India achieved its independence in 1947 from the British Empire. A major challenge following independence was the reintegration of the princely states and territories directly controlled by the British in mainland India. Among these challenges were issues like the Kashmir conflict and the integration of the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) into the Indian Union. The problems faced were not only political unification but also the complex cultural, social, and community-related issues arising from this integration. This volume, with a foreword by the first Prime Minister of independ­ent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, delves into the numerous challenges faced by the people of the North East. The author, a tribal activist, highlights and questions the concerns raised by local inhabitants, including issues related to materialistic objectives, dressing styles, customs, psycho­logical patterns, religious practices, and other cultural and social aspects of the region. This book is highly recommended for scholars, researchers, and students interested in studying the socio-cultural dimensions of North East India. About the Author Verrier Elwin (1902-1964) was a British based anthropologist, eth­nologist, and a tribal activist. He served as the deputy director of Anthropological Survey of India. He was a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy. He wrote several books such as, The Baiga; Folk-tales of Mahakoshal; The Kingdom of the Young; Gandhi: the Dawn of Indian Freedom; The Tribal Art of Middle India: A Personal Record; The Religion of an Indian Tribe; Myths of Middle India; India’s North-east Frontier in the Nineteenth Century, etc.