Dr. Sumahan Bandyopadhyay
Professor
Department
ANTHROPOLOGY
Contact
+91 3222 298-397 / Centrex-397
Educational Qualification
| Degree Name | Institute | Year of passing/awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Ph. D. | Visva- Bharati | 2007 |
| M.Sc | University of Calcutta | 1998 |
Title of the Ph. D. Thesis
| Title of the Ph. D. Thesis |
|---|
| Santal Festivals: A Study of Cultural Performance and its Dynamics |
Career Profile / Teaching Experience
| Description of Experience |
|---|
| Visiting Professor, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo, Japan |
| Director, Centre for Adivasi Studies and Museum, VU |
| Professor and Head (2024-2026), Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University |
| Former Guest Faculty, PG Department of Bengali, Womens College, Kolkata, University of Calcutta |
| Former Guest Faculty, Department of Museology, Rabindra Bharati University |
| Former Guest Faculty, Department of Anthropology, West Bengal State University |
| Former Guest Faculty, Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta |
| Deputy Magistrate & Deputy Collector (2004-2005), Government of West Bengal. |
| Former Assistant Professor in Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Narasinha Dutt College, Howrah.(2003 –5. 5. 2015 ) |
| Junior Research Officer (1999-2001), Indian Anthropological Society, Kolkata. |
Specialization/Research Area
| Type (Specialization / Research Area / Areas of Interest) | Detailed Description |
|---|---|
| Field of Specialization | Social Cultural Anthropology |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Ethnography - theory and Practice |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Tribal Development |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Theoretical Anthropology |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Anthropology of Religion |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Anthropology of Performance |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Literary Anthropology |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Anthropology of E-governance and Information and Communication Technology with special reference to cyber and digital world |
| Research Area/ Areas of Interest | Folklore |
Course/ Subject Taught
| Course Name |
|---|
| M.Sc. Anthropology - Fundamentals of Anthropology |
| Indian Society and Culture |
| Ecological Anthropology |
| Anthropological Theories |
| M.Phil Anthropology -Fundamentals of Anthropological Theory and Beyond |
| Fieldwork and Ethnographic Styles |
| Ph.D. Coursework |
| Medical Anthropology |
Publications in Journal / Magazines / Newspaper
Book Published
| Title of the Book | Published by | Published on | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy and Livelihood of the Folk Artisan Patua Community in Purba and Paschim Medinipur Districts of West Bengal under the Impact of Covid-19 | A.K. Dasgupta Centre for Planning and Development, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan and New Delhi Publishers | Jan, 2025 | Sole Author | Indexing: OthersArticle's Web Link: ISBN 978-93-48120-19-9 |
| Sundarbaner Adivasi – Abhibasan, Arthaniti O Sanskriti, by Pashupati Prasad Mahato, [Editor] | Ashadeep, Kolkata | Jan, 2025 | Co-Author | Indexing: OthersArticle's Web Link: ISBN 978-93-88868-87-7 |
| Samajik Sanskritik Nribijnan ( Social – Cultural Anthropology) | Parul Prakashani | Jan, 2024 | Sole Author | Indexing: OthersArticle's Web Link: ISBN 978-93-82300-39-7 |
| Nisadajanasmrti , [Edited with Ashok Kr. Mahata] | Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar, Kolkata | Jan, 2023 | Co-Author | Indexing: OthersArticle's Web Link: ISBN 978-93-92622-94-6 |
| Crafts, Performance, Tribes – Exploration into the lives of Communities, [Edited with Ashok Kr. Mahata] | Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar, Kolkata | Jan, 2023 | Co-Author | Indexing: OthersArticle's Web Link: ISBN 978-93-92622-89-2 |
| Anthropology of Music [Edited with Dipak K. Midya] | Vidyasagar University Publication Division, Midnapore, | Jan, 2023 | Co-Author | Indexing: OthersArticle's Web Link: ISBN 978-81-954650-4-0 |
| History of Anthropology - A. C. Haddon | Concept Publishing Co. New Delhi | Jan, 2017 | Introduction | Indexing: Article's Web Link: |
