharjee, a Kolkata native, has been deeply involved in the realm of anthropology since 2010. His journey began at Assam University’s Diphu campus, where he served as a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology. In May of this year, he took on the role of the first Professor of Anthropology at Nagaland University, marking a new phase in his illustrious career.
His expertise spans a diverse range of anthropological domains, including tribal cultural practices, indigenous knowledge systems, ethno-ecology, and tribal health. With more than 80 research papers published in esteemed Scopus indexed and UGC listed journals, as well as contributions to edited volumes, he has demonstrated his commitment to advancing anthropological understanding. Dr Bhattacharjee’s literary accomplishments extend beyond academic papers; he is also the author of six books published by national and international publishing houses.
In an insightful conversation with Dr Bhattacharjee, he expressed his fervent dedication to conducting high-quality anthropological research in Nagaland and to popularize the subject of Anthropology in the entire state.. He emphasized the pivotal role of anthropology in safeguarding and nurturing age-old indigenous cultures, practices, and ecological sustainability. He firmly believes that without a comprehensive grasp of anthropological principles, the preservation and promotion of these invaluable aspects of human heritage would be compromised.