Attachment to Shifting Cultivation among Konyak Naga Tribe in Eastern Himalaya:Choice or Compulsion?

Community attachment to places or practices and the cultural contexts of tribes are subjects of long traditions of research. A few studies, however, have extended these traditions into increasingly marginalized areas located beyond historically deprived upland communities. This study addresses issues related to the sentiments of attachment and constructions of place among the low-income Konyak Naga tribe in Nagaland, situated on the outer fringes of the Eastern Himalaya. Using four-dimensional model proposed by Raymond et al., with factor analysis, the study revealed that in addition to socio-economic factors that affect such connection to land and landscape, place dependence construct (lack of alternate livelihood) is observed to be the most important driver of attachment to the practice of shifting cultivation. This was followed by strong connections with the natural environment or nature bonding of Konyak Naga to the forest. Contribution of economic and traditional institution- bonding with the practice was found among the tribe as a means of livelihood. Sensing that such debate of the socio-spatial environment might be perceived as inconsistent, ill-informed and negative, we discuss implications in relation to cultural diversity and broader concerns about evolving rural poverty.