| Monasteries in Sikkim-Persistence of Cultural Tradition | The Indian Anthropological Society | Jan, 2013 | Fourth Author with Biman Kumar Dasgupta ,Jayanta Sarkar, Dipali Danda | Indexing: Article's Web Link: |
| Life and Lore – Anthropological Reflections | Akhsyar Prakashani , Kolkata | Jan, 2012 | Sole Author | Indexing: Article's Web Link: |
| Prasanga Adibasi ( The Tribals) | Offbeat Publishing, Kolkata | Jan, 2012 | Sole Author | Indexing: Article's Web Link: |
| Samajik Sanskritik Nribijnan ( Social – Cultural Anthropology) | Parul Prakashani,Kolkata | Jan, 2009 | Sole Author | Indexing: Article's Web Link: |
| Loksanskriti o Nrividyar Abhidhan (Dictionary of Folklore and Anthropology) | ABD Kolkata | Jan, 2009 | Co-Editor | Indexing: Article's Web Link: |
Research Project
| Worked as | Funding Agency | Amount in Rs. | Duration | Period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Investigator | Government of West Bengal | 350000 | 2 years | 2015-2017 | Complete |
| Principal Investigator | UGC | 150000 | 2 years | 2007-2009 | Complete |
Invited Lectures
| Title | Organized By | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | Kharagpur Book Fair – 2019 | Kharagpur | Jan, 2019 |
| Experience and Encounters: Transformations in Anthropology | Department of Anthropology , Narasinha Dutt College, Howrah and The Indian Anthropological Society, Kolkata | Narasinha Dutt College, Howrah | Jan, 2019 |
| Ananya Amulyacharan: Ekti Nriboigyanik Bikshan( Unique Amulyacharan in Anthropological Perspective) | Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, Kolkata with assistance from Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal | Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, Kolkata | Jan, 2019 |
| Invited Speaker and Chief Guest at 52nd Annual Celebration | Ramakrishna Mission Lokasikhsha Parishad | RKM, Narendrapur , Kolkata | Jan, 2019 |
| Social and Cultural Anthropology with Special Reference to Folklore. | Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta | Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta | Jan, 2018 |
| Tribal Religion in India: From Everyday rituals to Performative Practices | Department of Sociology, Vidyasagar University | P.C. Mahalanobis Hall,Vidyasagar University | Jan, 2018 |
| Impact of Digital Globalisation on Tribal Life(NSS Special Camp – Lecture) | Department of Sociology, Vidyasagar University | Department of Sociology, Vidyasagar University | Jan, 2018 |
| Pragmatics of Development and Welfare of the tribal people (NSS Special Camp – Lecture) | Department of Sanskrit, Vidyasagar University | Department of Sanskrit, Vidyasagar University | Jan, 2018 |
| Recent trends of folklore study and methodology | Department of Bangla Jahangirnagar University Bangladesh | Department of Bangla Jahangirnagar University Bangladesh | Jan, 2018 |
| Sundarbaner Lokosanskriti | West Bengal Backward Classes Development and Finance Corporation, Government of West Bengal. | Kobigan Academy | Jan, 2017 |
| Tulunamulok Lokosanskriti( Comparative Folklore) | Bhabanipur Anandam and Folklore Congress Association of India, Kolkata | Jabananda Sabhagriha, Bangla Academy, Kolkata. | Jan, 2017 |
| Mahali basket making – A Tribal craft in social and historical perspectives. | Professor Kalyan Kumar Dasgupta Memorial Lecture ,Institute of Historical Studies, Kolkata | IHSK, Kolkata | Jan, 2016 |
| Lokayat Sanskritir Dikdarshan | Folk and Tribal Culture Centre, I. & C.A. Department, Government of West Bengal, 11 September, 2015 | FTCC Auditorium | Jan, 2015 |
| Technology, Culture and Society: Perspectives from Pre-agricultural to Post-agricultural World | Agro-Economic Research Centre, Visva – Bharati, Santiniketan | Visva – Bharati, Santiniketan | Jan, 2014 |
| Ajit Mitra Smarak Baktrita, 1421( Ajit Mitra Memorial Oration,2014) | Rarhkatha Patrika, Suri, Birbhum | Suri, Birbhum | Jan, 2014 |
| Special Lectures on Research Methodology | Centre for Studies on Indigenous People, Rabindra Bharati University | Rabindra Bharati University | Jan, 2011 |
| Professor Sankar Bandyopadhyay Smarak Boktrita | Professor Sankar Bandyopadhyay Smritiraksha Samiti | Bhadreswar , Hooghly | Jan, 2009 |
| Arun Roy Smriti Boktrita | Folklore Congress Association of India | Bangla Academy ,Kolkata | Jan, 2009 |
