Acculturation and Changes in the Society of Tiwa Tribe in North East India

Abstract

The present work plans to make a scientific study on the process of acculturation and social change in the society of Tiwa tribe leading to socio-political and cultural conflict. North East India is a multicultural region in its nature as well as character. People belonging to various tribes, castes, language, traditions and beliefs lives in the region since time immemorial. Cultural assimilation is a unique feature of the region. But in the process of this assimilation in the region many tribes are losing their original culture and some are in the process of cultural extinction which is leading to various socio-political conflicts in the region. In the tribal societies of North East India, the process of acculturation brings threats to lose of distinct identity, distinct culture and distinct languages among the tribal people.  These phenomena of acculturation can also be seen among the Tiwa tribe of North East. The people of Tiwa tribe are mainly living in Assam and Meghalaya. The Tiwas have large contribution for the formation of greater Assamese culture of the state. But in this process, it is often seen that large section of Tiwa people are dissatisfied with the process. Cultural change among them caused by some homogenous and heterogeneous factors itself has become a threat to the very existence of their own culture, tradition and languages. The process of this rapid cultural change was phenomenal in the present Tiwa society which often leads to loss of their own way of distinct cultural life and identity.