Prabodh Kumar Bhowmick
Prabodh Kumar Bhowmick | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 September 1926 |
| Died | 5 February 2003 (aged 76–77) |
| Education | Bangabasi College (I.Sc.) University of Calcutta (B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D, D.Sc) |
| Occupations | Anthropologist, Social work |
Prabodh Kumar Bhowmick (1926 – 5 February 2003) was an Indian anthropologist based in West Bengal, his notable work being on the Lodha tribe of West Bengal.[1][2][3][4]
Early life
Bhowmick was born on 6 September 1926 in Amdabad village. The village was in the Nandigram II community development block in the undivided Midnapore district of Bengal (now Purba Medinipur). He was born into a wealthy Mahishya family, being the third of eight children to Jogendranath and Swaryamoyee Devi.[5][6]
Education
Bhowmick's early education took place at Kalagachia Jagadish Vidyapith, an early national school established in Midnapore district in 1921. He pursued higher education in anthropology, completing his Indian School Certificate in 1949 from Bangabasi College (Kolkata) and his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in 1951 from the University of Calcutta. He was taught by some of the most renowned anthropological authors in India, such as Tarak Chandra Das and Nirmal Kumar Bose. He later earned his Ph.D. in 1961, focusing on the socio-economic life of the Lotha tribe of West Bengal.[5][1][7]
Contributions and legacy
Bhowmick worked in Applied anthropology in India, with a focus on marginalized and indigenous communities. He was the first Asian scholar to be honored with Doctor of Science in social anthropology.[1][6][5]
Work with Lodha Tribe
His Doctor of Philosophy research on the Lodhas, a denotified and marginalized tribe in West Bengal, was significant to the development of the tribe. He engaged with the community not only through academic study but also through efforts aimed at their rehabilitation, education, and integration into broader society.[5]
Founding of BIDISA
BIDISA (Bureau for Integrated Development of Indigenous and Sub-Human Aided groups): This NGO became the cornerstone of his applied fieldwork. BIDISA implemented education, vocational training, and social welfare programs for tribal and underprivileged groups in West Bengal.[2]
On Education
Bhowmick emphasized field research for solving real-world problems. His work was a departure from armchair anthropology, promoting active involvement in community life and policy advocacy. He taught anthropology at the University of Calcutta and other institutions, shaping generations of students. He was elevated to professorship in 1976, following the footsteps of some of his well known teachers such as Tarak Chandra Das, held the position of the head of the department as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at University of Calcutta. He published extensively in journals and edited volumes on tribal studies, rural development, and applied anthropology.[4][3]
Death
Bhowmick died on 5 February 2003 at the age of 76 after being injured when a person fell on him from a moving bus.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Bhowmick, Pradip Kumar; Manna, Samita; Coomar, Palash Chandra (2021). Professor P.K. Bhowmick: a legendary leader in Indian anthropology. Abhijeet Publications. ISBN 978-81-950909-2-1. OCLC 1261773448.
- ^ a b "Legacy of Midnapore - Bidisha : A social laboratory within an Ashramic fold". www.midnapore.in. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ a b Sahay, Vijoy S (July 2003). "Dramatis Personae of Indian Anthropology Messiah of the Lodhas: Professor P K Bhowmick M.Sc. Ph.D., D.Sc. (1926- 2003)". The Oriental Anthropologist. 3 (2): 184–199. doi:10.1177/0976343020030211. ISSN 0972-558X. S2CID 203381047.
- ^ a b "Bhowmick, P. K. Overview".
- ^ a b c d Manna, Professor Samita (6 February 2024). "Legacy Of a Legendary Field Anthropologist". UIAF. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Duary, Nabakumar (2020). "Professor Probodh Kumar Bhowmick: A Relentless Activist for the Uplift of the Lodhas of West Bengal" (PDF). South Asian Anthropologist. 20 (1): 87–92 [88].
- ^ Biswas, Subir; Mukhopadhyay, Barun; Das, Rajat Kanti (1 January 2023). Writings on Indian Anthropology and Anthropologists. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-93-5594-517-4.