Stratification and Social Change Among Tribals: An Anthropological Study Among the Sherdukpens of Arunachal Pradesh

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: Rinchin Megejee

• Language: English

• Edition: 2017

• ISBN: 9788131608531

• Pages: 244

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches

About the Book
This book offers a valuable contribution to understanding the tribal situation of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly focusing on the Sherdukpen tribe. As one of the major tribes inhabiting the westernmost part of the state, the Sherdukpen people are known for their rich cultural heritage, including their distinctive dance forms, songs, and magnificent arts and crafts that enhance the culture of Arunachal Pradesh. However, the Sherdukpen society is undergoing a significant phase of transition, making this study even more relevant.

The work delves into the historicity and nature of stratification within Sherdukpen society, critically examining the impact of economic, material, and social life on the community's structure. It explores how traditional socio-political institutions, religious systems, and social values are interlinked with these evolving stratifications. Through extensive fieldwork focused on migration narratives, the book highlights the changes in the economic, social, and political spheres that shape the community’s transformation.

Aimed at readers interested in sociology, anthropology, and migration studies, this book provides an insightful exploration into the dynamics of tribal stratification and the implications of cultural shifts within a rapidly changing society.

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Land and People

3. Migration Narratives and Nature of Stratification

4. Economic System and Material Life

5. Social Systems and Stratification

6. Stratification and Emerging Realities

7. Conclusion

About the Author
Rinchin Megejee is a science graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat, and earned his postgraduation in anthropology from Rajiv Gandhi University in 2005. He began his career with the Anthropological Survey of India as a Junior Research Fellow, later securing the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for his Ph.D. He left the Survey in 2008 to focus on full-time academic work and also contributed to teaching from 2008 to 2010. Megejee is the first Sherdukpen to earn a Doctoral Award in Philosophy. He is currently running an NGO called "Green Saviour" in his hometown, Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh.