Understanding Tribal Religion

This book reflects a maiden effort to textualize various elements of religious beliefs and practices of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. It amalgamates both etic and emic perceptions about the complex cultural phenomenon known as religion. It deals with the variegated components starting form mythology, philosophy, oral narratives, indigenous beliefs, festivities etc. within the paradigm of continuity and change. Undoubtedly this book will enhance our understanding about tribal religion form the contemporary perspective.

Tamo Mibang (b. 1955) is Pro-Vice Chancellor and former Head, Department of Tribal Studies, Arunachal University. He was Dean, Faculty of Socio Sciences of Arunachal University (April 1997 to May, 2000). He obtained his Master’s degree in History from Gauhati University in 1977 and Ph.D. from Dibrugarh University in 1988. He has authored Social Change in Arunachal Pradesh (The Minyongs) and Adi Dooying and co-authored An Introduction ot Adi Language. He has, to his credit, numerous articles on the tribal life of Arunachal Pradesh. His areas of interest are regional history and tribal development of North-East India. Now he is the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Arunachal University. Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri (b. 1963) teaches Anthropology at the Department of Tribal Studies, Arunachal University in Itanagar. Since 1990 he is working among the tribes of North-East India and has jointly edited three books on various issues, viz., Ethno-medicines, indigenous faith and practice, oral literature, etc. Currently he is working in the field of tribal art, traditional institutions and culture change in Arunachal Pradesh. Since Feburary 2003, he is attached to the Department of Languages and Cultures of South Asia, SOAS, under University of London as a Post-Doctoral Fellow and working on the collaborative project ‘Tribal Transition: Cultural Innovations in Arunachal Pradesh, India’.