Throughout the 1960’s onward, local tribe communities in Northeast India has remained isolated from other regions, and has in turn received little coverage in academia. However, the photographic works of Ahmed Hossain and film works of Verrier Elwin capture rich details of tribal culture, including ritual practices, agriculture, and celebrations.
This project facilitated by UCLA's Dept. of World Arts and Cultures strives to survey and take inventory of two visual materials collections in Shillong, Northeast India that are at heightened risk in India's current political environment. The first, a photographic collection by photographer Ahmed Hossain, depicts the socio-cultural life of Northeast India's tribal communities between the 1960s—early-2000s. The second collection includes three 16mm documentaries by the anthropologist, Verrier Elwin who worked in Northeast India (1950s-60s). The materials help provide a detailed account of the ongoings of tribal life, which has been historically isolated from mainstream Indian culture.
