In The Lagoons of The Gangetic Delta

Sundarbans, the largest delta on the earth, has been explored by adventurers, explorers, environmentalists, social historians and social scientists over a period of time since long. Probably In the Lagoons of the Gangetic Delta is the first ever attempt to bring in to relief the Anthropological Perspectives in Sundarbans that lie in the Indian soil depicting various facets of civilizational pool that have created a dent in this Biosphere Zone. The book is a eugenic experiment to portray the human endeavour that glorifies Sundarbans in its own respect. Contributed by scholars belonging to various disciplines the book is hoped to reach the desired objectives. This book contains: Syncretism at Sundarbans; Traditional Ecological Knowledge vis-a-vis Sustainable Development in Sundarbans; Sundarbans Tiger Reserve; Theatre for Development; Ecology and Adaptation; Water World of Sundarbans; Identity Crisis among the Tribes of Jharkhand; Impact of Salinity on Sundarbans; Tiger Drawn Seed (TPS) Fishing; Folk Deities of Sundarbans; Meendhara; Economic Variability and Change in Sundarban Delta; Tribal Situation in Sundarban; Economic Role and Status of Tribal Women; Fisher Folk of the Sundarbans. History of reclamation of land in Sundarbans with special reference to the trend of settlement is the fundamental guideline to understand different human processes of operation that lie here. Along with this, ecological and demographic pictures coupled with land reclamation policy lay the foundation for understanding Sundarbans in terms of its spatial and cultural growth.

Gautam Kumar Bera ( b.1958), graduated in Science with Honours in Anthropology, passed his Master's degree in Anthropology with specialization in Social and Cultural Anthropology securing First position in First Class, received his Ph.D. Degree on issues related to ethnicity, is currently attached to the Directorate of Census Operations under the Office of the Registrar General of India after serving in the Anthropological Survey of India for almost twenty three years. Presently he is conducting his Post Doctoral research on issues related to ethnicity. Recipient of National Scholarship for Advance Studies, University Gold Medal and Research Fellow Gold Medal (U.S.A) in 1997, and several other distinguished awards and honours at both national and international levels, he was elected a FELLOW of the prestigious Royal Anthropological Institute, London in 1992, and ADVISOR to the Research Board of ABI (U.S.A) in 1996. Credited with authorship of thirteen books and edited volumes, more than eighty scientific research papers and about twenty-five book reviews in scientific journals and books of international repute of both India and abroad, and over five dozen articles of common interest and popular science in different periodicals to three international scientific journals as CA Associate, Current Anthropology (U.S.A), Assistant Editor, Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India (kolkata), Book Review Editor, The Oriental Anthropologist (Allahabad), and Consulting Editor, Contemporary Who's Who, U.S.A.  Vijoy S. Sahay (b.1949) graduated with Honours in Anthropology. passed his Master's degree in Anthropology with specialization in Social and Cultural Anthropology securing First Class, received his Ph.D. Degree for his fascinating research work on the Nicobar Archipelago in the seventies of the last century, is presently the Professor and Head of the Post Graduate Department of Anthropology, Central University of Allahabad. He remained associated with the Department of Anthropology, Ranchi University for over one and a half decade before his present assignment in the Allahabad University in 1993. He also presented papers in the XIVth ICAES at Williamsberg, U.S.A. (1998); Beijing Inter Congress in the Peoples Republic of China (2000); and the 'Children and Their Places' Conference at the Brunel University, West London (2001). He is currently the Chief Editor of The Oriental Anthropologist (Allahabad) A peer reviewed IBSS listed international journal.