The traditional stereotype of anthropologists is of people spending years in forests and remote villages, taking interminable notes on the weird customs of tribes. However, that perception is changing rapidly. According to Professor Gopal Krishna Chakrabarti, head of the department of anthropology at Calcutta University, there is now a greater relevance of studying anthropology in an urban situation. ?Since anthropology is all about man, the importance of the subject is enormous in today?s constantly changing social scenario in cities,? he explains.

Anthropology is broadly classified into three sections, physical, cultural and archaeological. Physical anthropology highlights the characteristics of different races of men; cultural anthropology seeks to understand different social mores and customs and archaeological anthropology seeks to examine the remains of early humans. ?Each topic has its own importance and anthropology as a subject is intrinsically linked to molecular biology, genetics, demography and economics,? explains Dr V.R. Rao, director of the Anthropological Survey of India. The subject is taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in colleges and universities throughout India.

Perhaps the most important aspect of anthropology is fieldwork. And in India there is tremendous scope for that since we have numerous tribes with different customs, mores, mannerisms, languages and intricacies of behaviour.

Exploration and excavation form an integral part of anthropological research. The discovery of prehistoric tools and artefacts can be as exciting as any detective work. ?In fact, anthropology paved the way for criminal investigation,? says Professor Ranjana Roy, professor of anthropology at Calcutta University. Calcutta University plans to start a six-month certificate course in forensic anthropology that encompasses a wide variety of practices, from fingerprinting to DNA testing. The course will provide a legal angle too.

Students of anthropology are now being trained in molecular biology as well and several have joined human diversity projects. The direct contact they have with people at the grassroots level also make them suitable for NGOs working in social development. Again, if you are planning to sit for the civil services exams, anthropology could prove to be a useful subject.