About the Book This book is an outcome of extensive painstaking research work. The book aims to highlight the sys- tem of network of communication in the border society of West Bengal and Orissa. The book brings into relief the interaction pattern of the villagers in the border area in different aspects of life and activities cutting across the administrative and linguistic barriers and how village cohesion and cooperation are being maintained by the villagers.
This book also highlight how various factors and cultural norms and values help to develop a sort of common feelings of regional patriotism or sense of oneness for a more secured and effective life. The work also highlight how village networks. serve as models of diversity and of integration.
Such study will certainly enrich the theoritical ideas of network and linkage in cultural anthropology.
About the Author Dr. Sudhendu Chanda (b. 1946) M.Sc. Ph. D. Jyotish Ratna, Jyotish Shastri, Fellow of IIA, has long been in Anthropological Survey of India. Dr Chanda has done extensive research work on various national and individual projects in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Goa, Maharashtra, M.P.. Orissa and West Bengal. His area of re- search includes cultural anthropology, ethnography, castes & tribes, tribal arts & crafts, networks and communication, astrology, tantra shastra, vastu shastra and ab- normal psychology. Dr. Chanda has published many papers in reputed journals both in India and abroad.
Being an astrologer, he had done re- search work on astrology and palmistry for many years and published a book 'Astrologers and Palmists in Contemporary Society' from An S.I.. At present he is engaged in research work on Psycho-anthropological study on the patients of mental disorders. His forthcoming book is 'Arts and Crafts as Reflected in My Mind' which will highlight the work of Dr. Chanda as creative artist and sculptor. As a poet he has also published a book of Bengali poems - 'Chhanachara'.
Preface In social science research the concept of network is frequently used not only for understanding the nature and extent of socio-cultural network of communication existing in a society but also to understand the intricate functioning of the social institutions. On the other hand linguists have dealt upon the concept of communication as a process of transmission of information through meaningful signs and symbols from one individual to another or from one group of people to another. While dealing with such network one comes across the boundaries of language, ecology, culture, social system, religion and politics.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
