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55.SC Roy

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179 views

55.SC Roy

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Akshay Jadhav
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Anthropology 2023

Batch-1.0
Handout# 55
SC ROY: THE FATHER OF INDIAN ETHNOGRAPHY (1871-1942)
S.C. Roy is known as the father of Indian ethnology, the first Indian ethnographer, the first Indian
anthropologist etc. He was a lawyer by profession. As a lawyer, he used to visit the interior areas of
Chota Nagpur and could observe the tribals from close quarters. He was moved by oppression and
hardship of Munda and other tribal communities. This deep interest in tribal led to beginning of his
career as an anthropologist. His major contribution in anthropology can be understood in terms of 5
broad headings:
i) Contribution in study of tribal culture
ii) Study in Physical anthropology
iii) Anthropology of caste
iv) Study of folklore
v) Applied anthro and tribal policy

STUDIES IN TRIBAL CULTURE:


The miserable condition of tribals of Chota Nagpur attracted SC Roy to undertake studies on customs,
beliefs, tradition, lifeways and culture etc. His first ethnograph was on Munda tribes of Chotanagpur
(Munda and Their country 1912). Roy believed that knowledge of history of tribe would help us
appreciate its culture better. Hence Roy’s monograph contains only one chapter on culture and 5
chapters on history of tribe.
His next book deals with Oraon (The Oraon of Chota Nagpur). In this book he amended his earlier
strategy and devotes only one chapter to history of tribes while rest devoted to detailed ethnographic
description of tribes. Roy was the first to draw our attention to the existence of Dhumkuria or the
youth dormitory. He detailed its function and explained its role in socio-economic life of Oraon. He
also gave a detailed description of village organisation, the village panchayat and the Paraha system.

He also wrote a monograph on Birhor which was a small nomadic tribe numbering just 2000. He gave
a description of Birhor life form from which ‘nomadism’ emerges as a style of life.

The last description was on Kharia tribe. He gave a comparative description on 3 division of kharia-
The Dudh Kharia, Dhelki Kharia and Hill Kharia.

Besides monograph, he wrote papers on totemism among Asur, Ho of Singhbhum. He also published
article on Lepcha Funeral, Kinship among people of Sikkim, Khasi kinship terms, the Khond human
sacrifice, the Korku memorial tablets.

STUDIES IN PHYSICAL ANTHROPLOGY AND PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY


In his various tribal monographs, he tried to give, as far as possible, details about the physical
characteristics of the tribe being studied.
SC Roy felt that many problem of Indian ethnology could be solved by an exploration of prehistoric
evidences. He was the third person to study prehistoric sites in Ranchi district, the first two were
Valentive Ball and WHP Driver.

SC Roy’s main contribution in the field of Prehistoric archaeology is digging up of Asura site. The
traditions about ancient Asura are still widespread in Ranchi district and the implements and
ornaments of copper, bronze and iron dug up are attributed to these pre-Munda inhabitants of Chota
Nagpur. He concludes that Asur belonged to the same age as that of the Indus Valley culture. On many
points, he finds that the two areas resemble to a surprising degree.

Roy also came across a number of burial sites locally called Asur Khutty. The excavations of burial sites
revealed earthen jars which were found placed one over the other upto a maximum of four at time.

Ph: +91-8826486658, +918826496658, | Email: [email protected]


Placed in the jars were copper ornaments and beads together with the bones of the dead. The Asur
civilization in Chota Nagpur, according to Roy, continued atleast upto the Kushan period as indicated
by the find of three Kushan gold coins.

ANTHROPOLOGY OF CASTE
SC Roy was of the opinion that our ancient books, namely the Puranas, Samhitas, Dharmashastras and
Griha Sutras as well as the great epics held a rich treasure house of data for social anthropology.
He tried to explore the origin of caste system and for this he studied Indian scriptures as well as other
ethnographic reports. He began with a detailed critique of the different theories put forward by
scholars for the origin of Caste system. He said that the constant interaction between people
belonging to diverse ethnic elements and culture areas must have had a bearing on the making of
caste system in India.

STUDY OF FOLKLORE
Roy believed that folklore throws a flood of light on the early intellectual evolution of human society
and for this reason he regarded folklore as “pre-history of human mind”.
Roy held that Indian students are in most advantageous position to collect and study folklore, although
many folkloric traditions have already disappeared due to various reasons. He emphasized upon the
need to collect and preserve folkloric traditions, because they are treasury of our past handed down
from generation to generation.

APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY AND TRIBAL POLICY


SC Roy was a highly respected public man known for his deep scholarships, understanding and
sympathy for tribal life and culture. Hence the government sought his advice whenever it was faced
with any administrative problem in dealing with tribals.
He was also member of Bihar and Odisha Legislative council for 15 years. He always pushed for welfare
of tribal people of Chota Nagpur.

In his various speeches Roy made a strong plea for giving anthropological training not only to
administrative and judicial officers, but to forest and excise officers who were posted in tribal areas.

In order to promote anthropological research SC Roy also started the research journal Man in India in
1921.

Ph: +91-8826486658, +918826496658, | Email: [email protected]

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