Social Stratification in Naga Society

Social stratification is a universal phenomenon. Differentiation is the law of nature. Like any other societies, social stratification with some forms of inequality and differentiation is inevitable in Naga society that separates people into different distinctive categories on the basis of age, gender, clan, religion and occupation. In fact the whole problem of distribution of power, prestige and privileges has been operated through different elite group such as social, religious, political, business, intellectual, professional and bureaucratic elite through passage time and situation. This book traces change from somewhat traditional inequality types of social structure to contemporary social formation of class division as a result of colonial intrusion, expansion of education, introduction of democratic political system, globalisation and many other factors. The present study has been emphasizes through sociological concept which interfaced to empirical reality towards meaningful social analysis. Social Stratification in Naga society is a book for wide-range coverage from tradition to modernity which will be of immense contribution to academic studies in particular and to the society in general towards understanding the nature, status, prestige, power constraints and prospects of the social stratification among the Nagas.

Athungo Ovung (b. 1977) is an Assistant Professor in Tribal Research Centre, Department of Sociology, at Nagaland University. He obtained his Master’s from N.E.H.U, Shillong and Ph.D. from Nagaland University. The present book is an outstanding research work for the award of Ph.D. in Social Stratification from Nagaland University. Before joining Nagaland University, he also served as a Research Officer in Law Research Institute, Eastern Region, Gauhati High Court: Gawahati for a period of two and half years and as a Lecturer in Sazolie College, Kohima: Nagaland for a period of two years. He also has few Research articles to his credit which have been published in journal and edited volume. He teaches courses on Family, Marriage and Kinship, Perspective on Indian Society and Social Change and Development.