Field Notebooks
In these notebooks, I have recorded the ethnographic and qualitative data gathered during my fieldwork among the Hos and Mundaris in Singhbhum district, from 1998 to 99, as part of my PhD research project. The data have been collected using participant/direct observation methods, as well as semi-structured interviews and open-ended conversations.
The notebooks are organized by date and by household visited. Most evenings, I would write down some key facts and insights and possible analysis/interpretations of the day. Thus, they include both “raw data” as well as my interpretation of those data. Luckily, they can be traced back to the specific household or informant that “generated” them, so that researchers should be in a position to identify the anthropologist’s perspective and make better sense of the information provided. To this end, I would suggest using the PhD thesis as a reference to contextualise the information provided in the notebooks.
Household Survey
These 64 household surveys include data gathered from all households of the forested villages in West Singhbhum, Porahat area, inhabited by Hos and Mundaris, where I conducted fieldwork from 1998 to 1999. They are quite comprehensive as they include data about kinship patterns, social, cultural and religious practices, political affiliations, household and environmental assets, and economic activities, among others. These two villages offered the unique opportunity to observe the process of “caste formation”, through conversion to a Hindu sect and related changes not only in spiritual practices but also in kinship patterns and political affiliations. At the same time, the surveys also attempt to capture information about women’s successful resistance to such religious and social changes. Not all of them are complete. Some information is missing as it had already been recorded in the Field Notebooks
Ethnographic Videos
During my fieldwork, I recorded the following videos:
- Video about Pauri Ma worship by the Seraikella royal family during Dusshera in October 1998. The video also captures glimpses of the royal palace; cock-fighting among the local adivasi population; and the sacrifice of goats and a buffalo – hence some parts can be quite distressing to watch and especially to listen to. I would advise to turn the volume down during those scenes. As it was recorded at night, many scenes are pitch black unfortunately.
- Video about Ba: Parob, the flower festival, shot in the villages under study in March 1999. The festival celebrates the coming of the new year when the flowers of the Sal tree (Shorea Robusta) are ready to blossom. The youth of the village also use colors as the timing of the festival corresponds to the Hindu Holi celebrations.
- Two videos of a Santhali marriage, captured in the bride’s and the groom’s homes. Of particular interest are the bride price negotiations and the relationships, including joking ones, between the two parties.
Audiotapes
The audiotapes I recorded during my fieldwork captured the following:
- Two interviews about the “Jungle Andoloan” that emerged in Porahat area in the seventies from a political and ritual/spiritual perspective and current implications (Listen 🔊). Also, see Notebook 4 and Notebook 5.
- Songs and interviews with the pujari of the local Bodh/Shiuli dharom ( dated 9 December 1998 (Listen 🔊). Also, see Notebook 6.
- Songs and speeches by Birsaite leaders during the Birsa Munda festival held in May 1999 (Listen 🔊). Also, see Notebook 6.
- Interview with a local political leader of the Jharkhand movement (also called Birsa Munda!). Also, see Notebook 6.
- Mage Parob in the village under study: songs during procession to the sacred grove, ritual prayers by pujari, songs by community and old women, and some conversations (Listen 🔊). Also, see Notebook 1.
- Munda-Manki Committee Part-1 (Listen 🔊) and Part-2 (Listen 🔊). Committee proceedings and speeches local Mankis and Mundas which was held on 26th May 1999. Also, see Notebook 2.