Book Review | Living with Plants: Tribal Wisdom of Arunachal Pradesh
In a region where forests are not merely landscapes but living archives of culture, Living with Plants: Tribal Wisdom of Arunachal Pradesh arrives as a timely and deeply significant work. Authored by Momang Taram, Dipankar Borah and Egam Basar, the book stands out as one of the most comprehensive ethnobotanical documentations from India’s Eastern Himalayas.
Spanning 328 pages, the volume records 311 plant species traditionally used by the indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh. What makes the book particularly valuable is its careful balance between scientific rigour and lived cultural knowledge. Each species is presented with correct botanical identification, vernacular names used by different tribes, traditional applications, and clear photographs, making the book both a reference text and a visual guide.
The strength of the book lies in its respect for indigenous knowledge systems. Rather than treating traditional plant use as anecdotal, the authors situate it within a broader ecological and cultural framework—showing how food, medicine, rituals, housing, and even belief systems are intimately connected to plant life. The narratives reveal how tribal communities have long practised sustainability, often through customs and taboos that function as informal conservation strategies.
The foreword by veteran ethnobotanist Abhaya Prasad Das adds scholarly weight, emphasising the urgency of documenting such traditions at a time when rapid modernisation threatens intergenerational knowledge transfer. His assessment of the book as a “highly resourceful document” feels well justified, particularly given the decade-long field surveys (2015–2025) that underpin the work.
Unlike many academic ethnobotany texts, Living with Plants is accessible. Students, researchers, conservationists, policymakers, and even general readers interested in nature and culture will find it engaging. The thoughtful layout, strong photography, and inclusion of folklore and cultural context help bridge the gap between science and storytelling.
Funded by Worar Taku and published by the authors themselves, the book is more than a catalogue of plants—it is a cultural archive. At a time when biodiversity loss and cultural erosion go hand in hand, Living with Plants: Tribal Wisdom of Arunachal Pradesh serves as both documentation and reminder that knowing plants is inseparable from knowing people, place, and ways of life.
It is a landmark contribution to Indian ethnobotanical literature and an essential read for anyone interested in indigenous knowledge, biodiversity conservation, and the cultural landscapes of Northeast India.