%E2%80%9CTribe%E2%80%9D is an administrative category in India comprising some 100 million people. Politically and academically it is a contested concept. When it comes to the tribal people of India a lot has been written about their alleged backwardness and about politics, much less about their cultures based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork. Our three-fold focus will be the study of tribal cultures, how ethnographic fieldwork has been and can be done and how it can be discussed and recorded. We will, firstly, present and discuss the worldviews, rituals and social forms of selected Indian tribal societies. Second, we will discuss the complex process of doing fieldwork, its modes, challenges, chances and problems. Finally, we will reflect on how to write about these cultures and our experience with these cultures. Four anthropologists will present their work and discuss the three aspects above with the students. Piers Vitebsky (Cambridge) started his work among the Sora in the 1970s. His book Dialogues with the Dead is perhaps the foremost modern ethnography of an Indian tribal community describing the way the Sora engage with their dead in eloquent and prolonged dialogues via shamans. Visiting the Sora area over 40 years Vitebsky documented radical change in this society, namely the conversion to Christianity and the pressure of Hindu nationalism that fundamentally altered the former shamanic practices. His new book on these transformations will be out by the time of the summer school. Vitebsky also reflected extensively on %E2%80%9Cdoing ethnography%E2%80%9D and he published in various writing styles. In contrast to this experienced fieldworker, Lea Schulte-Droesch (Groningen) is about to complete her PhD on ritual and place-making among the Santal, one of the most numerous tribes of India. Her very recent fieldwork and writing experience will provide an additional perspective to our discussions. Erik de Maaker (Leiden) has conducted fieldwork among the Garo of Northeast India. His book Negotiating Life is mainly about their death rituals and the intricate ways social relationships are involved, manifested and transformed in these ritual processes. Currently he is very concerned about alternative ways of writing ethnography and he is considering to re-write his book. Peter Berger (Groningen) did intensive fieldwork among the Gadaba of Odisha. His book Feeding, Sharing, and Devouring is in press at the moment, in which he discusses the whole ritual system of this community. As the title shows, metaphors and practices of eating are at the heart of the ritual processes that, as in the other cases, actually %E2%80%9Cmake%E2%80%9D these societies. He also has been concerned with the methodology of ethnography, especially with the role of emotions in the field. During the first four days of the summer school we will discuss these tribal cultures, and doi ng and writing ethnography. On the final day a student conference will be held where students (who will have been selected previously on the basis of the abstracts they have submitted) can present their research projects or plans. The summer school is intended for MA or PhD students who are interested to do research in such a society or who have actually already started.

Course leader
Dr. Peter Berger - University of Groningen

Target group
(Research) Master, PhD and Postdoc, who are interested to do research in such a society or who have actually already started.



Credits info
3 ECTS Upon completion of the programme the participants will receive 3 ECTS and a certificate of attendance.

Fee info
EUR 250: The fee of 250 includes:Participation in the programme Course materials Coffee, tea and refreshments Concluding dinner City tour and welcoming reception Certificate

Scholarships
We strongly encourage students from India to participate in the summer school. Last year 50% of the students were from India and they greatly contributed to our discussions. In order to enable students from India to participate we offer two full schol

University of Groningen
Address: Broerstraat 5 Groningen
Postal code: 9721 CP
City: Groningen
Country: Netherlands
Website: http://rug.nl/summerschools
E-mail: summerschools@rug.nl
Phone: 0031 6 28216256