Among the Endangered Hunter Gatherers

The present book “Among the Endangered Hunter Gatherers : An Anthropological Exploration in Andaman Islands” discusses the entire situation that the four hunter-gatherer small tribes viz. the Great Andamanese, the Onges, the Jarawas and the Sentinelese experienced in past and have still been experiencing, in a simple narrative style, without any technical jargons, keeping the common readers in mind. The book, based on prolong anthropological observations examines probable reasons of conflicts and ‘hostility’ that prevailed among the four hunter-gatherer small tribes who are still struggling for their physical survival. The social and cultural elements analysed from anthropological perspectives against the backdrop of historical events indicate the fates of these tribes in the context of contemporary developments in these Islands. This firsthand comprehensive anthropological account on the contemporary living strategies of the classical hunter-gatherers answers to several queries still prevailing among many common people as well as administrators and academicians and help removing their many misunderstandings and misconceptions about these little known tribes. 

JAYANTA SARKAR, (b. 1943) M.Sc; Ph.D in Anthropology Served the Anthropological, Survey of India for 33 years in different official capacities and retired as Director-in-Charge in 2003. Professional Specialization: About 40 years of research experience in the field of social/cultural anthropology with special reference to social/cultural change among the tribal and non-tribal populations living in the industrial, urban and rural settings. He has wide range of field exposures among the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Besides such research works in the mainland of India, he studied the most isolated hunter and food gatherer tribes like the Jarawas, Onges, Great Andamanese and the Sentinelese in the islands of Andaman and Nicobar. Authored five books in the field of anthropology and jointly edited eleven books. Published more than 75 anthropological articles in various journals and edited volumes, published in India. Also published 5 (five) popular books and 20 articles in Bengali on the tribal societies. Member of Professional Body: (a) Research Director, Indian Anthropological Society, Kolkata; (b) Founder Member, Indian National Confederation and Academy of Anthropologists (INCAA). (c) Associate Editor: Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society.