The Art of the North-East Frontier of India
Verrier Elwin, The Art of the North-East Frontier of India, Shillong: North-East Frontier Agency, 1959
xvi + 211 pages with numerous halftone illustrations and line drawings in the text, many full-page, 15 colour plates
10.7 x 8.6 x 0.8 in (27.2 x 22 x 2.2 cm)
Harry Verrier Holman Elwin (29 August 1902 - 22 February 1964) was a British-born Indian anthropologist, ethnologist and tribal activist, who began his career in India as a Christian missionary. He first abandoned the clergy, to work with Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, then converted to Hinduism in 1935 after staying in a Gandhian ashram, and split with the nationalists over what he felt was an overhasty process of transformation and assimilation for the tribals. Verrier Elwin is best known for his early work with the Baigas and Gonds of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh in central India, and he married a 13 year old member of one of the communities he studied. He later also worked on the tribals of several North East Indian states especially North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and settled in Shillong, the hill capital of Meghalaya.
In time he became an authority on Indian tribal lifestyle and culture, particularly on the Gondi people. He served as the deputy director of the Anthropological Survey of India upon its formation in 1945. Post-independence, he took up Indian citizenship. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed him as an adviser on tribal affairs for north-eastern India, and later he was Anthropological Adviser to the Government of NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh). His philosophy towards the north-east was partially responsible for its disconnect from the modern world.
The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1961. His autobiography, The Tribal World of Verrier Elwin won him the 1965 Sahitya Akademi Award in English Language, given by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.
The Art of the North-East Frontier of India focuses on the traditional art forms and artistic expressions found among the indigenous communities of the region. The book explores various aspects of their art, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, crafts, and other visual forms.
Verrier Elwin had a deep interest in the culture and traditions of the indigenous peoples of India and sought to document and preserve their artistic heritage. His work aimed to shed light on the unique artistic traditions of the northeastern tribes, providing insights into their symbolism, techniques, and cultural significance.
Given his background as an anthropologist, Elwin likely incorporated his observations and knowledge of the indigenous communities' social and cultural contexts into his exploration of their art. The book features detailed descriptions, illustrations, and photographs of the artworks, accompanied by Elwin's insights and analysis.
The book serves as an important resource for understanding the artistic heritage of the indigenous communities in the northeastern region. It contributes to the broader understanding of the diverse cultural landscape of India and the artistic expressions that have evolved within these communities.