Class 12 Anthropology Chapter 6 Ethnographic Life Histories of the Ethnic Groups of North-East India Solutions with complete textual questions and answers, important additional exam-oriented questions and answers, and easy-to-understand solutions for effective exam preparation.
Class 12 Anthropology Chapter 6 Ethnographic Life Histories of the Ethnic Groups of North-East India Solutions
Textual Questions & Solutions
Short Answer Type Questions
- Name the term used by the Garos for a bachelor dormitory.
Ans: Nokpante is the term used by the Garos for their bachelor dormitory.
- Name one of the important agricultural festivals of the Garos.
Ans: Wangala is one of the important agricultural festivals of the Garos.
- What is the primary source of livelihood of the Garos.
Ans: Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood of the Garos.
- What is the primary source of livelihood of the Mishings?
Ans: Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood of the Mishings.
- Ali-Ai-Ligang is celebrated by which community.
Ans: Ali-Ai-Ligang is celebrated by the Mishing community. It is an important spring festival associated with agriculture and the sowing of seeds
- In which tribal group ‘Buliang’ is an important social institution.
Ans: Buliang is an important social institution among the Apatanis. It functions as an informal council of clan representatives concerned with village affairs.
- Name the bachelor dormitory of the Ao Naga.
Ans: The bachelor dormitory of the Ao Naga is called Arichu (also spelled Ariju). The term Morung is also used more generally for traditional Naga youth dormitories.
- Name the state Apatanis are live in.
Ans: The Apatanis live in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Name one matrilocal community of North East India.
Ans: The Khasi are a matrilineal community of North-East India. Their traditional social system is characterized by descent through the female line.
Essay Type Questions
- Write down the name of the four states of N.E. India with examples of one tribal community of each state.
Ans: Four states of North-East India and one tribal community from each are:
(i) Arunachal Pradesh: Apatani
(ii) Assam: Bodo
(iii) Meghalaya: Garo
(iv) Mizoram: Mizo
- Who are Mishings? Discuss the agricultural practices of the Mishings.
Ans: The Mishings are an indigenous tribal community of Assam. They have historically been associated with the hills of the present-day Arunachal Pradesh region and later settled extensively in the plains of Assam. Agriculture is their primary occupation. They also rear livestock and poultry and traditionally practise fishing.
The Mishings are traditionally skilled in weaving. Mishing women are known for their expertise in spinning, dyeing, and weaving, and Mirzim is a traditional cloth associated with the community.
The Mishings practise plain or plough cultivation. Ahu rice is an important crop cultivated by them. Besides rice, they cultivate mustard, pulses such as black gram, and various vegetables. Their agricultural activities traditionally involve a division of labour between men and women. Women commonly participate in transplantation and weeding, while men generally undertake ploughing and other physically demanding agricultural tasks. Threshing may be carried out by women and, in some cases, with the help of buffaloes. In recent times, modern agricultural implements, tractors, and chemical fertilizers have also been adopted by some Mishing cultivators.
Fishing has also traditionally been an important supplementary activity among the Mishings. Traditional fishing implements include Zurki, Chaloni, Diradang, and Porang.
Ali-Ai-Ligang, the principal spring festival of the Mishing community, is closely associated with agriculture and the ceremonial sowing of paddy seeds.
- Name three tribal communities of Nagaland.
Ans: Three tribal communities of Nagaland are the Ao, Angami, and Lotha.
- Discuss role of ‘Morang’ in Ao-Naga Society.
Ans: In traditional Ao-Naga society, the youth dormitory was an important social institution. The boys’ dormitory was known as Arichu or Ariju, while Morung is a broader term commonly used for traditional Naga youth dormitories. The dormitory served as a centre for the education, socialization, and training of young people.
Young boys learned the customs, traditions, social practices, arts, crafts, folk music, folk dances, and other skills of the community. Thus, the dormitory played an important role in transmitting cultural knowledge from one generation to another.
The dormitory also had social and community functions. It provided a place where young men could live together, develop discipline, cooperate with one another, and prepare themselves for adult responsibilities. It also functioned as an important centre of community life and, traditionally, could serve defensive and communicative purposes.
Traditional Naga cultural practices, including folk songs, dances, oral traditions, wood carving, and other skills, were transmitted through such institutions. Important community announcements and warnings could also be communicated through the use of log drums.
Thus, the traditional dormitory system was an important institution for the socialization, education, cultural transmission, and organization of Ao-Naga youth.
- Write about the age grade system of the Ao-Nagas.
