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Skylines of Anthropology

Skylines of Anthropology

Frequency :Bi-Annual

ISSN :2583-1402

Peer Reviewed Journal

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Table of Content :-Skylines of Anthropology, Vol:2, Issue:1, Year:2022

Barman Tribes Culture and their Interactions with Forest Resources 

BY :   Rajdeep Dutta and Joyashri Dey
Skylines of Anthropology, Year: 2022,  Vol.2 (1),  PP.1-13
Received: 28 December 2021  | Revised: 20 January 2022  | Accepted : 30 January 2022  | Publication: 15 June 2022 

Socio-economic and cultural practices are unique among the different ethnic groups, especially in the tribal community. The Barman tribes are one of the major tribal groups in Assam. Most prominently, they live as scheduled tribes in lower Assam and the Barak Valley. Dimasa Barman people are dispersed throughout the Cachar district, inhabiting in small groups in several villages. The Joynagar Forest village is one of the largest Barman living forest villages in the Cachar district. The Barman is distinct from the other ethnic groups in Assam’s forest settlement because of his own socioeconomic practices, cultural practices, and traditions. They engage in a variety of productive activities while living in the forest and rely on forest resources for their family’s survival and earnings. Additionally, they encounter a variety of life-threatening issues as a result of their way of life. The article primarily outlines the Barman culture and their interaction with forest resources among Barman tribes residing in a forest village, namely Joynagar forest village in Assam’s Cachar district. Furthermore, the study explores the socioeconomic factors, the cultural backdrop, and the features of the forest that support the life and family income of the tribe. For this study, authors have relied on primary sources and data has been collected from 50 respondents who are actively engaged in forest resources in Joynagar forest village with the help of an interview schedule. Apart from this, insights on cultural practices and forest resource uses were gathered through Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) with key individuals from the Joynagar forest community, including the Mother group, Youth Club, Bandhan Group, Anganwari worker, Helper, ANM, ASHA, Head Teacher, and Goan Bura. In light of this context, the article also discusses the implications for future research and practice.

Keywords: Barman tribe, culture, forest village, forest resources, socio-economic life.

Dutta, R., & Dey, J. 2022. Barman Tribes Culture and their Interactions with Forest Resources. Skylines of Anthropology, 2: 1, pp. 1-13.

The Sinaitic Covenant, Organized Religion and Nigeria’s Development

BY :   Favour C. Uroko
Skylines of Anthropology, Year: 2022,  Vol.2 (1),  PP.15-23
Received: 30 December 2021  | Revised: 28 January 2022  | Accepted : 11 February 2022  | Publication: 15 June 2022 

This article examines how positive role of religion could foster development in Nigeria. Recourse was made to the Sinaitic covenant in the Old Testament that calls on religious adherents to practice love, peace, justice, fairness and equity. In the analysis of the text, this study utilized content analysis. Religion since inception has been the bane of Nigeria’s development. Religious fundamentalists and political bigots have been hiding under the guise of religion to gain cheap political points and achieve their selfish purposes. When they feel that their aim is about to be thwarted, they instigate conflicts under religious basis. This is the reason for the day to day conflicts all over Nigeria, especially in the northern part of Nigeria where religion and politics are difficult to separate. Findings reveal that underdevelopment and poverty will continually be sustained as far as religion is negatively used. The recommendations given are strongly believed to speak anew to this sad development, especially as the recommendations emanated from the point of view of the Sinaitic covenant of the Old Testament.

 ???????Keywords: Sinaitic covenant, religion, Nigeria, poverty, development, Love, Conflict

Uroko, F.C. 2022. The Sinaitic Covenant, Organized Religion and Nigeria’s Development. Skylines of Anthropology, 2: 1, pp. 15-23.

Factors Affecting Depression among the Juangs: A Vulnerable Tribal Group in Odisha

BY :   Shilpi Smita Panda, Binoy Kumar Kuiti, Swagatika Sahoo, Mitali Chinara and Prasanna Kumar Patra
Skylines of Anthropology, Year: 2022,  Vol.2 (1),  PP.25-44
Received: 30 January 2022  | Revised: 21 February 2022  | Accepted : 11 March 2022  | Publication: 15 June 2022 

Depression is a mental disorder which affects the behavioural, somatic and emotional components in an individual. Earlier prevalence of depression was restricted to urban dwellers but now it is prevalent also among the vulnerable tribal communities. By applying the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) on 125 adults from the Juang community, a PVTG in Odisha, the severity of depression was measured. Moderate depression was more prevalent among females and elderly population. Seven components of BDI-II had greater impact on the intensity of depression among the Juang participants. They are: self-criticalness, guilty feelings, crying, loss of pleasure, irritability, past failures and loss of energy. The poor socio-economic conditions, cultural changes, alcohol addiction, domestic violence and abuse, moderate physical labour and inadequate food intake in form of protein and fat are the reasons for the prevalence of depression among the Juang. The identification of depression among the Juang indicates the immediate need for incorporation of the mental health care in the primary health care services. This would help in early identification and diagnosis, counselling and care of the depressed person in the Juang community in particular and tribal societies in general.

Keywords: Depression, Juang, PVTG, mental health, Odisha

Panda, S.S., Kuiti, B.K., Sahoo, S., Chinara, M., & Patra P.K. 2022. Factors Affecting Depression among the Juangs: A Vulnerable Tribal Group in Odisha. Skylines of Anthropology, 2: 1, pp. 25-44.

