Comments on: Elwin’s Legacy

By: sachin

sachin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:47:56 +0000

@susie,

I am doing some research on Mr. Verrier Elwin. There is huge lack of information on Mr. Elwin’s life in Oxford before coming to India. Infact I am intersted to know what kind of childhood and youth days did he have, about family.. Would be kind of you if you respond @ my e mail id ‘bruise77@yahoo.co.in’, or leave a note here.
thank you

Sachin

By: Susie Elwin

Susie Elwin — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:55:25 +0000

No unfortunately not, I’ll try to get around to doing that soon. I have read lots about it, but haven’t had the time to find it and read it yet.
I feel like I’ve unearthed something bigger than I’d intended.

By: Kerim

Kerim — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:03:34 +0000

@Susie,

Did you read the Ramachandra Guha biography?

By: Susie Elwin

Susie Elwin — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 12:04:04 +0000

I am Verrier’s English relative (great-niece) and am studying Anthropology at LSE (1st year). I decided to do a presentation on Verrier as I knew nothing about him or his work & came accross the same article in BBC. I must say it was fairly crushing to read such a bad personal account. I really need to find some information on his approach / style to fit in with my assignment still and wondered if anyone had any info / quotes that may be useful? Our family has always had very mixed feelings about him, but I must say I still find him a fascinating character!

By: Kerim

Kerim — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:29:46 +0000

I am familiar with Guha\’s book. In fact, it is linked to in my post. I don\’t think Guha would support your assertion that Adivasis are not Indian. There is no need to disprove such wild unsubstantiated and racist assertions.

By: Robert Haokip

Robert Haokip — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 18:40:24 +0000

I think You need to read this book about Verrier Elwin Written by Ramachandra Guha. Savaging the Civilized: Verrier Elwin, His Tribals, and India. Co-published with Oxford University Press, India,1999.

By: Robert Haokip

Robert Haokip — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 18:24:47 +0000

Instead of just stating one’s comment as “obviously wrong” it would be more reasonable to defend scholarly by putting reasonable points and references.

By: Kerim

Kerim — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 07:16:45 +0000

Some things are so obviously wrong that arguing with them would be besides the point…

By: Robert Haokip

Robert Haokip — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 15:37:50 +0000

Verrier Elwin was a guardian against the onslaught and domination of the mainland Indians against the Northeast Indian tribals. These tribes are not Indian in any sense; by way of looks (they are mongoloid), culture, religion and philosophy. They have more affinity in all respects to Southeast Asians and their inclusion into India can be termed as “Historical Accident”.

By: girasol

girasol — Sun, 21 May 2006 05:25:20 +0000

it may seem less appetising but it also seems more interesting…..accomplished work way ahead of the standards of his time but also fell down, hard. there are no heroes, just real people. and in a larger context, the whole “native bride” phenom has never been measured, to my knowledge but it is a continuing shadow. from Pocahontas to Graham Greene? context is everything:)

By: Kerim

Kerim — Fri, 19 May 2006 23:58:16 +0000

Ozma: Your comment got cut off.

By: Ozma

Ozma — Fri, 19 May 2006 16:57:47 +0000

Sounds a bit like anthropologist Kenneth Good and his 13 year old Yanomami bride, although in that case the marriage ended with her running away from him rather than the reverse.

I can’t help wondering if