Verrier Elwin

Verrier Elwin
Verrier Elwin
Born	(1902-08-29)29 August 1902 Dover, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Died	22 February 1964(1964-02-22) (aged 61) Delhi, NCT of Delhi, India
Citizenship	British (1902–1947) Indian (1947–1964)
Alma mater	Merton College, Oxford
Occupation(s)	anthropologist, ethnologist
Known for	Study of Tribes of India
Notable work	The Baiga (1939) The Muria and their Ghotul (1947)
Spouse(s)	Kaushalaya (Kosi), Lila.
Awards	Padma Bhushan (1961)

Harry Verrier Holman Elwin (29 August 1902 – 22 February 1964)^[1] was a British-born Indian anthropologist, ethnologist and tribal activist. He is best known for his early work with the Baigas and Gonds of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh in central India. He later also worked on the tribals of several North East Indian states especially North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).

Elwin served as the deputy director of the Anthropological Survey of India upon its formation in 1945. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru later appointed Elwin as an adviser on tribal affairs for north-eastern India, and went on to become the Anthropological Adviser to the Government of NEFA. He was awarded the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan.

Elwin was a prolific researcher and writer. His autobiography, The Tribal World of Verrier Elwin, posthumously won him the 1965 Sahitya Akademi Award in English Language.