Port Blair, Dec. 1: Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Port Blair celebrated its Foundation Day today 1st December 2022. The celebration began with lighting the traditional lamp by Shri, M E Jadwet, a renowned personality of the Jadwet family of Nicobar Islands. In this august gathering, Shri S Ramakrishnan, Assistant Director, India Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Port Blair was the Guest of Honour and Ebrahim Jadwet, a family member of Jadwet family, Port Blair was the special guest.
On this occasion the dignitaries and staff members of Anthropological Survey of India paid their floral tribute to the Late Dr. Biraja Shankar Guha, the founder Director, Anthropological Survey of India. It is important to note here that this regional centre was established as first station at Port Blair in December 1951 as Andaman Nicobar Regional Station (which was renamed- Regional Office in 1979 and renamed -Regional Centre in 1989). Thus Regional Station was established and housed at the Cellular Jail. The present building of this regional Centre was constructed in the year 2002.
Dr Nilanjan Khatua, Head of this Regional Centre delivered his welcome address and gave a brief on the history of the Centre since its establishment in the year 1951 and the research contribution made by this organization. He also emphasized and acknowledged the contribution of the first Director Late Dr B S Guha.
Dr B S Guha was deeply committed to the development of the discipline of Anthropology in India. He was born on 15 August, 1894 and died in 1961. He first visited the Islands in 1948 along with S.S. Sarkar. On the advice of the Chief Commissioner to send a small party instead for a preliminary survey, Dr. B S Guha embarked for Port Blair with Dr. Sarkar, a class I officer of his department and three Scientific Assistants on February 17, 1948.
The party stayed in the Islands till April 15 i.e. a period of one month and 23 days. During this time, they visited the Onge settlements on the Bumila and Dugong Creeks of the North-eastern parts of the Little Andaman. They made some observations on the Onge in Little Andaman and the Great Andamanese.
Shri M E Jadwet delivered his lecture about the history of the interaction with the Nicobarese and Jadwet Family through visuals and historical records of 1950s and 1960s.
Shri Ramakrishnan delivered his speech by linking the role of tourism in Andaman and how the museum of AnSI playing a great role to cater the tourist by disseminating the information about the culture and tradition of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Dr. Sumitabha Chakraborty, Assistant Anthropologist introduced the august gatherings about the Dr. Biraja Shankar Guha, the first and founder Director, of Anthropological Survey of India and his contribution in establishing the is Regional Centre in the year 1951.
Sahri Gitu Yaikhom, Offcer-in-charge of Zonal Anthropological Museum delivered his vote of thanks.