Changing Munda

The Munda, one of the best known tribes of eastern India were first studied by Sarat Chandra Roy in the first decade of this century. Since then some Contributions have been made to the social anthropology of the Munda. This monograph, however, is the first full length study of the tribe in the district of Ranchi covering all the important aspects of their life and culture. In fact, it is a restudy with a difference. It not only records the changes in Munda life ways and thought-ways since the days of Sarat Chandra Roy but also includes a detailed description of their eco system, demography, kinship and marriage, eçonomic life, traditional political organization, socio-political movements, modern political consciousness, realm of the supernatural as well as an over-view of the Munda to-day. It takes into account regional differences in Munda culture in the Hasada, Naguri and Panchpargana areas. The author's wide experience both in field work and research among this tribe make this volume and imperative source of reference to all those interested in this field be they laymen or specialists.