Totos Of Totopara- An Indigenous Tribe In A Globalised World
Dublin Core
Title
Totos Of Totopara- An Indigenous Tribe In A Globalised World
Subject
Documentary
Description
Totos Of Totopara- An Indigenous Tribe In A Globalised World is a self-published, self-designed photo-video, multimedia book:
1- Spread across 185 pages and divided into 3 sections, it gives a detailed visual insight into the daily life, rituals, culture and traditions of the Toto tribe, including birth, marriage and death.
It also traces the changes in the Indigenous Totos’ due to modernisation, globalisation and acculturation.
2- It has exclusive videos about the tribe’s rituals, language, tradition, and culture embedded in QR Codes.
3-The project is well researched: includes journalistic, academic research and oral histories. It took about 8 years to compile the documentation into a photo-video book.
4-This is the first and the only photo-video book on the Indigenous Totos.
5- Dhaniram Toto, a senior member of the Toto community has been awarded 'Padma Shri' (one of the highest Indian civilian awards) in 2023 for his commendable work to give a script to the endangered Toto language. Traditionally Toto language has been an oral one.
His work on the Toto language has already been video documented in 2015 and is a part of this book!
6- This book also has an interview of the documentary photographer, Abhijit a.k.a. Eternal Happiness™ and his wife, Priyanka AR. This interview traces the entire 7+ years of journey of this project into making this photo-video book and a detailed hour-long video, divided into 7 chapters embedded in a QR Code.
About the Totos in short:
Totos are one of the smallest Indigenous tribes in the world. They reside in Totopara, a village sitting at the foothills of Himalayas along the northern border of West Bengal in India and Bhutan.
They were once on the brink of extinction, about 350 during India’s independence in 1947 and now, their population is estimated at 1,632 (2022 Census). Their native language ‘Toto’ is one of the critically endangered languages globally as declared by UNESCO.
The Totos are now embracing different facets of globalisation, some gracefully, some due to the force of the inevitable. A tribe that is trying their best to maintain a balance between the traditional culture and the allure of assimilation with city, modernity and a globalised life.
1- Spread across 185 pages and divided into 3 sections, it gives a detailed visual insight into the daily life, rituals, culture and traditions of the Toto tribe, including birth, marriage and death.
It also traces the changes in the Indigenous Totos’ due to modernisation, globalisation and acculturation.
2- It has exclusive videos about the tribe’s rituals, language, tradition, and culture embedded in QR Codes.
3-The project is well researched: includes journalistic, academic research and oral histories. It took about 8 years to compile the documentation into a photo-video book.
4-This is the first and the only photo-video book on the Indigenous Totos.
5- Dhaniram Toto, a senior member of the Toto community has been awarded 'Padma Shri' (one of the highest Indian civilian awards) in 2023 for his commendable work to give a script to the endangered Toto language. Traditionally Toto language has been an oral one.
His work on the Toto language has already been video documented in 2015 and is a part of this book!
6- This book also has an interview of the documentary photographer, Abhijit a.k.a. Eternal Happiness™ and his wife, Priyanka AR. This interview traces the entire 7+ years of journey of this project into making this photo-video book and a detailed hour-long video, divided into 7 chapters embedded in a QR Code.
About the Totos in short:
Totos are one of the smallest Indigenous tribes in the world. They reside in Totopara, a village sitting at the foothills of Himalayas along the northern border of West Bengal in India and Bhutan.
They were once on the brink of extinction, about 350 during India’s independence in 1947 and now, their population is estimated at 1,632 (2022 Census). Their native language ‘Toto’ is one of the critically endangered languages globally as declared by UNESCO.
The Totos are now embracing different facets of globalisation, some gracefully, some due to the force of the inevitable. A tribe that is trying their best to maintain a balance between the traditional culture and the allure of assimilation with city, modernity and a globalised life.
Creator
All Photos, Videos and Video Edits: by Documentary Photographer Abhijit a.k.a. Eternal Happiness™
Publisher
Self-Publication, by Abhijit a.k.a. Eternal Happiness™
Date
December 2021
Format
Hardcover, Magno Satin 150gsm, Sewed: Spine and Book
Book Item Type Metadata
Dimensions
23.5 x 25.5 x 2 cm
Number of Pages
A total of 185 pages (Including introductions and acknowledgements)
Number of images
164 still images + 13 videos embedded in QR Codes
Edition Size
First edition, Hardcover, 150 copies
Place of Publication
Oslo, Norway
Designer
Chief Designer: Abhijit a.k.a. Eternal Happiness™, Book Designer Advisor: Arne Kjeldstadli, Design Assistance: Priyanka AR and others
Editor
Copy-Editor: Krutika Behrawala
Printer
In Poland
ISBN
978-82-692387-0-9
Website
ehappinessvisuals.photoshelter.com
URL Link to project
https://ehappinessvisuals.photoshelter.com/index/G0000HVJTOE6QsdQ/thumbs
Where to buy
Please request your copy by sending an email to: totophotobookproject@gmail.com
Shipping Charges Are Extra from Toronto, Canada.
All copies ordered will be physically signed with a personal note to the buyer :)
Shipping Charges Are Extra from Toronto, Canada.
All copies ordered will be physically signed with a personal note to the buyer :)
Citation
Abhijit AA, “Totos Of Totopara- An Indigenous Tribe In A Globalised World,” Photobook Cafe Archive, accessed July 18, 2025, https://photobookcafe-archive.co.uk/items/show/1727.