The Migrant Nepalis in Balurghat: An Account of Adaptation and Change

Abstract

The present paper is a brief descriptive account of the Nepalis in a cluster in of Balurghat town, the district town of South Dinajpur district. The Nepali households have migrated from various places in different historical periods in connection with their jobs and livelihoods. They have been living in an alienated kind of social situation, far from their own population and places of origin for generations. A long course of association and interactions with local Bengali speaking neighbours have left a permanent mark on their way of life or culture. The main observation of the paper is that despite accepting and adjusting with many cultural practices of the local dominant community the migrant Nepalis have retained their distinct cultural identity.