Ramaprasad Chanda
Indian anthropologist, historian and archaeologist
Ramaprasad Chanda (15 August 1873 – 28 May 1942) was an Indian anthropologist, historian and archaeologist from Bengal. A pioneer in his field in South Asia, Chanda's lasting legacy is the Varendra Research Museum, he established in Rajshahi (located in present-day Bangladesh), a leading institute for research on the history of Bengal.2
From Wikipedia’s article on Ramaprasad Chanda (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born Aug 15, 1873, died May 28, 1942.1
About
He was the first head of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Calcutta from 1920- 1921. He was also a professional archaeologist and worked in the Archaeological Survey of India. Chanda was one of the founders the Indian Anthropological Institute and was its president during 1938–1942. He represented India in the first International Congress of Anthropology held in London in 1934. He had done original research on the somatic characters of Indian populations by using ancient Indian literature and challenged Herbert Hope Risley's theory of Indian races.
Riley was the first Census Commissioner of India.
From Wikipedia’s article on Ramaprasad Chanda, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2
Companies
- Varendra Research SocietyFounder9
Early life and education
Career
Occupation: school teacher, historian.6
- 1929 to 1934Worked at Indian Museum4
- Since 1919Worked at University of Calcutta4
- 1905 to 1917Worked at Rajshahi Collegiate School4
- Date not recordedWorked at Hindu School4
- Date not recordedFounded Varendra Research Society5
Chanda gained recognition for challenging Herbert Risley's controversial theory on the origin of Bengalis in the early 1900s.
He conducted anthropometric measurements and studied ancient texts to present an alternate thesis supporting a stronger Aryan lineage among Indians. Chanda collaborated with Sarat Kumar Ray and Akshay Kumar Maitreya on archaeological expeditions in 1910, leading to the establishment of the Varendra Research Society and its museum. He published Gaudarajamala in 1912, the first scientific history of Bengal based on epigraphic evidence.
Chanda's work attracted the attention of John Marshall, Director General of the Archeological Survey of India, leading to a two-year assignment with the Archaeological Survey of India in 1917. He conducted research, exploration, and excavation across India during his ASI tenure. After his assignment in 1919, Chanda relocated to Kolkata following his wife's passing.
From Wikipedia’s article on Ramaprasad Chanda (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Personal life
Links
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataRamaprasad Chanda on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaRamaprasad Chanda on Wikipedia
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