Department of Anthropology

The Department of Anthropology, Andhra University, established in 1961, is one of the premier University departments of India. It was the first Anthropology department in South India. Initially, post-graduate teaching and research was offered only in Social Anthropology. Later, Physical Anthropology Specialization in 1969 and Prehistory specialization in 1970 were introduced. To-day, it offers post-graduate and doctoral programs in all branches of Anthropology.

In its formative stages, it had the good fortune of getting nurtured under the able leadership of eminent anthropologists such as Prof. N.S.Reddy, Prof. Aiyyappan, Prof. M.R.Chakravarthi, who themselves were trained by renowned scholars such as Prof. D.N.Majumdar, H.D.Sankalia and F.Vogel. Prof. G. Golla Reddy, Prof. D. L. Prasada Rao, Prof. M. Kodanda Rao, and Prof. K.Thimma Reddy belong to the second generation of the faculty, who helped for the growth of the department.

The department has a sound infrastructural base for pursuing teaching and research activities. It is endowed with four laboratories- human cytogenetics laboratory, forensic& serology laboratory, molecular genetics laboratory, Paleo anthropological laboratory, an ethnographic museum with a wide collection of exhibits from various parts of the country, a library, audio-visual equipment, film archive and skilled human resources.

Students for the four-semester postgraduate program in Anthropology are drawn from arts and science subjects admitted through a common entrance test held by the university. They are exposed in the fourth semester to a three week field-work in tribal areas to provide them first hand experience in data collection, analysis and report writing.

The alumni of the department are occupying important positions in universities, research institutes, apart from State and Central governments and other organizations. The department extends consultancy services for government and voluntary organizations. It carries out activities such as genetic counseling, blood grouping tests, as part of extension activities and self sustaining efforts.