Hills and valleys of the Himalaya are an anthropologist's wish come true. Of the various tribes that inhabit the mystical heights and downs of the Himalayas, Lepchas stand apart as an interesting subject of study. The lepchas of Sikkim is the product of on-the-sport study done by the author. Though belonging to Mongoloid ethnic group. The Lepchas are so sharply different from their eastern counter parts like the Bhutanese, Deflas and Akas or from the western neighbours such as the Gorkhas who as group are known for fiery countenance and aggressive character Lepchas surprisingly are en exception. They are marked by traits like absence of aggressiveness, obsession with sex and optimistic character. And this is what that marks the Lepchas look unusual, looked in the light of popular beliefs about the tribal way of life swashbuckling people having squirmishes at slightest provocation. The author, being amongst the Lepchas for considerable time observing and studying different phases of their life, has taken studious pains to gather all available information, assimilated and put it congently into an immensely readable text. Good number of plates and illustrations used have only enhanced its usefulness. Really a boom for all interested in knowing more about the Himalayan tribals, particularly for those engaged in their serious study.

This book is about cultural politics and the quest for identity of two marginal communities of Sikkim and Darjeeling – the Lepcha and the Mangar. Sharing insights into the knowledge, aesthetics, aspirations and dreams of two marginal communities who have been innovatively and differentially appropriating ‘culture’ to exploit the politics of difference, it is a narrative about their ethno-cultural consciousness, notions of identity and anxieties over being minority communities in a pluralistic democracy. The narrative is essentially presented in the form of a field-trip diary, with observations and comments which try to situate the issues within a larger perspective. Based on two years of intensive field study, the book chronicles the endeavour of these two communities to reclaim their cultural past, and forge an identity that would ensure material security, self-esteem, dignity and also the fruits of ‘modernity’. The book will be useful to scholars and students of anthropology, sociology, politics and history, especially those engaged in the study of culture and ethnicity in the Eastern Himalayan region.

This is a popular account of a six-months stay among the Lepcha, a relatively unacculturated group living in northeastern India on the Tibetan border. The book is loosely organized, being divided into separate parts: Introductory and Historical, The People, Magic and Spells, Family Life, Sex, Festivals, and a Conclusion with a chapter on economics.