ABSTRACT
One topic worth exploring in Northeast India is the notion of tribe'. A sociological exercise on tribe would be productive, as it confronts the colonial definition of tribe. It will be a mine-field of knowledge: not just for social anthropology, but for other disciplines as well. If studied appropriately, it will be one of the most acknowledged contributions to social anthropology to come from Northeast India. Postulating an absence of a presence' strives to diagnose this deficit of active receiver and passive contributor. Social anthropology in Northeast India should be more reflective of local realities. Local terms and idioms from Northeast India should find their place in scientific discourse. Social science should promote localism rather than promoting universalism. The scientificity and authenticity of local terms, if properly treated, should be a part of syllabi and pedagogy. Local terms and idioms should make their entry into the texts and pedagogy of social anthropology.
