Saturday, March 27, 2021

Book Review

 

Book Review:

Joseph S. Thong. (2012). Head Hunters Culture- Historic Culture of Nagas. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. Pp. 175 + xv. ISBN: 81-8324-154-9. Price: Rs. 495/-.

The author of this book has presented descriptive information of the Naga tribe who were once known for head- hunting. Head- hunter’s culture is a very old tradition once practiced by the Nagas, inhabited in the states of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam in India and in Myanmar who migrated from the South East Asian countries long past. This tribe is differing from rest of the communities of India in origin, language, food habits, dress pattern, beliefs, religion, social customs and tradition. It is said that they used to chop the head of their enemies after the battle is over and bring those at home as a memory of victory in addition to prove their valour and to appease their god in order to increase their fertility, good luck and well being of their people. The practise of head- hunting resides in the heart of the Naga culture and all other life cycle rituals and activities and also inter woven with this. The inseparable part of the Naga culture like village society, construction of house, construction of village gate and its decorations, chieftainship, dress and ornaments, occupation, rituals, marriage, clan system, fairs and festivals, etc. are all centred round and linked up with head- hunting and Feast of Merit which are same in almost all the sections of Naga tribe except some minor variations from village to village, clan to clan, etc. This is a distinctive feature of the Naga tribe which makes it different from the rest of Indian communities which is generally governed by caste system, zamindari system, jajmani system, etc.

Although many books has been written on Nagas by many British administrators, Christian Missionaries, Naga National Workers, journalists, travellers, military personels, local administrators, academicians, researchers and son on, but so far as the author’s knowledge, no comprehensive book that covering all the aspects of the culture of the head- hunting community has been written to quench our thrust for knowledge. Hence, through this book the author tried to present us a complete picture of Naga culture. Various components of traditional Naga society have been described in brief.

In present day also, in the interior rural villages one can see the historic culture still prevalent without any change and are transmitted from one generation to another through the aged people whose ways of life have not changed for centuries. Apart from it, the material culture likes the wood carving craft, cloth weaving, pot making, dresses and ornaments, weapons, tattooing, dyeing, folk songs, dances, etc. also served the author as primary data to reconstruct the traditional culture of the Nagas. For the collection of first hand data he also applied  participation observation method. The data are also collected from the information received from the informant from the field and from the books listed in the bibliography. For the collection of data, the author has gone through very systematic method like library method, historical method, documentary method, questionnaire method, schedule method, interview method and participant observation method.

This book serves as a guideline for the students, research scholars, academicians and teachers of Social Sciences like anthropology, ethnography, sociology, culture, tribal studies, law, society and technology. The book is also very helpful to know more about the life style of the Naga head- hunters. Apart from it, it will serve to the candidates who are preparing for competitive exams, college and university exams related to tribal culture and society. The administrators also be benefited from this book who were serving in tribal and backward areas as this book is proving information related to tribal culture, their ways of life, tribal beliefs, values, customary laws and justice, political and social organization and other relevant informations. Through this book the author tried to document those lost intangible and tangible culture heritages that are lost or about to lose.

Published in: 

Mekal Insights, Year 12 Vol. IV, Issue 1. ISSN: 0975-010X. (p.110-111).

 

