| Department | : | Anthropology |
| HOD | : | Dr. Bharathi Karri |
| Designation | : | Associate Professor & Head |
| Qualification | : | MSc, PhD |
| Teaching Exp. | : | 12 Years |
| Phone No. : | : | +91 9491672574 |
| Email : | : | drbh249@gmail.com |
The Department of Anthropology at Sambalpur University was established in 1976 as a joint department with Sociology, in response to a growing need to study the diverse tribal communities and social formations of western Odisha. In 1991, this joint entity was bifurcated, leading to the formation of an independent Department of Anthropology.
Since its inception as a standalone department, it has evolved into a vibrant academic unit offering M.A./M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. programmes. The department focuses on both Social/Cultural Anthropology and Physical/Biological Anthropology, with a strong emphasis on field-based training. Its core research themes include tribal studies, social inclusion and exclusion, and the anthropology of children and childhood.
Over the years, the department has built a strong reputation for rigorous teaching, socially committed research, and deep engagement with the region’s particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs). It has received project grants from national agencies such as the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and regularly organizes national seminars, awareness campaigns, and community-based research programmes.
As the department approaches its golden jubilee, it continues to uphold its commitment to fieldwork, ethical scholarship, and public responsibility—preparing future anthropologists to understand and engage with the complexities of human life, both locally and globally.
At the Department of Anthropology, Sambalpur University, we believe that the most powerful insights into human life begin with careful listening, ethical engagement, and deep fieldwork. Located in one of India’s most culturally diverse regions, our department draws on the lived experiences of Odisha to contribute to both local understanding and global anthropological conversations.
Since its establishment in 1976 as a joint department with Sociology, and its independent formation in 1991, the department has grown into a dynamic space for the study of human diversity, grounded in both academic rigor and social commitment.
Odisha is a land of immense cultural wealth—home to a rich tapestry of tribal communities, languages, ritual traditions, ecological worldviews, and historical continuities. From the hill tracts of western Odisha to the coastal plains, the region offers a living laboratory for anthropological inquiry. At our department, we engage with this complexity not merely as a subject of local significance, but as a resource of global relevance. The cultural, linguistic, and ecological diversity of Odisha offers profound insights into questions of human adaptation, resilience, and identity—insights that resonate far beyond regional boundaries. Through our research and teaching, we aim to bring Odisha’s lived realities into meaningful dialogue with global anthropological theory and practice.
We offer comprehensive postgraduate (M.A./M.Sc.), M.Phil., and Ph.D. programs, with specializations in Social/Cultural Anthropology and Physical/Biological Anthropology. Our curriculum is distinguished by its emphasis on camp-based fieldwork, critical thinking, and community engagement. Students are trained to observe, document, and analyze cultural life as it unfolds in everyday contexts—from tribal governance systems to emerging digital expressions of identity.
The department’s research thrusts include tribal studies, social exclusion and inclusion, and the anthropology of childhood and marginality. Our faculty are active in national and international academic networks, and many of our students have gone on to serve in academic, administrative, and development sectors across India.
I warmly invite students with a curiosity about the human condition—its past, present, and possible futures—to join us in this journey. Admission is open to graduates from any stream who qualify through our entrance process, which includes a written test and personal interview.
At Sambalpur University, anthropology is not merely a subject—it is a way of seeing, listening, and thinking with the world.
Dr. Bharathi Karri
Associate Professor and Head
Department of Anthropology, Sambalpur University
Vision
To be a nationally and globally recognized centre for anthropological teaching, research, and community engagement—grounded in the cultural and ecological richness of Odisha, and dedicated to deepening our understanding of humanity through interdisciplinary, field-based, and socially conscious scholarship.
Mission
Core Values
1. Ethical Engagement
We uphold the highest standards of ethics in research, teaching, and community interaction—prioritizing respect, consent, and cultural sensitivity.
2. Inclusivity
We value diversity in thought, background, and identity, and are committed to creating an academic space that is accessible and welcoming to all.
3. Fieldwork-Driven Learning
We believe in the transformative power of immersive field experiences and emphasize hands-on research as integral to anthropological education.
4. Interdisciplinary Perspective
We foster dialogue across the four fields of anthropology—cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological—and beyond.
5. Public Responsibility
We are dedicated to producing knowledge that contributes to policy, advocacy, and the public good—particularly in the context of tribal and rural communities.
