A Philosophy for Nefa

About the Book This book describes one of the least-known parts of India, the North-East Frontier Agency, a wild and mountainous tract of over thirty thousand square miles bounded by Bhutan, Tibet and Burma, and inhabited by a large number of tribes speaking some fifty different dialects. It is only since India's independence that any serious attempt has been made to administer and develop the country, and such an enterprise naturally raises many and fascinating problems. Dr. Verrier Elwin, who has been studying tribal life in India for the past thirty years, discusses these in detail. He believes that the humane and scientific policy which has been laid down by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, is the greatest hope for the tribal people, both in NEFA and elsewhere. In his Foreword, the Prime Minister expresses his desire that this book will reach a wider than merely local public. 'People all over India should know more about this problem and should develop affection and respect for these fine people. Although A philosophy for NEFA is mainly concerned with the tribal affairs of the North-East Frontier, its general principles are of interest and concern to all those working for the tribes in other parts of India, perhaps even in other parts of the world. This is a second and revised edition, now reprinted which tries to make the story of NEFA intelligible to a larger circle of readers. About the Author Verrier Elwin (29 August 1902-22 February 1964) was a British self-trained anthropologist, ethnologist and tribal activist, who began his career in India as a Christian missionary. Elwin is best known for his early work with the Baigas and Gonds of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh in Central India and he married a member of one of the communities he studied there. He later also worked on the tribals of several North East Indian states especially North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and settled in Shillong, the hill capital of Meghalaya.

In time he became an authority on Indian tribal lifestyle and culture, particularly on the Gondi People. He served as the Deputy Director of the Anthropological Survey of India upon its formation in 1945. Post-independence he took up Indian citizenship. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed him as an adviser on tribal affairs for north eastern India, and later he was Anthropological Adviser to the Government of NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh).

Foreword Some four or five months ago, Dr Verrier Elwin sent me a typescript of this small book and suggested that I might write a foreword to it. It was easy enough to write a few lines, but I did not wish to do so before I had read the typescript. I would have been in any event interested in reading it as the challenge to us from the North-East Frontier Agency fascinates me. I was fully occupied with various activities at the time, and so I put this typescript aside for a leisure hour or two. That leisure did not come. A few days ago there was a gentle reminder from Verrier Elwin and I felt a little ashamed at having kept him waiting for all this time. And so, in spite of numerous other activities and engagements, including election work, I have read through this very interesting little book.

Verrier Elwin has done me the honor of saying that he is a missionary of my views on tribal affairs. As a matter of fact, I have learnt much from him, for he is both an expert on this subject with great experience and a friend of the tribal folk. I have little experience of tribal life and my own views, vague as they were, have developed under the impact of certain circumstances and of Verrier Elwin's own writings. It would, therefore, be more correct to say that I have learnt from him rather than that I have influenced him in any way.

I came across the tribal people first, rather distantly, in various parts of India other than the North-East Frontier. These tribes were the Gonds, the Santals and the Bhils. I was attracted to them and liked them and I had a feeling that we should help them to grow in their own way.

Later, I came in touch with the tribal people of the North-East Frontier of India, more especially of the Hill Districts of Assam.

Preface Some time ago Mr. L. Mehta remarked me in our minds about what we trying to we have a may do harm than good with the money and labor spend. This remark inspired me write down what conceive to be the philosophy which inspires, or should inspire, what we are trying the North-East Frontier Agency India.

the two years since book first written there has not been remarkable and exciting progress in implementing this but the philosophy itself, especially as applies the tribal councils, tribal jurisprudence, the practice of shifting cultivation (humming), the development and crafts and the adaptation architectural designs, has been more fully worked out. When first wrote frankly doubtful whether the policy I described would work. During the two years, guided the wisdom and concern the common man of Fazl Ali, Governor Assam, has become clear that can and does work the right leadership, and now have every hope that 'the and varied tapestry NEFA' will not only preserve its lovely traditional color and pattern, but that its material and techniques be enriched.

Adviser am servant this has made it possible me to study the of the NEFA Administration with objectivity. This has made me very proud my association with and I described with an enthusiasm which might considered inappropriate I was in a different position. K. L. Mehta, present Adviser the Governor Assam, I came to NEFA the same time, and this has meant for nearly years had the happiness working with him enjoying his friendship. is not too much say that he not been here, would have been impossible have worked this philosophy on paper, less to implement in the field.

**Contents and Sample Pages**