Role of Modernization Process in the Life Style of Santal Community in Bangladesh: A Case Study of a Village in the Barind Tract

Abstract

Ethnic communities are an integral part of our civilization. Yet there are differences with the mainstream population in resisting change. With the Passes of time, modern technology causes identical changes m these ethnic communities. Especially in their culture. Changes in the ethnic or indigenous population of Bangladesh began in the post-colonial period and are the result or industrialization and modernization. The present research entitled "Role of Modernization Process in the Life Style of Santal Community in Bangladesh: A Case Study of a Village in the Barind Tract'" has been conducted with a major objective to find out the Modernization role in changing life styles in the Santal community. As a backward, minor and aboriginal people, the Santal preserve some specific cultural trait and different social norms and values of their own. But culture is a dynamic thing and it changes through various intervening factors. However, we often remain in dark and remain beyond our knowledge what sorts of change or attainments have been occurred in their socio-cultural life during the last one and half century in Bangladesh. It is an important job to assess their attainments and problems for bringing positive and desired change in their socio-cultural life. The Changes that took place in the culture and lifestyle of the Santals during the colonial period were mainly because of their conversion to Christianity and involvement in the urban workforce. But there is no doubt that changes continued to take place in the language, culture and other spheres of the society even in the post colonial era. The Santals are bound to pick up aspects or Bengali culture to adjust with the process of Modernization. But the bengalis are not inclined to practices and incorporate the life style of the Santals. It should be noted that although much modification took place among the Santal people, there was little or no involvement of the state. The only step that was taken was the establishment of a cultural institute to look after language and culture of all the ethnic communities. Regrettably, a very little cultural life of the Santals highlighted in the mass media. In Bangladesh, although a decision had been taken about five years back to allow ethnic community people to obtain primary education in their own (mother) language; which is yet to be implemented. As it is obviously observed that dependency on nature and way of living has been changed drastically through it has failed to ensure their socio-economic security and cultural integrity. This thesis has eight chapters in all. Chapter one introduces the Santals in the Broad Bangladesh ethnic Scenario besides providing the theoretical framework, aims and objectives of the study. in the second chapter regional background of the Barind area especially Barind Tract location and its brief history, ethnic communities short discussions, environment and ecology, agricultural activities of this tract are described. In fact the mode of production determines the nature of the changes in basic structure of a society as well as in the super structure. As it has been found among the Santals socio-cultural life. the occupation and changed economic source have brought a drastically been presented in a cultural life. These important things have analytically changed in their cultural life. These important things analytically been presented in a separate chapter. The Chapter four deals with the structure and dynamics or Santal kinship, family and marriage by focusing on the field area where the individuals manipulated the structural roles given to them and bring out the organizational dynamics. The details include the rule of descent, interpersonal relationship, and rules of marriage, divorce, structure and functions or the family. The chapter five identifies the place of supernatural in 'Santals' life today and chapter six modernization impacts are discussed. The discussion on the political system of the Santals life and the emerging issues of •identify• have been covered in the next chapter. Finally, the structural continuities and the organizational changes have been analyzed in chapter eight. in doing so both historical and empirical data was used; historical data was mostly collected from secondary sources, such as published books. Census reports, journals, articles and souvenirs. Empirical data has been gathered from intensive field work, through oral histories, informal interviews and case study methods. The field investigation was conducted in a particular village; Joykrisnapur, Ghodagari, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.