Ans: The Ao-Nagas traditionally organized young people into age-based groups associated with the dormitory institution. The boys’ dormitory was known as Arichu or Ariju and served as an important institution for the education and socialization of young men
Young boys entered the dormitory during adolescence and gradually acquired knowledge and skills appropriate to their age and social responsibilities. Senior members guided younger members and taught them the customs, traditions, discipline, arts, crafts, music, and other practices of the community.
The dormitory therefore functioned not merely as a residential institution but also as a centre of informal education and cultural transmission. Through participation in communal activities, younger members gradually learned the responsibilities expected of adult members of the society.
The age-based organization of the youth helped develop cooperation, discipline, social responsibility, and a sense of community. It also contributed to the preservation and transmission of Ao-Naga cultural traditions from one generation to another.
- Write a short note on the social organization of the Apatanis.
Ans: The Apatani social organization is based on clans, kinship, marriage rules, and traditional village institutions. The Apatani society recognizes the social categories of Mite and Mura, and clan exogamy is an important principle governing marriage. Traditional village affairs were managed through institutions such as the Buliang, an informal council of clan representatives.
Marriage rules include clan exogamy, while marriage between closely related persons is traditionally prohibited. Traditional Apatani society also recognized different forms of marriage, including arranged marriages and marriages based on mutual consent. Cross-cousin marriage was generally not a preferred form of marriage.
Residence after marriage has traditionally been predominantly patrilocal. Divorce is permitted under customary practice. Traditional inheritance generally gives greater importance to male heirs, particularly in relation to ancestral and landed property, although specific customary practices may vary.
The Apatani family is traditionally patrilineal in important aspects of descent and inheritance. Sons generally inherit the principal paternal property, while daughters have traditionally had more limited inheritance rights, although customary practices and legal rights have changed over time.
Thus, the social organization of the Apatanis is characterized by clan organization, clan exogamy, customary marriage rules, patrilocal residence, traditional inheritance practices, and village-level institutions such as the Buliang.
Additional Questions & Solutions
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Which state is known as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’?
(i) Nagaland.
(ii) Arunachal Pradesh.
(iii) Mizoram.
(iv) Manipur.
Ans: (ii) Arunachal Pradesh.
- The traditional youth dormitory of the Ao Nagas is called—
(i) Buliang.
(ii) Murung.
(iii) Morung.
(iv) Kebang.
Ans: (iii) Morung.
- Which tribe follows a matrilineal system of inheritance?
(i) Mishing.
(ii) Apatani.
(iii) Garo.
(iv) Ao.
Ans: (iii) Garo.
- Ali-Aye-Ligang is celebrated by which tribe?
(i) Khasi.
(ii) Mishing.
(iii) Lushai.
(iv) Ao.
Ans: (ii) Mishing.
- Which tribe lives in the Ziro Valley?
(i) Tangkhul.
(ii) Nyishi.
(iii) Mishing.
(iv) Apatani.
Ans: (iv) Apatani.
- Putu Menden is the traditional system of which tribe?
(i) Mishing.
(ii) Ao Naga.
(iii) Apatani.
(iv) Garo.
Ans: (ii) Ao Naga.
- The village council of the Apatani tribe is called—
(i) Nokma.
(ii) Machong.
(iii) Buliang.
(iv) Morung.
Ans: (iii) Buliang.
- Murung refers to—
(i) Totem in Apatani.
(ii) Bachelor dormitory in Mishing society.
(iii) Dance form in Ao tribe.
(iv) Festival in Garo tribe.
Ans: (ii) Bachelor dormitory in Mishing society.
- Who is the priest among the Apatanis?
(i) Gam.
(ii) Nyibu.
(iii) Nokrom.
(iv) Tatar.
Ans: (ii) Nyibu.
- Which community’s marriage types include ‘Datro Midang’ and ‘Dugla la nam’?
(i) Ao.
(ii) Apatani.
(iii) Garo.
(iv) Mishing.
Ans: (iv) Mishing.
- Who is Ane Donyi in Mishing belief?
(i) Harvest Goddess.
(ii) Creator.
(iii) Mother Sun.
(iv) Father Moon.
Ans: (iii) Mother Sun.
- What is the name of the Apatani balcony outside the house?
(i) Langkha.
(ii) Ugu.
(iii) Byago.
(iv) Uko.
Ans: (iii) Byago.
- What is the name of the Apatani altar/shrine?
(i) Mida.
(ii) Agyan.
(iii) Babo.
(iv) Morung.
Ans: (ii) Agyan.
- Who created the universe according to Ao folklore?
(i) Salong.
(ii) Nyibu.
(iii) Tsungrem.
(iv) Lichaba.
Ans: (iv) Lichaba.
- Who is the priest in Mishing religious ceremonies?
(i) Tatar.
(ii) Mibu.
(iii) Nyibu.
(iv) Gam.
Ans: (ii) Mibu.
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