“a lost classic of the ethnographic village studies genre” — Dr Richard Axelby

Explore the captivating world of Malana through the lens of Colin Rosser’s seminal work, ‘Malana: the Political System of a Himalayan Community.’ Originally presented as a PhD dissertation in 1956 at the SOAS, University of London, this book unveils the intricate social and political fabric of Malana, a ‘hermit’ village in the Himalayas.

Rosser’s thorough exploration, based on twenty-one months of fieldwork between 1951 and 1952, challenges stereotypes associated with the then isolated community of Malana. His initial impressions, published in 1952, hinted at Malana’s uniqueness, but it is his comprehensive PhD thesis, unpublished until now, that provides a rich tapestry of empirical details. This long-awaited publication, now made accessible with help from Colin Rosser’s sons, Jon and the late Vivian Rosser, is “a lost classic of the ethnographic village studies genre”.

The book offers readers a profound appreciation of Malana, dispelling romanticized images and negative stereotypes while unveiling the village’s contradictions and complexities. It stands as a timeless contribution to anthropology, providing a baseline against which development can be measured and offering a nuanced understanding of a community managing change within the broader context of the world.