Membership of Learned Society
| Title/Name of the Society |
|---|
| The Indian Anthropological Society, Life Member |
| Indian National Confederation and Academy of Anthropologists (INCAA).-Life Member, |
| Anthropological Association, Mysore, Karnataka - Life Member. |
| Indian Anthropological Association, Delhi - Life Member |
| Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, Kolkata- Life Member. |
| Folklore Congress Association of India, Kolkata -Life Member. |
| Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society, Lucknow, - Life Member |
| The Asiatic Society- Life Member |
Association with Professional Bodies
| Type of Professional Activity | Period |
|---|---|
| Editor, Man in India | From 2019 |
| Member, Editorial Board, - Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society. ( ISSN 0019 - 4387 ) | From 2013 |
| Vice-chairman, Vidyasagar Museum Committee, Vidyasagar University | 2025 to 2025 |
| Member, Institutional Development Plan Committee, Vidyasagar University | 2025 to 2025 |
| Member, Committee-3 (Collaboration and Consultancy), Research and Development Cell, Vidyasagar University | 2025 to 2025 |
| Member, Board of Research Studies (BRS), Vidyasagar University | 2025 to 2025 |
| Member, Publication Committee, Vidyasagar University | 2025 to 2025 |
| Chairman, UG Board of Studies, Vidyasagar University | 2024 to 2025 |
| Chairman, PG Board of Studies, Vidyasagar University | 2024 to 2025 |
| Secretary, Ph.D. Committee in Anthropology, Vidyasagar University | 2024 to 2025 |
| Secretary, Ph.D. Committee in Adivasi Studies, CASM, Vidyasagar University | 2022 to 2025 |
Conference /Seminar/Workshop Attended
| Title of the Seminar/Conference/Workshop | Date | Role | Held at and Organiser |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conference on Asian Linguistic Anthropology 2019 | Jan, 2019 | Paper Presented – A Salvage Linguistic Anthropological Study of Endangered Mangta Language of West Bengal, India | Siem Reap, Cambodia Pannasastra University, Cambodia, in collaboration with Asia Centre, Japan Foundation and Wenner- Gren Foundation |
| International Seminar on ‘Tribe, State and Development: Exploring Anthropological Knowledge’ | Jan, 2019 | Paper:How Digital India lives in villages: A micro-level study with special reference to the tribal communities in Jungal Mahal area, West Bengal | Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, (Under UGC-SAP [DRS-I]) in collaboration with Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |
| National Seminar on ‘Essence of India: Unique Markers of Biology, Culture, Language and History of Indian Population’ | Jan, 2019 | Paper: Baul: Traditional Singers and Esoteric Practitioners of Bengal. | CIIL, Mysore, Karnataka Anthropological Association, Mysore in collaboration with CIIL, IGRMS and An.S.I., Government of India held at CIIL, Mysore, Karnataka |
| Indian Anthropology Congress 2019 titled Anthropology for Developing India – Pathways to Policy Planning and Implementation, | Jan, 2019 | Paper presented: In Search of the Sacred: Emerging Pilgrimage Tradition among the Santals of Eastern India | Department of Anthropology, Savitribai Phule Pune University in The Maharashtra Association of Anthropological Sciences(MAAS) under the aegis of INCAA |
| Indian Anthropology Congress 2019 titled Anthropology for Developing India – Pathways to Policy Planning and Implementation | Jan, 2019 | Chaired Session | Department of Anthropology, Savitribai Phule Pune University in The Maharashtra Association of Anthropological Sciences(MAAS) under the aegis of INCAA |
| National Research Methodology Workshop | Jan, 2019 | Invited Lecture | A.K.Dasgupta Centre for Planning and Development [A Centre sponsored by the NITI AAYOG, Govt. of India] |
| International Conference on ‘Performance and the Prospects of Folkloric Tribal Culture of Eastern India’ | Jan, 2018 | Paper presented - Understanding Ritual Performance and Identity | Department of English, Vidyasagar University (UGC SAP-III DRS-II) |
| UGC sponsored International Seminar on ‘Food and Health: Bio-cultural Dimensions’ | Jan, 2018 | Presented Paper: Food: Social –Cultural Anthropological Approach | Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University (UGC SAP, DRS-I) |
