Anthropology and the Ethnographic Survey of India

The study of humankind, its origins, cultures, and societies.

The scientific study of human cultures and societies, particularly focusing on their social structures, beliefs, and customs.

The period of time when European powers expanded their control over other parts of the world, including the Naga Hills in Northeast India. It also had a significant impact on the development of anthropology.

The process where knowledge or understanding is gained by observing and studying a subject, often in its natural environment. In anthropology, it involves immersing oneself in a culture to gain firsthand experience.

In the context of colonial anthropology, it refers to the inherent bias or influence of the colonial context on anthropological research. This means that the researcher's understanding can be shaped by their own colonial perspective, potentially affecting the objectivity of their findings.

The use of anthropological knowledge, especially about the social structures and beliefs of different communities, to aid in administering and controlling those communities, potentially leading to unintended consequences.

The systematic study and analysis of the history of a particular field, in this case, Naga anthropology. It involves examining the historical context, key individuals, and debates that have shaped the discipline.

This term highlights the inherent risk that anthropological research, especially in a colonial context, could become a tool for the colonizer to justify or maintain their control over the colonized people. It emphasizes the ethical implications of the close relationship between anthropology and colonialism.

Prior to World War II, anthropologists didn't consider the impact of colonialism on their field or on the people they studied. They were not critical of colonialism's power structure.

After World War II, researchers began to see the connection between the colonial system and anthropology. The end of colonialism led to an examination of how anthropology and colonial power were intertwined.

New nations, particularly in Africa and Asia, were suspicious of anthropology due to its association with colonial rule. They felt that anthropology had been used to support and maintain colonial power.

The Project Camelot incident revealed how the U.S. government was using anthropology for their own purposes in Vietnam. This incident further undermined public trust and exposed the problematic relationship between the field and politics.

Colonial ethnography, or the study of cultures in colonized areas, is often seen as a product of Western imperialism. It is viewed as a way to understand and control colonized societies.

Anthropology was accused of producing knowledge that reinforced colonial power imbalances. Critics argued that it helped maintain colonial systems by justifying and legitimizing colonial rule.

The close connection between colonial administration and anthropological fieldwork created a power structure in which anthropologists were able to access and study tribal populations. This relationship benefited both colonial officials and anthropologists.

Ethnographers often lived in government-provided bungalows or guest houses, indicating a strong connection to the colonial administration. This reinforced the relationship between anthropology and the colonial system.

Ethnographic knowledge, particularly about the Naga people, was used by the British to help maintain their colonial control.

British colonialists saw the Nagas as either "tamed" (Boree) or "untamed" (Abor) based on their proximity to the Assam border and their level of interaction with British administration.

Thornton's accurate maps of the Naga region were crucial for the British to understand the geography and location of different Naga tribes.

The British colonial administration used ethnographic knowledge to distinguish different Naga tribes based on their proximity to the Assam border and their level of contact with British administration. They were categorized as "tamed" (Boree) and "untamed" (Abor).

The British sought to "civilize" the Nagas by gradually integrating them into British society and controlling their interactions with the outside world. This was part of their broader colonial project.

The British used ethnographic data gathered through mapping, surveying, and pacifying the Naga tribes to understand their culture and society, aiding their control over the region. It was a form of double domination - political and scientific.

British colonialism in the Naga Hills was dominated by both political and scientific efforts. While exerting political control, they also gathered ethnographic knowledge about the Naga people.

British colonial expansion in the Naga Hills led to the production of ethnographic texts about the Naga people. This knowledge was used to maintain colonial control.

The practice of studying and recording the cultures and societies of different peoples, especially those considered less developed or primitive.

The branch of anthropology that deals with the measurement of human physical characteristics, particularly to identify and analyze racial differences.

A method of studying cultural phenomena and how they spread from one group of people to another.

The study of the history of a specific field, in this case, Naga anthropology.

The use of anthropological knowledge to aid colonial administration, potentially leading to unintended consequences.

An approach to studying cultures that assumes all cultures develop in similar ways and can be compared to each other.

A collection of detailed studies on specific Naga tribes conducted by anthropologists in the early 20th century.

A systematic effort by the British government in India to collect ethnographic information about the races and tribes of India during the early 20th century.

The practice of using ethnographic data to aid in colonial administration, often to gain control and pacify indigenous populations.

The collection of ethnographic material was driven by both scientific and administrative motives, with colonial goals playing a crucial role.

Colonial officials believed that understanding local customs and beliefs through ethnographic data would help them govern more effectively and avoid misunderstandings.

The need for detailed knowledge about functioning societies shifted the focus of ethnography from simply justifying dominance to aiding in a more efficient and controlled colonial administration.

Anthropological knowledge was considered essential for the administration of colonial territories, especially for understanding and managing the behavior of indigenous populations.

Ethnographic information helped to foster sympathy and understanding between colonial officers and the local populations they governed.

In the absence of a universally applicable legal system, ethnographic knowledge of tribal customs was used to administer justice in a more culturally sensitive manner.

Ethnographic information provided insights into the organization and functioning of tribal societies, aiding colonial authorities in managing and controlling them.

The British colonial administration categorized the Naga people based on how much control they had over them, creating groups like "administered" (under direct control), "unadministered" (some control) and "free Naga" (independent).

The British used the institution of traditional chiefs as a tool to control Naga villages. By recognizing and empowering chiefs, the British gained political influence and access to communities.

The British created a new elite class within Naga society called dobashis, who acted as interpreters and intermediaries between the British administration and the Naga people.

By the 1940s, the British had achieved political control over significant parts of Naga territory, claiming to have a deeper understanding of Naga culture than the Nagas themselves.

British anthropologists used their position to claim expertise on Naga culture, publishing their findings and reinforcing the idea that the British had a superior understanding of Naga society.