International Journal of Research in Social Sciences Vol. 9 Issue 4, April 2019, ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 Journal Homepage: http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gage as well as in Cabell‟s Directories of Publishing Opportunities, U.S.A The Historical Gage of Alexander : An Anthropological Dynamics Among the Highland Nomads Banita Behera* A continuous effort of disseminating the knowledge of profound cultural heritage is running since decades to strengthen the academic discipline of Museum Anthropology and to share the resources of ethnographic studies for a better research in the field of Anthropology. The noble idea conceptualised to develop a new paradigm of anthropological research that began with the plantation of a few species of experimental ethnographic research in Museums which will help to find the socio-historical roots in order to accomplish a strong outcome. Besides the diachronic and synchronic enquiries by Anthropologists the documentation of inter- ethnic interaction in the context of History and Anthropology for the quest of some new innovations are undergoing to help the human science to explain their historical movement and impact of other countries largely.Museums across the world have been undergoing major transformations endeavouring to become more relevant, reflexive and engaged beyond the repositories and exhibitions. Talking about the ethnographic studies by Museum Anthropologists in search for relevance of indigenous aboriginal are playing a major role now a day to talk about the inter global connections and to situate the important cultural roots among them to maintain the authenticity of Indigenous Peoples. This paper also tries to ponder upon the democratic values of a high altitude community who investigated by the author in order to express their effective link with past Alexander the Great/ Germans and now narrating their larger existential reality in Indian Civilisation. Thelong lasting impact of Alexander‟s invasion left great impact on the intellectual and social life of many communities of India, who are struggling for their identity now a days * Anthropological Survey of India, Zonal Anthropological Museum, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair-744101, A&N 1019 International Journal of Research in Social Sciences http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 and trying to safeguard their cultural heritage. This fieldwork was aimed to explore the effective historical link of the nomads through anthropological study and to highlight the empirical findings of the fieldwork which done during the ethnographic study. Keywords: Museum Anthropology, Historical Analysis, Ethnography, Culture, High altitude. Introduction: From prehistoric time onwards Anthropologist has gathered innumerable evidences regarding the close and intricate relationship between man and environment. In the studies of anthropology especially with the help of historical analysis with focus of anthropological dynamics we have the scope and capability to specialise on the studies of man-environment relationships.Because of certain inhospitable circumstances no much work have been done so far among the Brokpa tribes. This has resulted severe flaws in anthropological understanding of their origin and historical background as well as understanding of their Cultures. Mostly high altitude areas are confined to the Himalayan belt of Northern India. Except few regions of Nepal and Uttarakhand in most of the areas because of inaccessibility, no anthropological study was possible in the past. Because of this, we lack substantial data in the fields of border line migration, socio-cultural interaction and the continuity of social identity of certain high altitude communities mostly in the field of Anthropology. While continuing with the anthropological methodology to thrive within the framework of cultural evolutionism and ideological corollary certain questions raised in the mind of the researcher like. Why they claim themselves as the descendents of Alexander? Do they really belongs to the race how far the anthropological study with the help of historical evidences may lead to this truth? Why the anthropological dynamics creating intangible dioramas with the collections of their songs, myths and legends to narrate their historical migration and connection with the Macedonians? Taking into account the records of the Brokpas of Dah, Hanu, Bima and Garkone village of Kargil district, NorthenLadakh the ethnographic studies and anthropological pedagogical 1020 International Journal of Research in Social Sciences http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 functions regarding their ancestry were created lot of hypothesis by the anthropologists, historians and philosophers. The Brokpa living in these threatening areas are struggling to survive and their cultures as their place the public domain has been a long route. With the anthropological approaches the idea came to explore the possible traits and elements of Social Integration from the isolated areas of India and Pakistan to maintain peace, harmony and healthy socio-cultural and economic growth. Information pertaining to the range of data collected from Brokpa tribe of Tiger hills, and a sensible amount of arranged data from Kalash tribe, Gilgit, Pakistan made in contextualising the information to arouse a sense of respect to their historical bonding to affirm and preserve the elements of their cultural identity. The community of curators who concerns and who have established a prototype of their past historical tradition of Museology in their premise, now drawing light into the aspects of their historical migration from then to now with new experimental ethnographic studies. Besides the diachronic and synchronic enquiries, the inter- ethnic interaction in the context of Museum and Anthropology for the quest of some new innovations are undergoing to help the human science to explain their movement largely dealt with tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In this study an attempt made to explore the role of Anthropological and historical studies in finding out the new cultural roots of high altitude nomads through ethnographic research. The Brokpa : (people‟s designation as „Arayan‟)- In Dah-Hanu, Bima and Garkone villages.(8,000ft to 10,000ft altitude) As per their mythical stories and legends the Ladkh region was once home to the major population of Aryans (Drads).The word Brok means high pasture land and Brokpa means High-lander people. The community calls itself Minaro (meaning Aryan) , but arepopularly known as Brokpa. They are part of the Dards some of whom are found in isolated pockets ofIndiaare popularly known as Brokpa. This belief has been found somewhat true after the archaeological findings in the region. The 1021 International Journal of Research in Social Sciences http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 present-day population of the Mongoloid descendants can be attributed to the migration of their ancestors in the past. Human settlements in the Himalayas have also been highly influenced by topography and economic patterns. But climatic conditions remain the most important factor since extreme climate in the Himalayan region has always imposed restrictions on the living conditions and also restricted communication and movement. Gar Route map during L O C Tiger konDah- Hills Bia journey to Kargil e Hann mh By op HanuT u a a hangScrub uchanDumkha rUlekNurlaK Meeting point of SashaltsiNi Nimu 1233 m Rong Zanskar and pol L ZanskarCha 6 ft u Indus river dertreak (a e winter-trail) h The community calls itself Aryan, but arepopularly known as Brokpa by the local Ladakhis. They are part of the Dards some of whom are found in isolated pockets ofIndiaare popularly known as Brokpa.They main source of income lays mainlywith the sale of the goat wool that is used to make the famous Pashmina wool.Some data explored and arose some queries that historically people‟s migration from far off places and to develop adaptation to such high altitude regions. From the contemporary study of culture through the documentation of some cultural roots related to their livelihood systems and their associated socio-cultural institutions, forced to enquire their historical past which leads some fact which can explain their background connected with Alexander the great. While enquiring about the past historical tradition, the reasons and purposes of migration will be also made very clear for the explanation of the current situations and leads to a new paradigm. 1022 International Journal of Research in Social Sciences http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 From the pilot survey it has been very interestingly gathered that as per the people‟s version in the north-western part of Himalaya the community said to be descendants of Alexander, the Great, usually inhabit a contiguous area maintaining some sort of socio-cultural interaction as well as integration. While enquiring about community depending upon the same surrounding environment, several interesting dimensions crop up for this anthro-historical study. The interesting dimension which leads to annewanthropological dynamics with association of historical