Prof. R.P. Srivastava: A Great Mentor and Illustrious Architect in Indian Anthropology

This paper attempts to commemorate a great mentor and stalwart Indian Anthropologist, Prof. R. P. Srivastava (1936–2018), who stands as one of the most distinguished figures in Indian anthropology, with an illustrious four-decade career shaping physical anthropology, population genetics, dermatoglyphics, and tribal studies. Serving as Professor and Head at Dibrugarh University, Karnatak University (Dharwad), and the University of Pune, he not only contributed to academic literature but also institutionalized anthropology as a discipline in multiple regions of India. This paper offers a critical appraisal of his scientific contributions, focusing particularly on his studies of biological affinities among caste and tribal groups, dermatoglyphics, blood group polymorphisms, and genetic epidemiology - contributions that remain reference points in anthropological scholarship.