A three-day national workshop titled “Anthropology and Museums” was successfully organised from 6th to 8th February 2026 at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal. The academic programme brought together faculty members, post-graduate students, and professionals from across the country to engage in critical discussions on the evolving relationship between anthropology, museums, and cultural representation.
Academic Focus and Participation
The workshop was designed for participants from Anthropology, Museology, Tribal Studies, Cultural Studies, and officers working in Tribal Research Institutes. Over the course of three days, the sessions explored theoretical perspectives as well as practical challenges related to museum practices, documentation of living cultures, community participation, and ethical representation of indigenous and tribal heritage.
Key Themes and Discussions
Participants deliberated on topics such as:
- The role of anthropology in contemporary museum-making
- Museums as spaces of knowledge, dialogue, and cultural continuity
- Documentation, curation, and interpretation of tribal and indigenous cultures
- Community engagement and participatory museum practices
- Challenges of preserving intangible cultural heritage in museum settings
Experts and resource persons shared insights drawn from fieldwork, institutional experience, and interdisciplinary research, making the workshop both academically rigorous and professionally relevant.
Institutional Significance
As one of India’s premier institutions dedicated to anthropology and living cultural traditions, Manav Sangrahalaya provided an ideal setting for the workshop. The programme strengthened academic exchange between universities, research institutions, and museum professionals, while also encouraging young scholars to critically engage with museums beyond their conventional display-oriented roles.
Conclusion
The national workshop concluded with reflections on the future of museums as inclusive, research-driven, and community-oriented institutions. Participants emphasized the need for continued dialogue between anthropologists, museum professionals, and policymakers to ensure that museums remain dynamic spaces for learning, representation, and cultural sustainability.
The workshop marked another important step in reinforcing the role of museums in anthropological research and education in India.
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