Contested Resources, History and Epistemologies: The Lived Experiences of the Indigenous Forest Villagers in North Bengal
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Type
Article
Date
31-03-2023
Journal Title
Social Trends
Journal Editor
Roy, Sanjay K.
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of North Bengal
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Paul, M. (31 C.E.). Contested Resources, History and Epistemologies: The Lived Experiences of the Indigenous Forest Villagers in North Bengal. Social Trends, 10, 91–109. https://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/5052
Authors
Paul, Mrinalini
Advisor
Editor
Abstract
This paper argues that Adivasi and tribal studies in India
have been overshadowed by methodologies and ideologies bearing
heavy colonial underpinnings. In order to develop this discipline
further with sound epistemological base, it is necessary to engage
with methodologies of a more organic and post-colonial nature. This
paper uses the Adaptation-Negotiation-Freedom (ANF) framework
(Bodhi and Jojo 2019) to understand the historical and contemporary
critical events in the lives of the indigenous and Adivasi communities
of the forest villages of North Bengal. The ANF framework has been
developed contesting the predominant Isolation-Assimilation-
Integration (IAI) framework that arises from a caste society
understanding and defines the “tribal” as a residual category. The
larger significance of adopting such a framework, beyond academics,
is that these researches and data contribute to the policy framework
of the country. One of the reasons for the continuous socio-economic
deprivation and cultural dispossession of the tribal communities in
the country, in spite of various legal safeguards, protective legislations
and constitutional provisions, can definitely be attributed to the
epistemological injustice taking place. This paper is based on a
qualitative ethnography which places the researcher’s descriptions,
observations and the forest villagers’ experiences (mostly Rabhas and Oraons) in both the ANF and IAI framework, and finds that the former
offers a relatively authentic story of the micro socio-cultural politics
and narratives arising from the landscape.
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Accession No
Call No
Book Title
Edition
Volume
ISBN No
Volume Number
10
Issue Number
ISSN No
2348-6538
eISSN No
Pages
Pages
91 - 109