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ABSTRACT
The article is a modest attempt to shed light on the socio-cultural life of the Garos, one of the few remaining matrilineal tribes of the world holding a distinctive cultural tradition, of Garam Basti in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India. Emphasis has also been given to delineate the eccentric traditional aspects therein, some of which are typically unique to the tribe, and also to look at the trends of change. In addition, this article outlines some of the major anthropological features of the tribe. It is based on ethnographic method. The facts and findings presented here are mostly gathered through empirical field work with the help of participatory observation, interview, case study, group discussion and key informant interview methods and techniques. Besides, different relevant available research references have also been consulted. The abovementioned issues have been examined and discussed empirically and put the information in an organized and systematic manner.
Acknowledgments
My deepest sense of respect and gratefulness goes to all my respondents amongst whom the field work was conducted for the sake of this research. My heartfelt appreciation is also due to them for their spontaneous and active support and cooperation rendered during the time of field work and owing to which it is also my prime sense of duty to congratulate all of them.
Correction Statement
This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner. “Census Report of 2011.”
2. Ganguly, “Tribal Education and North East India,” 1099.
3. Sen, The Tribes of Meghalaya, ix.
4. See Sharma et al., Globalization: The Missing Roads of Tribal’s; and Panigrahi, “Globalisation and inclusive Development,” 25.
5. Playfair, The Garos, 7.
6. Das and Islam, “Psycho-Social Dimensions of Ethnicity,” 46.
7. Jalil and Oakkas, “The Family Structure and Cultural Practices,” 97.
8. Sattar, In the Sylvan Shadows, 164.
9. Dey, “Deforestation and the Garo Women,” 60.
10. Sangma, “Social Change of the Garos,” 342.
11. Sikdar, “Continuity and Change in Matrilineal Marriage System,” 130.
12. Chakma, Bangladesher Upojati O Adibashider Samaj, Sanskriti O Acharbabohar, 101.
13. Banerjee, Introducing Social and Cultural Anthropology, 243.
14. Jalil and Oakkas, “The Family Structure and Cultural Practices,” 100–101.
15. Jengcham, Bangladesher Garo Sampradai, 11.
16. Sonawal and Sarmah, “Rites of Passage,” 67.
17. Vidyarthi and Rai, The Tribal Culture of India, 273.
18. Hossain and Moinuddin, “Life-Cycle Rituals of the Totos,” 20.
19. Kasum and Bakshi, Customary Law and Justice in the Tribal Areas of Meghalaya, 116.
20. Ibid., 122.
21. Nongkynrih, “Land Relations in the Tribal Societies of Meghalaya,” 3.
22. Banerjee, Introducing Social and Cultural Anthropology, 244.
23. The village council of India.
24. Shishu Shiksha Kendra (SSK) is an alternative elementary education system qualitatively comparable with the formal primary schools (Class 1 to 4 standards). It is the initiative of the Government of West Bengal, India with a vision to universalize the primary education opening schools at every nook and corner of the province where all the children belonging to various economic strata not having access to the formal primary schools due to poverty, lack of sufficient schools or availability at easy reach, scarcity of space to accommodate all the children in the vicinity, and so on. It is less problematic as well as less expensive to open SSK than the formal primary schools.
25. It is a kind of developmental program initiated by the Government of India (GOI) in order to promote sanitation coverage in a movement approach to guarantee better health and quality of life for the people of rural India.
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Md. Intekhab Hossain
Md. Intekhab Hossain, M.Sc. (Anthropology), Ph.D. (Sociology), is Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, P. K. College, Contai, in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Dr. Hossain is a formerly Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Aliah University, Kolkata, India. His principal research interests lie in Tribal Studies, Study of Indigenous Knowledge, Study of Ethnic Groups, Minority Studies, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Area Studies, Inter-Faith Harmony, and Peace Studies.