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Tribal
Societies In Chhotanagpur
The
process of acculturation started with the tribal societies' exposure
to external influence. They came in contact with Vedic culture
brought to the region by the zamindars (estate owners). The
term " acculturation" refers to those changes that are
set in motion as a result of the coming together of societies with
different cultural backgrounds. These changes come about within
the original cultural patterns of either one or both the societal
groups. The soft core of cultural matrix is more susceptible to
initial acculturation and, gradually more and more traditions, customs
and behavioural patterns are either supplanted or forgotten. Traditionally,
the Munda youth is not considered marriageable till he is
able to fashion a plough with his own hands. Similarly, the Munda
maiden should be able to weave a palm-leaf mat and spin cotton.
These traditions were linked to the sustainable development model
of agrarian economy. These are now no longer followed and are forgotten.
The arrival of Christian missionaries in the area accelerated the
pace of acculturation. The major thrust areas of their activities
were health and education. The European church culture and model
of development brought new cultural elements and behavioural patterns
into the life of the tribes. They found that 'development' is not
merely Nature's process but also involves human effort. Many discarded
the old lifestyle, particularly those who had access to educational
facilities offered by the Christian missionaries. They started looking
at their traditional animistic belief with disdain and disbelief.
This started the process of integrating the tribal societies into
the so-called "national mainstream". Its pace was and
continues to be set by the 'educated' and affluent members of the
community.
After Independence, several programmes for the benefit of tribal
communities were launched. Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation
brought these communities in contact with diverse cultural groups.
As a result, the traditional animistic beliefs are now considered
as the hallmarks of social backwardness. This pattern of acculturation
has moved these tribal societies away from their roots and distanced
them from nature. Its evidence is widespread in the entire Chhotanagpur
region. The sacred groves are shrinking as trees are felled with
impunity and without restraint. The land, water, wind and forest
sprits are no longer revered. The respect for birds and animals
are now considered unfashionable. Even the solidarity of totemistic
clans is gradually degenerating. Essentially, the acculturation
process is transforming a low energy-consuming society into a high
energy-consuming one though, during the last 50,000 years of human
evolution, an individual's physiological needs have not increased.
It still stands at about 2,400 calories of energy per person per
day.
Development is the key issue and it would remain so long as intelligent
human species, Homo sapiens continues to exist on his planet.
Development without adequate understanding of the basics of our
planet's resource base will lead the world as we know it today into
the abyss of disaster. All over the world, the people have again
started appreciating the sustainable livelihood practices of the
past and the significance of common property resources and their
participatory management. The sustainable economy of tribal societies
succumbed before the highly competitive economic strength of the
Western development model. Today, the tribal communities stand exposed
to this highly competitive world. They cannot remain isolated. The
process of acculturation cannot be halted. But ways have to be found
to reorient this process so that these societies are not rendered
rootless and their cultural heritage destroyed and consigned into
oblivion. While they take their rightful place in the emerging socio-economic
order, their cultural heritage should remain a vibrant part of the
socio-cultural mosaic that is India.
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M.K
Jamuar
Secretary,
WWF- India, Bihar State Office,
Ranchi
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