A Profile of the Himalayan Lahaula

A Profile of the Himalayan Lahaula’ is an ethnographic study of the communities living in Lahaul in the Central Himalayas. Lahual and Spiti, in the higher reaches of the Central Himalayas are valleys and their ecology can be described as mountain deserts. The terrain is mountainous and appearance stark. Lahual is at an average altitude of 9,500 ft. and above. Lahaul has not been studied extensively by social scientists and this volume offers us a much wanted glimpse into this relatively lesser known terrain. This will open the vista of research on the communities of Lahaul. Also, this volume will provide the base line of future analyses. Among the important sectors under economy that have been covered in this volume are trade, animal husbandry and fledgling cottage industry. Division of labour between the genders, an important aspect of economic activity has been elaborately dealt with. There is also a detailed report on the spread of modern education that has been a sustained effort of the Government of India. No study of the Central Himalayas can ignore the practice of polyandry or the changes in this system in recent times. This too has been dealt with in this volume. Lahaul occupies a distinct position in the geography of our country as it does historically too. This is apparent from the religion, language and other customs of the inhabitants. However, after independence, there has been inroad of structures, systems and institutions of the government and all these have had to be adjusted to by the people. There has also been a sizeable influx of people from elsewhere.