Author Description

From presenting, in Elwin's own words, the account of his going to work among the tribal peoples of central India, to affording glimpses of his seminal work on the unique institution of the ghotul among the Murias of Bastar, or relating Elwin's attempts at understanding the high incidence of murder and suicide among the Bison-horn Marias of Bastar, The Oxford India Elwin looks beyond the general and the oft-repeated to include within its covers the many fascinating discoveries that Verrier Elwin made while working among the different tribal communities in India. While the Introduction to Folk Songs of the Maikal Hills discusses the principles of translating folk poetry, the importance of the elements of nature, magic, the supernatural, and song and dance in tribal life is highlighted through selections from The Myths of Middle India. Whether providing glimpses of Elwin's travels in the remote Northeast, or discussing the effects of 'civilization' on tribal art, or describing the Naga people and their customs, or presenting the myths of the NEFA region, the effort is to bring the man, his thoughts and actions, the contributions he made towards upholding and preserving the cultural diversity of the Subcontinent, closer to readers through a single volume which will be both accessible and affordable. The book will be a valuable addition to the Oxford India Collection which includes the writings of Ghalib, Premchand, Ramanujan, Nehru, and Gandhi. Armed with a useful and perceptive Introduction by G.N. Devy, this edition will appeal to all those who know and adore Elwin, as also students and researchers of anthropology, cultural studies, and Indian history.