CHANDIGARH: 02 February 2012: The Anthropology Department, Panjab University hosted a
National Seminar on ‘Ecology and Health: Anthropological Dimensions’. The Two day
seminar was inaugurated by Professor B. S. Brar, Dean University Instruction Panjab
University. He appreciated the efforts of the department and stressed that
Anthropology in it very nature was ideally suited to address problems of society that
involved both the bio-medical and socio-cultural dimensions. The keynote address was
delivered by Professor Nimesh G. Desai, Director Institute of Human behaviour and
Allied Sciences New Delhi. He spoke of the increasing urbanization and pointed out
that by 2025 almost 50% of the population of India would be expected to live in towns.
The overcrowding of the urban areas is resulting in stress related disorders. Heart
related ailments, increased blood pressure, diabetes are symptomatic of these urban
lifestyle stresses. He said that even phenomena like domestic violence, road rage
substance abuse were also symptomatic.
Earlier at the inauguration of the National Seminar Professor A. K. Sinha welcomed the
delegates and traced the growth of this department since its inception in 1960. He
lauded the founding teachers led by the then chairman the Late Professor S. R. K.
Chopra. He further said that department grown academically and is recognized as a UGC
Centre of Advanced Studies in Anthropology and FIST department by DST of Ministry of
Science and Technology. Professor K. D. Sharma the convener of the National Seminar
reviewed the growth of Anthropology wherein the discipline now encompasses aspects of
biomedical fields. Prof Sharma further emphasized that the application of
anthropological methods to public health problems has been an important area of
contribution. He elaborated the relation between Ecology and Health and stressed the
contribution of changing lifestyles to the emergence of diseases in higher frequency
that before. The use of systematic, descriptive, and qualitative methods has proven
effective in identifying context-specific factors that contribute to health and
disease outcomes. Anthropology brings under its umbrella various disciplines exploring
multidimensionality of human existence, diversity, adaptability and change over time
and space following scientific approach but also caring human sensitivity. He said
that there is an urgent need to ponder the bearing various environmental determinants
have on human health and well being. Mr. C. J. Edwin thanked the Sponsors, the
University Authorities, participating delegates Staff and volunteers as well as the
local and nation media for their diverse contributions in making this National Seminar
actualized.
On the first day of the seminar 36 scientific presentations were made through six
sessions. These papers were on various aspects of Adaptation and Tribal Health,
Genetics Disease and Biochemical Variations, Ecology Disease and Health, Human growth
and Body Composition, Nutritional Ecology and Ethno Medicine. More than 100 delegates
from Academic Institutions in the Tri-city and other parts of India registered and
participated in the Seminar. The evening concluded with elaborate cultural programme
presented by the Research Fellows and Students of the Anthropology Department
organized under the aegis of the Panjab University Anthropological Association. The
aim of the presentation was to acquaint visiting delegates with various aspects of the
culture of North West India. Prof. A. K. Shinha, Chairperson of Department
informed      
    Press Note No.58