| National Seminar on ‘Contemporary Anthropology and North –East India’ | Jan, 2018 | Paper: The Indian Anthropological Society and North-East India Studies. | Department of Anthropology, Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam |
| International Conference on Indigenous People, Human Security and Sustainable Development: Emerging Challenges in the Present Global Context. | Jan, 2018 | Paper presented - A Comparative Study of the Educational Status of the Bhumijs in two Villages of Purulia District, West Bengal | Department of Anthropology, WBSU. Commission on Human Rights, IUAES, Department of Anthropology, WBSU, |
| 47th Annual Conference 2017 of The Indian Anthropological Society on ‘Tribal Situation in India: Contemporary Issues and Concerns’ | Jan, 2018 | Paper Presenter ,Topic: Trends of Change of Livelihood of the Birhor tribe of West Bengal | Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh |
| International Seminar on ‘Folklore in the Digital Era’ | Jan, 2017 | Folklore in digital space: A study into the websites on folklore of West Bengal - Invited Speaker and Chair | Bangladesh Folklore Research Centre,Rajshahi, Bangladesh and Loukik, India at Department of Folklore, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh |
| International conference on ‘The Contemporary Trend of Folklore Study | Jan, 2016 | Invited Speaker- Topic : Approaches to the study of Folk art: A Study into the Contemporary trends in West Bengal | Department of Folklore & Folklore Alumni association of Rajshahi University. Bangladesh. |
| 3rd International Congress of Bengal Studies -2013 | Jan, 2013 | ty of Bengal Studies, Universiorganized by International Society of Calcutta , held at Kolkata from 19th – 22th November, 2013. Topic –Paper Presenter on Climate change and its literary reflections | University of Calcutta and ISBS, Delhi |
| 2nd International Congress of Bengal Studies -2011 organized by International Society of Bengal Studies | Jan, 2011 | Proposer of the Panel Chair the panel as Coordinator. | University of Dhaka and Bangla, Academy , Dhaka , Bangladesh held at Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| International Seminar at Jahangirnagar University , Bangladesh Paper - Linguistic and Literary Anthropology. | Jan, 2011 | Invited Lecture | Jahangirnagar University , Bangladesh |
| National Seminar on Development of Anthropology in Two Distinct Time Frames : Pre – Independent and Post – Independent Periods | Jan, 2010 | Paper Presenter, Paper – Finding self in the other : Studying relation between anthropology and literature | University of Ranchi and The Indian Anthropological Society ;Ranchi; , 17th -19th December, 2010. |
| Workshop on Research Methodology | Jan, 2009 | Resource Person | BEF, Kathmandu, Nepal.30th – 5th Nov.2009. |
| Workshop on Basics of Data collection and data processing | Jan, 2009 | Participant | CSDRR and CHDHR , Rabindra Bharati University ,30-31 March, 2009. |
| UGC Seminar | Jan, 2008 | Paper Presenter, Topic:Interpretation , Interpretative Anthropology: Geertz and Beyond. | Department of Anthropology, Calcutta University,27-28 th March,2008. |
Conference /Seminar/Workshop Organised
| Title of the Seminar/Conference/Workshop | Date | Role in the Event | Funding Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Anthropology Congress 2017 | Jan, 2017 | Joint Secretary | Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University,; INCAA; ICSSR; AnSI,IGRMS;ICMR |
| Certificate Course on Data Collection and Analysis | Jan, 2015 | Co-ordinator | Gurusaday Museum, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. |
| Tribal Festival -14 Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre(EZCC) | Jan, 2014 | Co-ordinator | Ministry of Culture, Government of India |
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded by | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Siksharatna | Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal | Sep, 2022 |
| Ekalabya Samman | S K G Paramparashram, Kolkata | Jan, 2018 |
| Junior Research Fellowship | Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India | Jan, 2001 |
| Gold Medal ( First Class First in M.Sc.) | University of Calcutta | Jan, 1998 |