KISS debarred from hosting World Anthropology Congress 2023: IUAES

Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: The Bhubaneswar based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) will not host the World Anthropology Congress (WAC) 2023. This was communicated by the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Studies (IUAES) to the organising institutions on August 17. The WAC 2023 was scheduled to be organised by four Indian institutions: The Indian Anthropological Association, Utkal University, Sambalpur University and KISS. The role of KISS in organising the next WAC was to provide infrastructure, logistics and other other necessary resources, while the remaining three institutions are responsible for the academic and anthropological dimensions. {"id":64286,"sizeSlug":"large"} “However, there is mounting national and international controversy regarding the involvement of KISS. In deference to the many anthropologists from within India and across the globe who have expressed their opinion on the matter, and after following a careful consultative process at various levels, the IUAES Executive Committee deliberated and decided to withdraw its collaboration with KISS regarding the organization of the 2023 World Anthropology Congress,” the IUAES wrote in a letter dated August 17 signed by Junji Koizumi, president of International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES). The WCA is the largest gathering of academicians and researchers in the fields of Anthropology and Ethnology in the world and the oldest conference of the scholars engaged in the scientific study of humankind. Reacting to the matter, former MP Mahamegha Bahan Aira Kharabela Swain said, "It is a known secret that KISS has risen to this level through corrupt practices winning awards from across the globe showing the poor tribal children. There is no question of humanity and ethics behind such publicity stunts". When any such big decision is taken there must be some reason behind it. Probably, the organisers could realise this truth and have cancelled the WAC, he added.