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Anthropologists with a hangover of colonialist past have mainly emphasized on the cultures and kinship systems in the name of the holistic study. Their treatment meted out to the tribes of northeast has not been any different. Consequently the major political-economic issues and the dynamics of identity crisis and state formation with international ramifications have been not understood. The too much emphasis on micro studies and primary field data is perhaps at the root of the problem. This article briefly looks into the work of four Naga scholars who have written about their own communities. Their studies help making policy formulations regarding state formation and autogenous development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many forms of governments in the world at present. Of them the democratic form is most cherished, though ironically China, the most populated nation in the world does not follow a parliamentary form of democracy, in the ideal sense. Democracy in the United States too is somewhat skewed. India too is virtually surrounded by dictatorial regimes both on the east and the west. Indian democracy is also not devoid of blemishes. In this paper we try to portray some of the most glaring drawbacks, which affect the lives of the people living on the margins in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of Social Justice initially emanated in the West in order to curb ethnic inequalities in the artificially formed nation-states. It also stressed mainly on the means to redress the problems of the physically challenged and destitute, and also the migrant labourers. In India, however, the issue of Social Justice is more viewed more from political consideration mainly looking into the interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward classes. This paper briefly takes up the contemporary issues related to the tribes, but not just confining to the reservation factor. It has been shown that despite the Constitutional provisions, the Scheduled Tribes (ST) are getting marginalized In various ways. This may be mainly due to the fact that while the tribal society is community - oriented in its cosmic outlook, the provisions of Social Justice are mainly individualistic in orientation - an anathema to tribal existence. Besides, the measures of Social Justice are welfare oriented keeping away the major concerns that affect the lives of the disadvantaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kala Azar is a deadly disease which created terror in the minds of people in Assam and the North East in early part of twentieth century. The disease was a silent killer which was mostly prevalent among the tea plantation labourers. However, the situation was thoroughly controlled through regular DDT sprays. But the disease could not be eliminated in the country and it has been attaining epidemic proportions in North Bihar and to a lesser extent in West Bengal. The sickness surprisingly strikes most among the Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes and the Muslims as per the recent surveys. The situation is getting worse and the state governments are in quandary and fully dependent on the central government largesse which again is susceptible to pressures from the international financial institutions and pharmaceutical companies. The article briefly looks into them through a study in Bihar and West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overwhelming number of tribesmen inhabit the forest zones and invariably they are linked up with forestry activities. There is no doubt that the tribes have had a symbiotic relation with the forests, but there were many of them who survived on the quit money and earned substantial amount of cash income. Besides many of the nomadic tribes and transhumance population barely lived on forests. There have been many long distance traders also among them. In the present times due to rapid industrialization, urbanization and commercialization forests have depleted fast and the tribals too have been roped into the process of felling. Many activists and academies are trying to re-establish the forest and land rights of the tribes. But, apart from all, the tribals are today demanding their territorial rights (Which they ceded to the British) and the right to self determination. If this be accepted, it is the prerogative of the tribes to maintain their forests or not. The onus of maintaining the forests and environment should not be left only on the tribals. The image of tribes being 'Junglee' - barbarians must immediately go. The article briefly touches upon these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Sustainable Development' has become a buzz word in the realms of growth and progress. This is mainly due to the fear that the natural resources will deplete very fast as a result of wanton consumerism and rapid population explosion. In many quarters it is believed that as the governments have failed to perform the Non Governmental Organisations can manage things better due to their closer links with the grass roots. But there is also skepticism about this as many of the NGOs are funded internationally and they function as catalysts of Western hegemonic forces. Some NGOs, particularly in the Third World are, however, aware about this and they are networking to oppose the trends of neo-colonialism, But more than them there are thousands of Community Based Organisations which have emerged indigenously and are involved many development activities. It is these bodies which must be given credence for ensuring autogenous systems of sustainable development. A modest attempt is being made here to project these in brief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of tribal religion has drawn the interest of anthropologists for quite a long time so as to locate their place in the context of Indian civilization. The matter has drawn keen interest even among the laity of late as tribals in many areas of the country surprisingly have been involved in the anti Muslim carnages. Even in the Christian pockets or North-East tribals have been found allying with the Hindu parties like the BJP. A closer look, however, shows that tribals have by and large evolved syncretic religions and in spite of assimilating elements of Hinduism and Christianity, have retained their distinct tribal identities. Their clan totems indicate a cosmic orientation to life in contrast to the anthropomorphic world view of the caste-Hindus. In spite of the spread of Hindutva elements in tribal areas, signs of religious revivalism are eminent as corroborated by the census figures. These trends have been briefly discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the greenest states of India. The forests there are mostly managed by the tribal communities. Many of the tribal villages have forest management committees who regularly keep vigil over their surrounding forests. While some of the tribals have committees to directly manage the forests, many of them also have cultural means to morally lay a control over the forest and other natural resources. In spite, of having so effective systems the state on the other hand has been evolving ways to lay a claim over the forests directly and indirectly. JFM and Apna Van programmes are two main methods to get entry into the community forests. No doubt a tussle is one between the people's will and the state and the international monetary order. A modest attempt is being made here unravel some of the participatory systems of forest management prevalent among some of the tribes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the article "Social Exclusion: A Sceptical View," by Abhijit Guha which appeared in the November 2007 issue. In the author's opinion, the article by Guha was well written. He expresses his agreement with Guha with regard to the concept of social exclusion in which the latter regarded such as a Western construct that holds little radical component of interest to third world nations. He discusses the different social status of the dalits in India.