Interplay of Ethnic Identity and Acculturation in Marginalisation of Santals

By : Swagata Karmakar, Sonali De

Page No: 13-20

Abstract
Ethnic identity is a vital dimension of our social identity. Tribal people including Santals were made to leave their land and move to the hills and jungles in the face of Aryan invasion. They were not included in Aryan caste system and were called Ashura and Naushad. Their attempts to protect their identity faced another severe threat when Christian Missionaries tried to shape their cultural practices with puritan ethics. As a last resort they took up Hindu religious practices but failed to make a place in mainstream. Our ethnographic work attempts to make in-depth study of this marginalised community to understand the interactions of the factors like ethnic identity and acculturation. They are found to be still marginalised and socially underprivileged. Participation of the marginalised counterparts is often hindered by regressive practices deeply rooted in the mainstream. Intense analytical understanding of the marginalised societies is critical for successful development planning.

Authors
Swagata Karmakar : Senior Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta.
Sonali De :  Professor & Former Head, Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2026.21.01.2