Delhi University hosts World Anthropology Congress in India after 45 years

NEW DELHI: University of Delhi is hosting the 19th International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) World Anthropology Congress 2023 in India from October 14 to October 20. The World Anthropology Congress is being held in India after 45 years.

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.

ALSO READ I Libraries should be built to connect youth with country’s history, language and culture: Amit Shah

The inauguration ceremony of the conference was held on October 15, 2023. Junji Koizumi, President of IUAES 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.

He emphasised 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.

Soumendra M Patnaik, Conference Chair and the Head of the Department of Anthropology, DU said, " This time the event 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.

The 19th IUAES World Anthropology Congress 2023 will mark intense intellectual exchange, fostering global connections and the pursuit of knowledge in the field of Anthropology. It features various 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' Janpad Sampda division, Rock Art division, and Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. The conference aims to bridge theory and practice, encourage international collaboration, and provide a venue for policymakers and academicians to engage in meaningful conversations.