Cultures, Identities, Multiculturalism and Beyond

Contents: Part I: Indigeneity and Cultural Identities: 1. J.H. Hutton s The Sema Nagas Revisited/G. Kanato Chophy. 2. Cultural Homogeneity or Multiculturalism?: A Case Study among the Sakacheps of Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya/Teresa L. Khawzawl. 3. Cultural Imperialism over Indigenous Culture: The Impact of Industrialization on the Oraons of Odisha/Minaketan Bag. Part II: Leadership and Political Identities. 4. Mao Naga Chieftainship: A Symbol of Ethnic Identity/A. Kapesa. 5. Youth as Agents of Social Change: The Case of Nagas in a Nagaland Village/Abang Pertin. 6. Negotiating Socio-Political Identity in Assam-Arunachal Borderlands: The Case of the Mising Community/Ratna Tayeng. 7. Political System of the Thachanadan Moopan of Wayanad District, Kerala: Continuity and Change/Sajina Bharathan. Part III: Material Culture, Economy and Traditions. 8. Economy and Culture among the Kurichiyans of Wayanad in Kerala/Shakina T. 9. Longpi Ham: The Changing Tradition of Pottery among the Tangkhul Nagas of Manipur/Khachungla Tangvah. 10. The Changing Motifs and Vocabularies in Meitei Textiles of Manipur/Oinam Hemlata Devi. 11. Fishing Techniques of the Galo Tribe: An Ethno-Archaeological Perspective/Bina Gandhi Deori. 12. The Living Nature of Burial Stones: A Study on the Jaintia Megalithic Tradition of Meghalaya/Akoijam Milan Meitei and Q. Marak. Part IV: Food Ways and Cultural Meanings. 13. Celebrating Zupi: Traditional Usage and Cultural Meanings in Rice Beer Consumption among Vaipheis in Manipur/Doisiammoi Vaiphei and Q. Marak. 14. Cultural Meanings of Bamboo Shoot among the Lotha Nagas of Nagaland/Chumchano R. Humtsoe. Part V: Health Cultures, Beliefs and Practices. 15. Medical Beliefs and Practices of Chakpa Lois in a Meitei Village of Manipur/Asheibam Sandhyarani. 16. Health Practices among the Bhoi Khasis of Umden, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya/Ananya Chetia. 17. Nutritional Status and Blood Pressure: A Study among Deuri Women of Bardeuri Village, Assam/Chandana Sarmah. Part VI: Mainstream Cultures and Cultural Integration. 18. Territorial Boundaries of Caste: An Ethno-Historical Perspective on Kongu Nadu/Ponnarasu S. 19. Rituals, Festivals and Social Network in Kaveri Basin Area of Karnataka/S. Mahadeva. 20. Two Broadminded Men: Narratives of Identification through Marriage and Materiality/Thomas Herzmark. 21. Salad Bowl of Cultural Integration, and Not Homogenization: A Case Study of Singapore s Multiculturalism/Elvin Xing and Amy Phua Mei Yen. Part VII: Mainstream Cultures and Cultural Integration. 22. Bengalis of Nagpur: The Changing Context in the Era of Globalization/Surajit Kumar Pal. 23. Religious Continuity and Change among the Migrant Maithil Brahmins of Bihar in Delhi/Anu Bhawana. 24. The Future of Gorkha Ethnicity in India: An Anthropological Note/Swatahsiddha Sarkar. Even when the entire world has been increasingly shrinking into a global village, particularly since the start of the new millennium and the people of different cultures and races encountering each other by all means of channels and communications, the border lines of cultural identities seem to be assuming harder and rigid forms. In a world of multicultural contexts, international collaborations and multilateral political negotiations, the reality presents a paradox of sorts, raising newer challenges and requiring mutual understandings for the peaceful co-existence of human society. Such a situation demands a deeper knowledge about our cultural neighbours and a greater appreciation of the cultural specificities of each other. The present volume is a small effort in this direction in capturing the cultural contours of different societies, and identifying the challenges of the contemporary and multicultural society for developing appropriate responses. As reflected in the title of the volume, the papers presented here highlight and discuss the different dimensions and aspects of culture and cultural identities of both the indigenous and the mai.…