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Stodpa Society of Lahul in the Himalaya: Household and Marriage

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Stodpa Society of Lahul in the Himalaya: Household and Marriage

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Specifications

	Publisher: Kaveri Books
	Author Tobdan
	Language: English
	Pages: 134 (Color Illustrations)
	Cover: HARDCOVER
	9.5x6.5 inch
	Weight 380 gm
	Edition: 2025
	ISBN: 9789386463814
	HBW091

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	Usually ships in 3 days
	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
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Book Description

About the Book sTod is located in the upper part of the Bhaga Valley in Lahul, Himachal Pradesh, and has a population of approximately 2,000. Agriculture, which yields only one crop per year, has been the primary occupation, alongside the rearing of sheep, goats, and other livestock, which contributes to a secondary source of produce. A part of the family, in search of some additional income, was always away from home, up towards Jangthang in the summer and down to Kullu in the winter. As the resources of the economy were extremely scarce, the society had adopted the strict social system of household. Marriage managed the entire socio-economic system and maintained control over part of the economy's consumption. There exists a long, ancient song, a remarkable literary work that was sung and performed at large weddings until recent times. On the introduction of modern means of development like communication, various measures of economic and social development, education, etc., the society began gaining economic strength. On this, the structure of the household, which propped up the delicate social structure since ancient times, shattered and fell down to the ground abruptly.

About the Author Tobdan (1944) belongs to Lahul. He is interested in studying about Lahul and the areas surrounding it in the aspects like their history, language, culture, etc. He writes in English, Hindi and Bhoti. His works relate to Lahul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Zanskar, etc. Some of his works are: Ancient Lahul and Himalaya, 2021; Mahakappina, the King of Kuluta and the Kinnaras of Himalaya, 2023; Historical Documents from High Western Himalaya, Lahul and the Areas Surrounding, 2024, etc. He has been associated with the Peoples' Linguistic Survey of India, Himachal Pradesh. He had been member of the Governing Body of the Himachal Arts, Culture and Language Academy, Shimla.

Foreword The small ancient society of sTodpa has been inhabiting the upper Bhaga valley, in the tough geography of the high Himalaya with the present population of about 2000 inhabitants. Agriculture, with only one crop in a year, had been the principal occupation. Besides it reared cattle like sheep, goats, etc. income from which accounted as the second crop. In order to further diversify the economic system, a part of the family, in pursuit of some additional income, remained always away from home, up towards Jangthang in the summer and down to Kullu in the winter. Despite the utmost efforts on the economic front, the resources available in the environment could not fulfill the normal requirement of the population. Thus in order to make its existence possible even in such a hostile environment it adopted the two pronged approach on the economy. It pursued multifarious activities on the side of production on the one hand and on the other it restricted the part of consumption. The society with this objective adopted the strict social system of household. Marriage managed the whole socio-economic system efficiently. As such it could live successfully for long time. Marriage was performed generously. There is a long ancient song, an excellent literary work, which was sung and performed in the big marriages till recent times. On the introduction of modern means of development like communication, various measures of economic and social development, education, etc. the society began gaining economic strength. On this, the structure of the household, which propped up the delicate social structure since ancient times, disintegrated completely. Presently the society is changing fast and thereby the ancient customs have their values diminishing and losing. It is directed towards merging in the vast sea of modernization, heading to no destination. sTodpa language is still spoken. It exists only in oral practice. There is no known tradition of writing in it. Only religions books in Bhoti are recited.

Introduction sTod constitutes upper part of Bhaga valley extending to about thirty kilometers in length. There are about twenty villages each having on an average fifteen households and each of them having about five members. the whole area inhabited roughly by about 2,000 persons. According to the Census of 2011 there were 372 households living in 19 villages and inhabited by 1738 persons. As a part of whole Lahul, excluding Chamba-Lahul, around the time of Independence, it constituted one kothi out of fourteen. This includes village Karing (Kwaring) which geographically, culturally and socially forms part of sTod but historically and administratively is accounted with Punan. In Lahul itself it is situated at the highest level at about 3,200m, comparable with Khoksar situated at the head of Chandra valley. Weather conditions here are harsher than in any other part of Lahul, land holdings are small, and fields are in small patches and are sloppy. Due to heavy snowfall in the winter only one crop can be grown in a year which too has to be irrigated fully. As such it is extremely difficult for the inhabitants to cater enough for their living. A person cannot sustain his life alone. It forms one distinct linguistic-cultural society settled in a compact geographical region. Although very small in size in physical terms, it contains all the essential features of a complete and developed society. It is an independent society and had been following a distinct social system for long past. It is a compact and complete social unit. It has its own language, religious system, distinct culture, festivals, marriage and death customs, some rules of social behaviour, administrative system because it had its own ruling chief, inheritance of literature of folk secular and religious traditions, etc.

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