Anthropology and the Ethnographic Survey of India

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Questions and Answers

What practice did Peal describe in his article about the Nagas?

Pottery making

Animal husbandry

Textile weaving

Head-hunting (correct)

What was one of the objectives of the Ethnographic Survey of India?

Documenting historical events

Collecting folklore from poetry

Studying the physical characteristics of people (correct)

Establishing trade routes

Who recommended that important tribes be described in a series of monographs?

T.C. Hodson

E.T. Dalton

J.H. Hutton

Sir Bampfylde Fuller (correct)

What methodology influenced the monographs produced from the Ethnographic Survey?

Comparative Method and diffusionism Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial budget for the Ethnographic Survey in Assam described as?

Inadequate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following subjects was NOT a focus in the monographs produced from the Ethnographic Survey?

Military strategies Signup and view all the answers

What kind of information did the Ethnographic Survey primarily aim to gather?

Details about cultural traditions and history Signup and view all the answers

Which publication contains descriptions about Naga villages and their social structure?

Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal Signup and view all the answers

What was the general attitude of anthropologists towards colonialism before World War II?

They ignored the power structure of colonialism. Signup and view all the answers

How did new nations in Africa and Asia generally feel about anthropology after decolonization?

They distrusted anthropology due to its colonial ties. Signup and view all the answers

What was revealed by the exposure of Project Camelot?

It highlighted the complex relationship between anthropology and U.S. military actions. Signup and view all the answers

What accusation was made against anthropology regarding its role in colonialism?

It reinforced the colonial power imbalance. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the fieldwork of ethnographers in relation to colonial administration?

Colonialism provided a framework for conducting fieldwork. Signup and view all the answers

Which role did some ethnologists take on in the Naga Hills?

They held roles as administrators within the colonial system. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant challenge faced by administrators conducting fieldwork?

Poor communication with local populations. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'colonial ethnography' suggest about its origins?

It is viewed as a product of Western imperialistic aims. Signup and view all the answers

How was Naga ethnography developed?

Through military, political, and administrative phases. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key motivation for the British to study Naga culture?

To understand a culture perceived as on the verge of extinction. Signup and view all the answers

What potential risk was involved in the relationship between anthropology and colonial administration?

Anthropology risked becoming a tool for colonial administration. Signup and view all the answers

During what time period did the history of Naga anthropology take place?

1832 - 1947 Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the phases of British rule in the Naga Hills?

Military phase involving reports and surveys. Signup and view all the answers

How did anthropology develop during the colonial era?

Under the influence of European colonialism. Signup and view all the answers

How did colonialism affect ethnographic fieldwork?

It threatened to destroy fieldwork while allowing it to flourish. Signup and view all the answers

What type of knowledge did anthropology produce in relation to colonial administration?

Knowledge that was sometimes unhelpful to colonial administration. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main objective of British colonialism concerning the Nagas?

To civilize the Nagas by regulating contact with higher cultures Signup and view all the answers

How did the British use ethnographic knowledge regarding the Nagas?

To maintain colonial control over the Naga populations Signup and view all the answers

What were the two classifications of Naga tribes by the British?

Borees and Abors Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect was a primary concern for the British during the military phase in Naga Hills?

Locating and identifying local people Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Thornton's maps?

They provided geographical knowledge critical for identifying Naga tribes Signup and view all the answers

Which term was used to refer to the Naga tribes that were classified as 'genuine'?

Pakka Signup and view all the answers

What was the perceived impact of contact between lower and higher cultures, according to anthropology's relevance to administration?

Evil effects resulting from such contact Signup and view all the answers

Why did few Abor Nagas descend to the Assam plains?

They preferred to remain in interior Naga hills Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary effect of the British use of ethnography on the Nagas?

It served primarily to control the Nagas. Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the Naga groups under British control that were formally recognized?

Administered Signup and view all the answers

What role did the dobashis play in Naga society during British rule?

They handled cases in the Naga traditional court. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant claim made by the British regarding their understanding of the Nagas?

They claimed to have more knowledge about the Nagas than the Nagas had of themselves. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the politics of publishing for ethnographers?

It allowed ethnographers to maintain a power imbalance. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the reasons for increasing the collection of ethnographic data in the Naga Hills?

To aid the colonial administration by understanding local customs. Signup and view all the answers

What were political and economic motives considered in the context of ethnographic data collection?

They became as important as the scientific motives. Signup and view all the answers

How did ethnographic information influence British administrators in the Naga Hills?

It helped them develop a sympathetic understanding of the people. Signup and view all the answers

What was required for administering justice in the Naga Hills according to colonial practices?

Knowledge of local tribal customs. Signup and view all the answers

What main objective did the Standing Committee on Applied Anthropology aim to achieve?

To address culture contact and apply anthropological knowledge in governance. Signup and view all the answers

What shift occurred after the establishment of colonial power regarding the knowledge needed for administration?

Detailed knowledge of functioning societies became essential. Signup and view all the answers

How did the collection of ethnographic facts relate to the avoidance of conflicts in the Naga Hills?

It helped administrators understand local beliefs and prejudices. Signup and view all the answers

What was the dual role of the ethnographic survey during the colonial period?

To serve both scientific inquiry and administrative purposes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction

The book's history of Naga anthropology covers the period from 1832 to 1947.
The author, Abraham Lotha, researched the relationships between anthropology and colonial administration, specifically concerning the Nagas.
The history of anthropology is intrinsically linked to the contingencies of world history, particularly colonial expansion.
Anthropology's development as a discipline coincided with, and was significantly influenced by, the colonial expansion.
The relationship between anthropology and colonial administration was often intimate but one-sided. Anthropology became a tool for colonial control.

Colonial Context and Genres of Naga Ethnography

Ethnographic works on the Nagas, starting with military reports and evolving into administrative articles and later monographs, developed in tandem with British colonial control.
Three phases of British rule (military, political, and administrative) are examined as contexts for understanding Naga ethnography's evolution.
Early ethnography tended to emphasize gathering information, while later works showed a shift towards social anthropology, likely due to a professionalization of anthropology.
The study of Naga tribes was influenced by a desire to understand the origin and migration of peoples.

Anthropology and Administration: A Relationship in the Naga Context

Fieldwork was an essential collaborative process between anthropology and colonial administration in developing Naga ethnography.
Colonialism provided conditions for safe and accessible fieldwork, making anthropological study possible.
Publication and sponsorship of ethnographic research played a significant role, often influenced by factors other than strictly academic or scientific concerns.
Ethnographic studies on the Nagas were connected to the broader colonial administration's goals and interests, often serving colonial policies and initiatives.

Naga Ethnography as Colonial Project for Control

Colonial ethnography was a complex project, both political and scientific, used to control and dominate the Nagas.
Ethnographic information was crucial for administration and helped maintain the colonial power imbalance.
Processes of "tribalization" were employed to organize and control inhabitants, further bolstering colonial rule.

History is Not Dead

The book discusses how colonial narratives and policies shaped and continue to shape understandings of the Nagas.
The colonial period's treatment of the Nagas as "primitive" or "savage" influenced ensuing policy and research.
Colonial ethnography had far-reaching effects on the ways in which the Nagas were, and continue to be represented by outsiders.
This legacy of colonial influence, and the use of ethnographic data for colonial purposes, continues to impact society.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Ethnographic Survey of India and its implications in anthropology. This quiz covers key figures, methodologies, and the impact of colonialism on anthropological practices related to the Nagas and other tribes. Explore how anthropology evolved following decolonization and its relevance today.