Lotha Entanglements

A Multispecies Ethnography - Nagaland, India. (2021 - Current.)

Entangled Worlds: a Rice Grasshopper makes a home in the Jhum rice fields, where old clothes make for scarecrows.

A grasshopper, or "Khomun" in Lotha, perches on the fibers of a plantain tree, while a "Bubba Gump Shrimp Co." T-Shirt swings in the background due to the wind. Farmers use older clothes to hang in their fields to keep birds away from the crops - as a "scarecrow." Insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, katydids, and mantis make up the multispecies assemblage of the Jhum rice fields. The grasshoppers are attracted to the fields due to an abundance of food, and many birds are attracted to the fields due to the crops, but also due to these insects. The grasshoppers are encouraged to be here - many are caught and cooked - while the birds can harm the crop in major ways.

entanglement

noun

uk /ɪnˈtæŋ.ɡəl.mənt/ us /ɪnˈtæŋ.ɡəl.mənt/

the action or fact of entangling or being entangled.

a situation or relationship that you are involved in and that is difficult to escape from.

"the entanglement of species, landscapes, and temporalities"

In this project, I explore the entanglement of species, landscapes, and temporalities within the Lotha tribe in Nagaland, India. Anthropologically, I am looking at multispecies assemblages in the community, and exploring a hunter's landscape in the plantationocene: evaluating the ecological, cultural, and political changes brought in the community with the arrival of rubber plantations. The multispecies assemblage in the Lotha world is fascinating, constituted by a plethora of non-human persons in the form of Pigs that founded villages, Wasps that steal food, and Draco lizards that hungry children turn into, to name a few. These are some ways of worldmaking in the Lotha world where the non-human world exerts its power on the hunter’s landscape.

Primary fieldwork for this project is based in the villages of Phiro and Totsu in Wozhuro Range, Wokha District, Nagaland.

FIELDWORK ONGOING.

Phiro Village, Wokha, Nagaland. September 2024.

Phiro Village, Wokha, Nagaland. February 2024.

(Above) Undoubtedly, the Lotha way of being has evolved considerably over the last century.

While most practices and artifacts from the past century have become obsolete, some villagers have preserved parts of their history, and some, such as the locally famous content creator “Chumpo Ramo” have dedicated their efforts towards documenting and preserving their ancestor’s cultures through clothing and other traditional practices.

Here, Chumpo Ramo poses for a portrait in a traditional Lotha attire under “the tree of corpses; and Chumpo Ramo emerges from his farm in a Headhunter attire at sunset.

A Lotha hunter poses with a British-made rifle from back during the British Raj.

Hunters work on preparing their guns and ammunition for a hunt near the forest, surrounded by monoculture areca-nut plantations and wild flowers. Here, a hunter grinds his pellets with some gunpowder before loading his gun.

A young hunter looks at a century-old Headhunting helmet adorned with a primate skull and fur.

(Above) With the formation of new “plantation villages” that were isolated from the rest of the towns and villages, vehicle batteries became common as a source of electricity in the early days. With permanent connections now, these batteries are now used to hunt fish.

(Below) Regardless of how hot it is in the fields, the women who work in them cover up with clothes that cover the entire length of their arms and legs, and also most of their heads. This is as a defense against mosquitoes, other insects, and sharp grass. The women usually carry a pullover or thin jacket with them to put on right before they get to work. These pullovers are usually very colorful, providing a vibrant sight in the fields. It is only when the women take a small breather that they pull up their sleeves for some cool.

(Above Left) A young girl helps her friend with her hair. To me, the friend tangling her hair into itself symbolizes the entanglements I’m attempting to explore.

(Above Right) A Lotha girl helps her aunt get rid of greying hair.

A member of the Village’s Development Board hands over old, unused register-books to children.

Lotha girl leaves a few caterpillars onto a tree to catch some sunlight.

Girl “listens” to the sound of the silkworm to determine if the caterpillars are ready to spin the cocoon.

(Above)

Silk:

Silkworm give an interesting insight into multispecies care and food systems in the Lotha worlds - into the entanglement of the two themes.

Lotha girl leaves a few caterpillars onto a tree to catch some sunlight.

Girl “listens” to the sound of the silkworm to determine if the caterpillars are ready to spin the cocoon.

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