ITANAGAR, 15 Jan: Arunachal Anthropological Forum (AAF) chairperson Chibom Jilen underscored the urgent need to strengthen anthropology as an academic discipline in Arunachal Pradesh – a state characterised by immense tribal and cultural diversity.
He said this shortly after his appointment as the chairperson of the AAF on Wednesday. Nada Tido was elected as the general secretary of the forum. The appointments were made for the 2026-28 session. Both office bearers are PhD scholars in the anthropology department of Rajiv Gandhi University.
Jilen emphasised on introduction of anthropology in more colleges across the state to ensure equitable academic access, and on creating employment opportunities for postgraduate and doctoral scholars.
Highlighting the historical significance of anthropology in the state’s development, he noted the pivotal role played by anthropologists in policy formulation since the NEFA era. He made special reference to eminent anthropologist Verrier Elwin, whose contributions significantly shaped policies aimed at protecting and developing tribal communities.
The chairperson further remarked on the enduring value of anthropological scholarship in documenting tribal societies.
Expressing concern over limited employment opportunities for anthropology scholars, the AAF leadership assured to engage with the government authorities in this regard.
The forum outlined its future focus on research, documentation of indigenous traditions, policy and governance studies, tourism and cultural research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
