Himalayan lepchas

A knowledge of the races, tribes and cultures is a prerequisite for an efficient administrative system and strategy of development.

Among the weaker and much less explored Indian tribes are the lepchas inhabiting the foot-hills of the eastern Himalayas in the Darjeeling-Kurseong Kalimpong-Sikkim region.

Picturesque as the region of their original habitation is, equally lovable, mild and attractive are the disposition of these lepchas.

They are born naturalists, and tradition bound, yet they experience peculiar cultural, economic and poli tical situations which are bound to find expression in their institutional frame-work, organisational pattern, cultural life and modes of behaviour.

The customs, manners, food-habits, institutions, religion and culture among the lepchas, and the process of change therein have been explored. here in depth.

The fact, that the lepchas are modernising and in the process of modernisation, they are detribalising, rather culturally vanishing, has not been quite understood.

In the wake of the cultural, lingui stic and political dominance by the virile Nepalese, the current Gorkha National Liberation Front's demand of Gorkhaland or Gorkhaland Council, the economic and religious domina tion by the Tibetans, and other alien influence, such as the missionary, where do the lepchas stand?

This book seeks to explore some

of these socio-cultural questions. Apart from the Anthropologists, sociologists, planners, policy makers and administrators, this book will evoke interest of all those readers who feel genuinely concerned about the deepening national issue and crisis in the sub-Himalayan region.