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Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: Where Water, Wings, and Time Meet Some places announce themselves with mountains or monuments. Bharatpur does not. It reveals itself slowly — in ripples of water, in the sudden lift of wings, in the quiet patience of a bird waiting for the right moment to strike. Located in eastern Rajasthan, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, popularly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is one of those rare landscapes where nature and history have grown together. It is not untouched wilderness, nor is it purely man-made. It exists in between — shaped by geography, altered by humans, and perfected by birds. A Land Shaped by Geography Before It Was Shaped by Humans Bharatpur lies at an ecological crossroads. To the west stretch the ancient Aravali ranges, among the oldest mountain systems in the world — worn down, rocky, dry, and quiet. To the east begin the fertile Gangetic plains, flatter and more water-abundant. Between these two regions lies a gentle depression in the land, where seasonal rivers like the Gambhir and Banganga once spread their monsoon waters. This region was never meant to hold deep water. Instead, it absorbed floods, released them slowly, and returned to grassland. That natural rhythm changed in the 18th century, when the rulers of Bharatpur constructed the Ajan Bund, an earthen dam built to protect nearby settlements from flooding. Unintentionally, a wetland was born. Water lingered longer than expected. Silt settled. Aquatic plants appeared. Fish followed. And soon after, birds began to arrive — first seasonally, then in vast numbers. From Royal Hunting Ground to Protected Sanctuary During the 19th and early 20th centuries, this wetland became a favored duck-shooting reserve for the Maharajas of Bharatpur and British officials. Ironically, this exclusive use prevented farming and urban expansion, allowing the habitat to survive while many other wetlands disappeared. The turning point came when Dr. Salim Ali, India’s pioneering ornithologist, recognized the extraordinary ecological value of the site. His advocacy transformed perceptions of the wetland — from a hunting ground to a sanctuary deserving protection. This led to a series of recognitions: Declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1976 Designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 What makes Bharatpur unique is that it proves conservation does not always begin with untouched nature — sometimes it begins with correcting our relationship with altered landscapes. A Wetland Designed by Water, Perfected by Birds Keoladeo Ghana is a shallow wetland, rarely deeper than one or two meters. This single feature explains much of its biodiversity. Shallow wetlands warm quickly, grow food rapidly, and create a variety of micro-habitats: Open water for ducks and geese Mudflats for waders and sandpipers Marshes and reed beds for nesting birds Wooded patches for roosting and breeding colonies The sanctuary is a mosaic rather than a uniform lake, and birds occupy it with remarkable precision. Every species seems to know exactly where it belongs. The Arrival of the Migrants Each winter, Bharatpur becomes a global meeting point. Birds arrive from Siberia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Tibetan plateau, following the Central Asian Flyway. Some travel thousands of kilometers, crossing deserts, seas, and the towering Himalayas. Bar-headed geese, famous for flying at extreme altitudes, descend gracefully onto the water. Northern shovelers and teals form floating carpets across the marshes. Painted storks and Asian open-billed storks feed methodically in the shallows. The elegant Sarus crane, India’s tallest flying bird, performs slow, ritualistic dances that seem untouched by time. Once, the sanctuary welcomed the Siberian crane — tall, white, and fragile. Their disappearance from Bharatpur is a quiet tragedy, reminding us that even the most faithful migrants cannot survive when wetlands vanish along their journey. The Aravali Connection: Dry Hills Supporting Wet Wings Though Bharatpur is a wetland, its story cannot be told without the Aravali range. The Aravalis may appear barren, but they regulate climate, slow desert winds, and feed seasonal water systems. Birds adapted to dry forests and scrublands — larks, pipits, bushchats, raptors — depend on wetlands like Bharatpur during migration, breeding, or drought periods. Thus, Bharatpur functions as a refuge ecosystem, supported by the broader Aravali landscape. Wetland and woodland, water and stone — both are necessary for regional biodiversity. More Than Birds: The Invisible Web of Life While birds are the most visible residents, the sanctuary’s foundation lies beneath the water. Fish recycle nutrients and sustain higher predators. Amphibians and reptiles control insect populations. Wetland plants purify water, trap carbon, and stabilize soil. Even microorganisms play their role quietly, maintaining balance. This unseen life is what allows the spectacular bird diversity to exist. A Wetland That Needs Care, Not Neglect Unlike untouched forests, Bharatpur survives through active management. Water must be released at the right time. Invasive plants must be controlled. Seasonal rhythms must be respected. Climate change, upstream water diversion, and declining rainfall pose new challenges. The sanctuary today is a lesson in modern conservation — showing that protection alone is not enough. Understanding ecological processes is equally vital. Why Bharatpur Matters Today In a country where wetlands are rapidly disappearing, Bharatpur stands as proof that: Man-made wetlands can support rich biodiversity Landscape-level conservation is essential Migratory birds connect continents, not just countries Water is the most powerful driver of life in dry regions Leaving Bharatpur When you leave the sanctuary, it does not follow you loudly. There are no dramatic cliffs or roaring rivers to remember. Instead, there is a quiet realization — that life persists not through force, but through balance. Bharatpur teaches patience. It teaches listening. And above all, it teaches that when water is allowed to stay, life will always return.

  Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary : Where Water, Wings, and Time Meet Some places announce themselves with mountains or monuments. Bharatpur does n...