A Constructed Sexuality: Re-Discovering the Jogappas of South and West India

BY :   Sushmita Gonsalves
Skylines of Anthropology, Year: 2022,  Vol.2 (1),  PP.45-57
Received: 22 February 2022  | Revised: 12 March 2022  | Accepted : 21 March 2022  | Publication: 15 June 2022 

Jogappas are a community of transgenders who are uniquely found in parts of Southern and Western India. Born as a man in the body of a woman, they seek the intervention of the Divine in order to lead a life worth living – a life of respect and dignity. They are considered as earthly avatars of the Goddess Yellamma. Jogappas belong to the lowest of the low strata of society. They are by profession beggars – begging in the name of the goddess is a part and parcel of their lives. Jogappas are the result of a patriarchal society’s response to a boy who turns into a girl. These are people who are disowned by parents, shunned by friends, ridiculed by society and abused by the authorities. This transgendered community has looked to the Goddess Yellamma as a refuge since eternity. It is time we accept these transgenders as a part of us, as human beings who desire to live a life of dignity and worth. They are neither ritual mendicants nor sexual ascetics nor dedicated to Goddesses – primarily they are men with a constructed sexuality. These constructed notions of sexuality need to be studied and understood; for them to earn a place for themselves in the society. A study of this community adds a new dimension to Queer Studies and alternate sexualities in India today. My article is a saga of these people and their struggle to acquire a sense of agency in their lives.

Keywords: Queer, Religion, Jogappas, Transgenders, Masculinities, Goddess, Sexualities, Culture

Gonsalves, S. 2022. A Constructed Sexuality: Re-Discovering the Jogappas of South and West India. Skylines of Anthropology, 2: 1, pp. 45-57.

Viewing Forgiveness through the Lens of Spirituality

BY :   Archana Kaushik, Aishwarya Sinha, Govind and Anuj Sharma
Skylines of Anthropology, Year: 2022,  Vol.2 (1),  PP.59-77
Received: 23 February 2022  | Revised: 15 March 2022  | Accepted : 28 March 2022  | Publication: 15 June 2022 

While revenge has been considered a survival strategy by the ancient human, spiritually enlightened people like Jesus Christ have epitomized highest levels of forgiveness even in life-threatening situations. The present paper is an attempt to examine the interrelationship between forgiveness and spirituality. With descriptive research design and qualitative approach, the study aimed to find how common people, spiritual seekers and enlightened people conceptualize forgiveness. FGDs were conducted and thematic analysis of videos and text contents of the spiritual masters were done. Findings show that seekers and non-seekers consider that forgiveness is a higher value and with meditative practices propensity to forgive increases. Spiritual masters realize the oneness of consciousness everywhere and in everyone which makes compassion and forgiveness a natural outcome.
Keywords: Spirituality, Forgiveness, oneness of consciousness

Kaushik, A., Sinha, A., Govind & Sharma, A. 2022. Viewing Forgiveness through the Lens of Spirituality. Skylines of Anthropology, 2: 1, pp. 59-77.

Perceptions, Awareness and Knowledge about Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

BY :   Ramandeep Kaur, Sanjay Kumar Bhadada, Sandeep Grover and Anil Kishore Sinha
Skylines of Anthropology, Year: 2022,  Vol.2 (1),  PP.79-85
Received: 12 March 2022  | Revised: 29 March 2022  | Accepted : 15 April 2022  | Publication: 15 June 2022 

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a metabolic disorder where body’s immune system attacks insulin producing cells (beta cells) of pancreas. Complications associated with the disease can be moderate, severe or even lethal in some cases. Although it can appear at any age, but onset of the disease is usually seen in individuals less than 30 years of age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with T1DM affected patients (N=25), their care givers (N=20) at Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Rest of the interviews (N=25) were conducted with general population (non- diabetics) outside the Out Patient Department, withing the premises of PGIMER, Chandigarh campus. Study revealed significant lack of awareness and knowledge about T1DM among respondents. It was observed that having T1DM child in a family, affects the whole family and people living with the disease go through much more, than it seems to a normal healthy individual.

Keywords: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, diabetes, perceptions, awareness, knowledge.

Kaur, R., Bhadara, S.K., Grover, S., & Sinha, A.K. 2022. Perceptions Awareness and Knowledge about Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Skylines of Anthropology, 2: 1,
pp. 79-85.

Exploring The ‘Self’: Ethnicity, Identity and Food

BY :   Rukshana Zaman
Skylines of Anthropology, Year: 2022,  Vol.2 (1),  PP.87-99
Received: 05 April 2022  | Revised: 25 April 2022  | Accepted : 14 April 2022  | Publication: 15 June 2022 

What we eat is who we are. Many a times we do not ponder much upon what we eat, with whom we eat, or how we eat, as it is an everyday mundane affair. However, the concept of food, what we eat, how we eat (cooked or raw) when we eat, and with whom we can eat is a social and cultural construct that has different contexts and connotations attached to it. Food works as a social construction as it varies from one society to the other. Societal norms dictate food. What is considered sacred food for one society might be profane for another. Food within the context of a society, the way it is being cooked or served, sacred or profane, can be perceived as a process of identity and symbolic value creation. Taboos and restrictions come into effect, as to how one ought to par take food or carry it from one space to another.

As an autoethnographic account, this article would look at what ‘I’ eat that defines my identity as an Axomiya Muslim and explore the importance of Axomiya cuisine in my day-to-day food. To understand the concept of in-group and out-group within an ethnic boundary I would draw from the food cooked in my maternal and paternal grandparents’ house. Taking the journey of food forward, I would also dwell on the variations in the perceived ‘Islamic food’ that I experienced as I traveled to places outside Assam. Within the autoethnographic context of food, the humble attempt would be to explore how identity is created through food and becomes an ethnic marker.

Keywords: Axomiya food, Axomiya Muslim, ethnicity and identity

Zaman, R. 2022. Exploring the ‘Self’: Ethnicity, Identity and Food. Skylines of Anthropology, 2: 1, pp. 87-99.

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