Bhubaneswar: The rich legacy in Anthropological research of Prof L K Mahapatra, a world-renowned anthropologist and educationist from Odisha, was celebrated at Utkal University in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of his 97th birth anniversary.
Prof Amitabh Pande, Director of the National Museum of Humankind- Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, delivered the 6th L K Mahapatra Memorial Lecture organised by the L K Mahapatra Memorial Trust and the Department of Anthropology, Utkal University.
In his Memorial Lecture, Prof Pande spoke about the rich legacy of Prof Mahapatra in anthropological research he had inherited as he was directly taught by Prof K K Mishra, who was taught by Prof Mahapatra. Prof Pandey talked about Prof Mahapatra’s emphasis on solid enthnographical research and mandatory long-term qualitative fieldwork for more than a year as indispensable research skills as passed down to him through his teachers. He also credited Prof Mahapatra for expanding Indian anthropology by introducing South East Asian studies, Developmental Anthropology and Shifting Cultivation among other fields.
Prof Pandey used the opportunity to speak about What Anthropologists Can Do to Preserve – Tangible and Intangible culture and for Environmental Sustainability citing examples from his research on the Chenchus and the highland tribes of the North-East. A leading environmental anthropologist of India, he talked about the need to learn from small communities, who invariably use sustainable materials everywhere, He also talked about how intangible heritage constituting oral traditions, social practices etc is dynamic and continually recreated.
Prof Chandi P Nanda, Vice Chancellor of Utkal University asked an important question of how we should remember the legacy and contribution of a great scholar. He suggested that the best way to memorialize a great scholar was to continue to ask the questions asked by the great scholars.
He reminisced his personal encounter with Prof Mahapatra in 1989, when Prof Mahapatra provoked him (then a young scholar) with the question of how History could help in the development of society. He talked about how that question and Prof Mahapatra’s own pioneering question of “Development for whom” had shaped his own ethnographic history, which probably would not have happened had it not been for that discussion.
Prof Jagneswar Dandapat, Chairman, P G Council, Utkal University, also talked about Prof Mahapatra’s contribution to research and teaching at Utkal University and as a great institution builder. Prof Suresh Murmu, the Head of the Department of Anthropology, Utkal University talked about the contribution of Prof Mahapatra in building the Department of Anthropology, which he headed for almost 25 years soon after its inception.
Complementing the other speakers, Dr R K Mishra, who has retired from the National Commission of SC and ST, shared many warm personal stories that highlighted Prof Mahapatra as a great mentor, exemplary teacher and a wonderful human being.
Prof L K Mahapatra’s son, Sujit Mahapatra, daughter, Sheela Mahapatra and granddaughter, Deepsha Dhal, also spoke on the occasion.