Ethnobotany of Santhal Pargana

A large number of ethnic group of diverse culture inhabits India, a majority of whom could be found in Bihar – especially Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana regions. Santhal Pargana region is inhabited by Santhal and Paharia tribes. Their lifestyle and livelihood revolves around the forest they live in, and derive their needs from the trees and plants in the jungles, the keen knowledge of which has been handed down from father to son since ages. Besides the ability to use the plants and its by-product for making agricultural and musical equipments, mats, baskets etc. and food, their uncanny knowledge of selective plants claimed to treat effectively chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis as well as common ailments is something which should be tested scientifically and clinical trials arranged. These tests and trials should be made NOW before this knowledge is lost for ever as these tribes face extinction. Ethnobotany is a field where relationship between plants and humans are studied. Ideal for ethnobiologists, conservation ecologists, anthropologists, herbal drug industry, tribal development boards and NGOs, this book gives an exhaustive detail on 514 plant species that the tribals use with special emphasis on the medicinal plants. It follows a path of location, physiography and climatic description; historical account and review of literature; tribals and their cultural traits; and their association with the forest and ethnobotanical spectrum of Santhal Pargana. This book has been suitably illustrated with maps, coloured photographs and exhaustive bibliography and plant index which will be of tremendous aid to the student of ethnobotany.