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The human skin on the palmar and plantar surfaces of hand and foot is arranged in fine ridges and furrows, contrary to that covering the other parts of the body. The study of the configurations formed by the epidermal ridges on the finger balls and also on the palmar surfaces of the hands and plantar surfaces of the feet are collectively known as dermatoglyphics. Dermatoglyphic characters are highly variable not only between individuals of a population, but also between populations. These variations are heritable. The patterns are formed in the fetus during the first half of the fetal development. That is why no two individuals not even the identical twins have exactly the same patterns. All these properties have made dermatoglyphics a valuable research tool in the field of physical anthropology including human genetics, Forensic science and Medicine. In this article, a modest attempt has been made to show the correlation between clinical dermatoglyphics and human historical evolution through cultural evolution of human life.

Keywords: palmar, plantar, dermatoglyphics, twins, epidermal, ridges

Generally, within a given area of transmission of culture traits, dominant group holding political power, power of economy, language and above all numerical strength is found to be absorbing the surrounding dormant group of people of comparatively less-powerful within its cultural fold. This was the idea of Gandhiji but first noticed this phenomenon by N. K. Bose in a region of Orissa’s Pal Lahara among the Juang tribal community. Later Bose presented his observations in a paper form at the Indian Science congress in 1941. The present paper deals with a reverse process practiced by the Santals, a little dormant group of people, in Birbhum district of West Bengal, in a connectivity context.

Keywords: Connectivity, social laboratory, loanwords, foreign words, hang around

This article aims to highlight the relationship between body fatness and beauty, focusing on the role of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI). Beauty is a personal insight rather than a universal one. Attractiveness or ideal body size varies across cultures and societies. The perceptions tend to differ on the issue of the origins of some beauty standards. A complex brain, like the brain of a human being, is required to sense beauty. Also, there lies a difference between healthiness and attractiveness. Anthropologists and evolutionary scientists have proposed that beauty is a reliable indication of human health, fertility, and socio-economic measures.

In Odisha, India, eight districts categorized as KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput) have been categorized as highly malaria endemic region in the state. In spite of various time bound intervention strategies implemented by government to control malaria, villagers are suffering from the disease years together. The daily activities of people were studied in a malaria endemic tribal dominated village of Balangir district under KBK district. Data collected through mixed methods qualitative research techniques and quantitative questionnaire. In the village information on people’s daily activities, their sleeping habits, knowledge on the cause, transmission and survival strategies were collected. The findings revealed that though disease was familiar among people as Palli Jwaroo but its treatment practices passes through steps which were found greatly influenced by decisions of the elder members of the family. Factors associated with Socio-cultural activities especially keeping country fowl inside sleeping room, sleeping places, use of herbal medicines were found influential factors.

Keywords: Malaria (Palli Jwaroo Key Informants (KIs). Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK).). Traditional Healer (Baidya, Country Fowl.

Megaliths are those monuments which are used by the human society since prehistoric time either as a burial or memorial stone and still it is found as a living tradition in some parts of the world. It emerged in the Neolithic period before the discovery of metal in human society and through Bronze Age and Iron Age it continued up to the historic period in many societies of the world. Megaliths are mostly associated with the indigenous faith as well as animistic nature of human being, irrespective of religion even after conversion, a process known as syncretism, where two contradictory beliefs are combined together. In North East India, megaliths are still found as a living tradition among the tribes like Khasi and Garo in Meghalaya, Karbi in Assam, Nagas in Nagaland, Nocte, Hrusso, Sherdukpen and Wancho in Arunachal Pradesh. In Arunachal Pradesh, megaliths are found among the Hrusso people of West Kameng district and here, this tribe used megaliths as a promise stone, gate stone and seating stone and the Nocte people use the cist. The origin of megaliths in Arunachal Pradesh is not clearly found like the other megalithic sites of North East India. With the help of oral story and Assam history we can summarize that the megaliths are formed in Arunachal Pradesh during the prehistoric period; i.e. in Neolithic period and through the Historic period it is still found as a living tradition among the Hrusso of West Kameng district; Arunachal Pradesh.

Keywords: Megalith, stone, syncretism, cist, Nocte, tradition, tribe, Hrusso, Arunachal Pradesh, North East India.

Marriage is a sacred socially recognized universal institution whose sanctity is recognized by every society. It is a system where the union of a man and a woman has been given social sanction as husband and wife. Devotion to partner are still considered to be the essence of marriage. Every society in this world has its own unique and different types of marriage system. The Galo is a tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. In this research paper, the researcher is going to evaluate about different types of marriage present among the Galos. In the Galo society, every member enjoys freedom to choose his or her partner. The parents allow enough freedom in matter of selection of soul mate to their sons and daughters. Both primary and secondary sources of information are used to collect data. Research tools like interview method, observation method and case study method are extensively used for the collection of primary data. Further, fieldworks were carried out in few Galo villages of West Siang District Arunachal Pradesh.

Keywords: Arunachal Pradesh, Galo, child marriage, levirate, sororate.

The salt well or salt deposit was one of the most important natural resources found abundantly in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh. The black salt was one of the most precious and scarce commodities in the medieval and colonial period in the history of North East India. It was once regarded as a kind of black gold that brought the attention of the outsiders like the Ahoms, Sonowal-Kacharis, Bodo-Kacharis, Rabhas, Makum and other neighboring tribes. This black salt was locally produced by the Noctes and Tutsas of Tirap district. It has played a significant role in socio-cultural, political and economic development of the tribes in the region. In fact, the production of black salt was an important economic activity and livelihood of the Noctes and Tutsas at one point of time. In this paper, the authors intend to unearth the indigenous knowledge of salt production among the Noctes and Tutsas of Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh. The paper has four parts – the first part focuses on the myth about origin of salt, second the traditional process of salt preparation, third the taboos associated with it and fourth the significance and relevance of the black salt.

Keywords: Indigenous, salt, black salt, myth, taboos, mediaeval and colonial period, trade, Tutsa, Nocte