Echoes of Existence, Identity and Socio-political Past: A Critical Ethnography of Santhal Community of Morang district of Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajahs.v5i2.6458Keywords:
Ethnography, Indigenous Community, Life hi(stories), Lived Experiences, MarginalizationAbstract
Santhals, an indigenous community in the Terai districts of Nepal, including Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari (Bhattarai, 2012; Siwakoti, 2013; Rai, 2021). This paper explores the socio-political history and their effects on existence and identity of the Santhal community at Urlabari Municipality of Morang district in Nepal. This study applies qualitative approach with critical ethnography as a methodological road map to dig into the life hi(stories) and lived experiences of the participants. The vignettes and anecdotes from the field participants are used as analytical tools to represent the interpretation of the life hi(stories) and lived experiences as field texts gathered through interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations and key informant interviews. Santhals are extremely marginalized indigenous group who are struggling for the better existence and identity. This indigenous group fell victim of vicious behavior of the later immigrants (outsiders) during the early period of immigrant settlement in the area which has caused adverse effect in their survival and identity.
This research argues that the later immigrants in the area shattered the research participants’ existence and identity by taking advantage of their illiteracy and lamblike character. The malicious actions of the later immigrants and lack of self-awareness caused loss of their land assets. Consequently, they are living under extremely marginalized conditions struggling for their better existence and identity at present. By focusing on their life histories and lived experiences, this study sheds light on the Santhal community’s sufferings and resilience in their existence and identity.
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