Ramaprasad Chanda

Ramaprasad Chanda 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, a leading institute for research on the history of Bengal. 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.

15 August 1873

Born on the same birth day (15 August): Ann Biderman • Anthony Rocca • Dimitris Sioufas • Eileen Bell • Jim Brothers • Joe Jonas • John Metcalf (civil engineer) • Pete York • Robert L. Forward • Sami Michael • Vilja Toomast

Born in the same month (August 1873): Alexander Bogdanov • Eliel Saarinen • Fred Stone • John A. Sampson • Lee de Forest