History of Naga Anthropology (1832-1947)

Before World War II, anthropologists largely ignored the effects of colonialism on their research and the societies they studied. Post-war, as colonies gained independence, the relationship between anthropology and colonialism came under scrutiny.

New nations, especially in Africa and Asia, viewed anthropology with suspicion due to its historical connection to colonialism. This distrust stemmed from the perception that anthropology was a tool of colonial rule.

Fieldwork in colonial settings involved close collaboration between anthropologists and colonial officials. The power dynamics of colonialism provided anthropologists with access to communities, while colonial administrators often saw fieldwork as a beneficial tool for understanding and controlling populations.

Ethnographers conducting research in colonial environments often resided in official government housing, limiting their interaction with indigenous populations and relying on government-employed interpreters for communication.

The close ties between colonial administration and anthropology were reflected in the publication and funding of anthropological research. Colonial officials often sponsored studies that aligned with their interests, further solidifying the connection between the two.

A term used to describe the British colonial practice of governing and protecting tribal groups in India through a system of direct rule and paternalistic policies. This approach sought to isolate the tribes from outside influences by controlling their access to resources and imposing laws that aimed to preserve their traditional ways of life.

A term used to describe the political and cultural methods employed by the British to maintain control over the Naga tribes, often through a system of surveillance, information gathering, and the creation of knowledge about the tribes.

The use of ethnographic research and knowledge was not only for academic purposes, but also to justify and legitimize the British colonial rule over the Naga tribes. This research provided information that was used to shape policies and enforce control.

The colonial discourse surrounding the Nagas often depicted them as primitive, backward, and in need of protection from outside influences. This view was often fueled by the need to justify the British presence and control over the tribes.

The process of using ethnographic data, statistical returns, histories, gazetteers, legal codes, and encyclopedias to collect and categorize information about the Naga tribes.