People of India: Arunachal Pradesh

The Anthropological Survey of India launched the People of India project on 2nd October 1985 to generate an anthropological profile of all communities of India, the impact on them of change and the development process, and the links that bring them together. As part of this all-India project the first ever ethnographic survey of Arunachal Pradesh was undertaken by the ASI in collaboration with Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar and local scholars. This was the first time all sixty-six communities of Arunachal Pradesh were surveyed. The cultural profile covered origin, distribution, social organisation, occupation, attitude towards change and development. Other dimensions studied were language and human biology. The ethnographic material was discussed in Itanagar in May 1988 and at a number of workshops held at the North-Eastern Regional Centre in Shillong between October 1985 and May 1991. The population of Arunachal Pradesh is predominantly tribal. It is considered to exemplify the Nehruvian policy on the tribes, helping them retain control over their resources and maintain their institutions despite joining the national mainstream. Ethnographically Arunachal Pradesh is marked by more ecological diversities and cultural-linguistic heterogeneity than any other region of the country. Here some of the tribal institutions like chieftainship, polygamy, and polyandry still prevail. A major religious faith centring on the cult of Doyni-Polo has taken root here. Arunachal Pradesh has made substantial progress in many areas of development. A middle class with growing interest in business and trade has emerged. However, the depletion of natural resources, particularly forests, is a cause for concern. Dr K. S. Singh retired as Director General of the Anthropological Survey of India. Dr Parul Dutta is former Director, Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar. Dr S. I. Ahmad, psychologist at the Head Office of the Anthropological Survey of India, Calcutta, was the state coordinator for Arunachal Pradesh.