1.
1 – Indian Prehistory, Indus Civilisation, Contribution of
tribal cultures, etc.
Primary Source: Indian Anthropology Nadeem Hasnain
Value addition: DK Bhattacharya (Selective Reading only
for this topic)
Diagrams: Anthropology Simplified by Vivek Bhasme
Prepare notes for each topic under various subheads
Climate
Tools, Tool-types, Tool-technology, Tool material
Practice the diagrams of tools
Prominent sites, their excavators, any uniqueness in the
sites, etc.
Draw India map and locate the sites in all your answers
For the sub-topic “Contribution of Tribal Cultures”, I
referred to Anthropology Simplified
1.2 – Indian Fossils
Prepare notes for a comprehensive 15 marker on
Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus and Narmada Man
For all answers, you should quote the archaeologist name,
the site and the year of discovery and its significance
Draw a phylogenetic to illustrate where that particular fossil
fits in the whole chain
1.3 – Ethno-archaeology in India
I skipped this topic for lack of time
2 – Demographic and Linguistic Profile
Source: Nadeem Hasnain and Brain Tree
Thoroughly prepare map of profile distribution – both ethnic
and linguistic
Cram Risley’s and Guha’s Classification i.e., memorise the
physical characteristics and other features of each of the race
they described. Also prepare on criticism of their
classification. Basically you need to have holistic content
for a 15 marker question from this section
3.1 – Indian Social System- Varnashram, Karma, Rina,
Rebirth etc.
Core material: Indian Anthropology by Hasnain
You can refer to Anthropology Simplified for
diagrams/schematics and value addition
3.2 – Caste system in India, Varna and Caste, Theories,
Caste Mobility, Dominant Caste etc
Indian Anthropology by Hasnain and Internet to understand
about Sociology theories little more deeply
You can prepare notes for easy revision. It’s a static part and
so if a question comes from this section, you must answer
well.
Have a solid grip over the works of MN Srinivas, Ghurye,
Louis Dumont and other sociologists. Use internet to make
in-depth notes.
When discussing a concept, always remember to quote the
relevant anthropologist name, tribe’s name, village name,
and the name of their publication. Eg: Wiser’s work on
Jajmani system, Bailey’s on Tribe-caste continuum etc. Also
mention scholarly criticism of that concept by other
anthropologists etc. You must answer like a specialist, not a
generalist.
Write about contemporary relevance of these social systems
in Indian Society with examples to substantiate the concept.
3.3 Sacred Complex, Nature Man Spirit
Indian Anthropology by Hasnain
Also mention about BN Saraswati’s work. You can use
internet for getting details
Link it to contemporary relevance too. Mention how when
tribes that get displaced the balance inherent between NMS
get disturbed.
Use schematic to improve presentation.
3.4 – Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity
on Indian Society
Indian Anthropology – Nadeem Hasnain.
Anthropology Simplified – Vivek Bhasme
This is a static part. Prepare comprehensive notes for a 15
marker.
4 – Emergence and growth of Anthro in India,
Contributions, etc.
I completely relied on Anthropology Simplified for this topic
Cramm important Anthropologists and their work
5.1 – Indian Village Studies etc.
I did not find any concrete material for this topic. I prepared
very basic stuff from BrainTree.
Apart from it, wherever relevant I used to quote important
village studies of major anthropologists like Redfield and
interlink with the concepts that emerged out of their studies.
Also prepare scholarly criticisms of these concepts. Adding
a brief line or two about the relevance of these studies on
contemporary Indian society would enrich your answer.
5.2 – Linguistic and religious minorities etc.
Prepared completely from Anthropology Simplified
Wherever relevant quote Constitutional provisions regarding
minorities
Give some contemporary relevance. For instance, when you
talk about any minority community, try and quote any govt
scheme specifically designed to benefit the community and
its evaluation.
5.3 – Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural
change Sanskritization etc..
Indian Anthropology by Nadeem Hasnain + Anthropology
Simplified
Use schematic/diagrams to improve presentation (Eg:
Interplay between GT and LT)
For Panchayati Raj and Social Change, Media and social
change etc., use internet to prepare case studies
6.1 – Tribal Situation in India – bio-genetic variability etc.
Tribal India by Nadeem Hasnain
6.2 and 6.3 – Tribal Problems
Tribal India + Anthropology Simplified
Prepare notes from Xaxa report to enrich your answers
Always be mindful of being specific. Don’t just say tribes
are afflicted with ill-health and indebtedness. Tell the
examiner which specific tribe suffers from which problem,
its underlying cause, latest statistics, govt schemes,
criticisms, and way forward. Quote relevant case studies
with separate side heading to draw examiner’s attention.
7.1 – Problems of SC/STs, OBCs etc, Constitutional
Safeguards
Tribal India + Anthropology Simplified
Memorize all the Constitutional safeguards, articles, etc.
Xaxa report has excellent content for this topic.
7.2 – Social change and contemporary tribal societies
Source: Hasnain’s Tribal India
The problem with this topic is that the questions would be
very generic. The challenge is to make your write answers
that stand out.
You can do this through value addition. Memorize tribal
examples, case studies and explain the specificity of the
problem of a certain tribe and how it was/is being impacted
by development. For instance, some tribes suffer from ill
health while others from outright displacement. Be specific
when you quote your examples. That’s how you make a
mark on the examiner’s mind.
Suggest a good way forward as conclusion (Xaxa committee
report has many good recommendations)
7.3 – Ethnicity, Tribal Unrest, Regionalism, etc
I prepared this topic from Tribal India and Anthropology
Simplified
8.1 – Impact of religions on tribes
I prepared this topic from LP Vidyarthi’s The Tribal Culture
of India
Value addition: Tribal India – Nadeem Hasnain
Cram examples and case studies
8.2 – Tribe and nation state
I skipped it for lack of time
9.1 – History of tribal administration, PVTGs, role of NGOs
etc.
I prepared this topic from Tribal India and Xaxa report.
Names of important PVTGs, how they are defined, their
location, specific problems, current statistics, govt schemes
related to them must be on your finger tips. Have a rough
idea of which PVTGs reside in which part of the country.
Wherever relevant, draw India map to illustrate.
Value addition: Yojana 2014 edition on Tribals
Watch out for latest news/legislations related to PVTGs and
quote them in your answers. PRS website is a good resource.
Use internet for understanding about important NGOs doing
work in this sector
9.2 – Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development
Tribal India + Anthropology Simplified
Value addition: Yojana 2014 edition on Tribals
Write about Action Anthropology content of Paper I and the
thinkers associated with it. Enrich your answer with
examples and case studies in Indian context.
9.3 – Contribution of Anthro to understanding of
regionalism, etc.
Prepare a generic GS answer on each topic.
Quote examples of regionalism and ethnic movements (you
can give any tribal movement as an example) and underlying
causes
Way forward as conclusion
Endnote: In Anthro Paper II, you can inculcate the following
things to NOT make your write up look like a GS answer.
1. Always quote names of relevant anthropologists, their
publication, tribe/village name on which they worked etc
2. Have compilation of case studies (can be sourced from Xaxa
report)
3. Interlinkage with theories of Paper-I
4. Contemporary relevance of the question and link it with
current affairs
5. Use diagrams/Schematics for better presentation
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