6. Academic Integrity and Excellence
We strive for the highest academic standards in both teaching and research, promoting originality, critical thinking, and scholarly rigor.
1. Regionally Rooted, Globally Relevant
Located in the heart of western Odisha-home to one of the highest concentrations of tribal populations in India—the Department offers a unique opportunity to study anthropology in a setting rich in cultural, linguistic, and ecological diversity. Our research and pedagogy are grounded in local realities while contributing to global anthropological debates.
2. Strong Fieldwork Tradition
Field-based learning is a cornerstone of our academic training. Through camp-based fieldwork, students engage directly with communities, developing ethnographic, biological, and archaeological skills that go beyond textbooks. These experiences foster critical thinking, reflexivity, and ethical sensitivity.
3. Diverse Specializations
The department offers focused training in Social/Cultural Anthropology and Physical/Biological Anthropology, while also supporting interdisciplinary explorations in Linguistic Anthropology, Tribal Studies, Childhood Studies, and Prehistoric Archaeology. This holistic approach prepares students for both academic and applied careers.
4. Faculty with Research Depth and Social Commitment
Our faculty members are not only accomplished scholars with national and international publications, but also practitioners deeply involved in community-based research, policy advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
5. Inclusive and Accessible Education
We welcome students from all academic backgrounds. Our admission process is merit-based and encourages applications from underrepresented and first-generation learners. The curriculum is regularly updated to reflect contemporary issues and emerging research methods.
6. Career and Research Opportunities
Graduates of the department have gone on to excel in academia, civil services, development organizations, health research, and cultural preservation initiatives. The department also supports students in securing fellowships, internships, and research funding.
7. Commitment to Tribal and Marginalized Communities
The department is recognized for its sustained focus on tribal societies, social exclusion, and public health. This orientation makes it an ideal choice for those interested in working at the intersection of anthropology, social justice, and policy.
Classrooms
Laboratories
Seminar Library
Research Room / Scholar’s Workspace
IT & Digital Infrastructure
Display and Exhibition Area
The Department of Computer Science and Applications is proud to house the state-of-the-art Param Shavak Super Computer. This powerful computing system, equipped with two multicore CPUs, each boasting a minimum of 12 cores, offers a peak computing power ranging from 2 to 5 Tera-Flops, making it an invaluable asset for our academic and research endeavors. With 64 GB of RAM and 8 TB of storage, it accelerates data processing and storage capacity, facilitating advanced computational research. The addition of an NVIDIA GP 100 accelerator card further enhances its capabilities. The Param Shavak comes pre-loaded with parallel programming development tools and resource management utilities, simplifying the execution of complex simulations and computations. Our department takes pride in providing students, researchers, and faculty members with an indigenous HPC portal, CHReME, and an applications interface, Onama, offering easy access to a suite of HPC applications tailored to various scientific domains, from bioinformatics to computational fluid dynamics. What sets the Param Shavak apart are its userfriendly features, including pre-loaded parallel programming development tools, resource management utilities, and the convenience of the indigenous HPC portal. Moreover, the system comes pre-packaged with a suite of HPC applications catering to various domains such as bioinformatics, molecular dynamics, materials science, quantum chemistry, atmospheric modeling, and computational fluid dynamics, making it an indispensable tool for groundbreaking research and simulations across a multitude of scientific disciplines.
( Param Shavak Super Computer )
The Department has signed two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to advance computer education and research. The first MOU, in 2015, involved a partnership with IIT Bombay and was funded by the National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. This initiative aimed to provide software training through spoken tutorials. The second MOU, established in 2017, was with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, and was funded by the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan(RUSA), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. This collaboration focused on installing and deploying "PARAM Shavak," a high-performance computing solution, enhancing the University's computing capabilities for advanced research and training to students, research scholars and faculties of the University .
The Department received two significant CSR funds in 2022. The first sponsorship, amounting to Rs. 27,25,865, was provided by the CSR Department of JSW Bhushan Power & Steel Limited, Rengali, Sambalpur, with the aim of supporting the development of a new computer Training Centre. The second sponsorship, totaling Rs. 10,00,000, was generously contributed by UCO Bank's General Administrative Department, Zonal Office, Ainthapali Road, Sambalpur, with a specific focus on establishing a computer Training Centre tailored to the needs of SC/ST students. These funds signify a meaningful partnership between industry and academia, enhancing educational opportunities in computer science and applications for the benefit of students at Sambalpur University, with a particular emphasis on empowering underprivileged communities.
