Arunachal Pradesh – the abode of Adi group of tribes is the land of rising sun or the land of the dawn lit mountains and a part of eastern Himalayan ranges situated on the northern-east tip of India and borders Bhutan, China, Mayanmar and the State of Assam. The ever green wooded forests with streams, rivers meandering through mountains offer the cooling tranquility and scenic beauties where every morning the sunrise spreads its golden carpet first. The Adi are divided into a number of groups such as Minyong, Karko, Shimong, Janbo, Pangis, Pailibos, Bogum, Padams, Milangs etc. The Adis by nature are democratic and have organized village council called Kebang. Their traditional dance called ‘Ponung’ is famous in the wholke Arunachal Pradesh. Adi villages are situated generally on the spurs of hills. Polyandry is unknown but polkygamy is practiced. It is only in 16th century, the history of Arunachal Pradesh gained coherence from the legends and traditions under the rules of Ahom Kings of Assam. Originally known as North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) it came under the control of the British when they subjugated Assam from the Ahom Kings. The British declared the place as off-limits in 1873 till the eve of world war II. Following independence of India, the Government prepared the tribes to cope up with the modern world and introduced village democracy in preparation of a statewide legislation. In 1971 NEFA was renamed to Arunachal Pradesh and in 1972 it became a union territory. On 20th February 1987, it was declared as the 24th State of the Indian Union.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR S H M Rizvi
Dr. Syed Hasan Mujtaba Rizvi (Ph. D., University of Delhi) is a research anthropologist and has carried out empirical studies in the field of bio-cultural anthropology among the tribes, and Muslims of northern, western, north-western and north-eastern India. He, along with Dr. Shibani Roy, has written eleven books based upon original research. One of the Professor Emeritus (Anthropology) while reviewing his books stated that ".this indicates his understanding of the subject of anthropology in totality and in modern anthropological world, works of such nature are always encouraged."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shibani Roy
Shibani Roy was born and brought up at Delhi. Her schooling had been at the Lady Irwin School and Post-School studies from Miranda House. She received her B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Anthropology in 1967 and Master Degree from the same Discipline specializing in SocialAnthropology. After a year of research work in the field of "Consanguinity among Muslims of North India", she joined department of Anthropology as a Ph.D. student in 1970 and was awarded the Ph.D. Degree in 1976. She was a part-time lecturer in Lady Irwin college, New Delhi, teaching post graduate classes during 1972-73. She was the recipient of senior research fellowship of C.S.I.R. for her project entitled "Changes in value Orientation of contemporary Muslims" carried out amongst the Bohras of Bombay. Her articles in Hindustan Times and Youth Times equally provoked the social scientists and laymen and made them have a new perspective towards this minority community. From 1976 to 1978 she had been actively engaged in a project on female fertility financed by World Health Organization. The entire work had been centred around Rajput Women of Rajasthan. At present she is holding the post of Assistant Anthropologist (Cultural) with the Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India. She has participated in national and international seminars and has a few publication to her credit in the field of Muslim women. Dr. Shibani roy has further stepped into the secluded privacy of the Muslims by marrying a Muslim fellow anthropologist and has a daughter.
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