05 Tribal Culture of India Module : 33 Industrialization and Tribe

Paper No. : 05 Tribal Culture of India Module : 33 Industrialization and Tribe Development Team Principal Investigator Prof. Anup Kumar Kapoor Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi Paper Coordinator Prof. Anup Kumar Kapoor Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi Rajnikant Pandey Content Writer School of Cultural Studies, Centre for Indigenous Cultural Studies, Central University, Jharkhand Content Reviewer Prof. A. Paparao Sri Venkateswar University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 1 Tribal Culture of India Anthropology Industrialization and Tribe Description of Module Subject Name Anthropology Paper Name 05 Tribal Culture of India Module Name/Title Industrialization and Tribe Module Id 33 2 Tribal Culture of India Anthropology Industrialization and Tribe CONTENTS OF THIS UNIT: INDUSTRIALIZATION INDUSTRIALIZATION IN INDIA INDUSTRIALIZATION AND TRIBE ANTHROPOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND TRIBE IN INDIA IMPACT OF INDUSTRIALIZATION ON TRIBE INDUSTRIALIZATION AND AFTER SUMMARY 1. LEARNING OUTCOME The focus of present module is to understand the Industrialization in relation to tribal people of India. The module in the beginning takes note of nature of Industrialization in country in different historical phases. After reading this module we will be able to assess both the positive and negative socio- economic impacts of industrialization upon tribal people. The module will also be able to high light the problems and challenges of tribes who are being marginalized because of industry. The module at the end will reflect upon recent conflict over natural resources which are going to affect the future of industrialization in tribal areas. 3 Tribal Culture of India Anthropology Industrialization and Tribe 2. INDUSTRIALIZATION Industrialization is a process of increased emphasis on mechanized production of goods and services through industry. In an Industrial society majority of the population work in factories and offices rather than domestic subsistence activities. The term industry refers to the organized activity and specialized division of labour among the participant in production process. In this sense industry could be used to refer to the archeological stone tool industry or to the present day fishing or agricultural industry as well. However, what we are going to discuss in this module refers to the particular kind of industrial development which started in Europe in 18th century and was called industrial revolution. It was directed towards large scale production of goods for commercial purpose. The use of science and technology in advancing human skill was basic necessity for this kind of industrial revolution. This phenomenon was new and capable of transforming the life of people in a greater scale. This attracted attention not only of economist but also social thinkers like Marx and Durkheim. They studied the impact of industrial economy on society and culture of industrializing Europe. These thinkers were skeptical of industrial transformation as they believed that it benefits the capitalists and alienate the working class. The industrialization by the mid-20th century becomes inevitable for achieving modern life style like west. For Anthropological purpose, Industrialization implies to the socio-economic changes arising out of industrial mode of economic production. Anthropologists inquire the impact of industrial economy on traditional subsistence economy and how it transcends the other aspect of culture. The early anthropologists have paid scant attention to the process of Industrialization as an economic activity affecting life of simple non-industrialized people. The Industrial Anthropology has developed as a field of inquiry in recent time and has directed its focus upon various dimensions of social cultural realities within the industrial set up. This field has extended its research priorties on studies of work culture in industry, labour relation and trade unions, issues of human resources and class dynamics in industry. The second important aspect is to study the impact of industry on external realties of society and culture. What kind of changes it brings to the traditional societies and whether these impacts have been positive or negative for the people. 3. INDUSTRIALIZATION IN INDIA India sub-continent has seen industrial growth from the ancient time. There are strong evidences of knowledge of weaving 1500 BCE. During the medieval period several large scale monuments were 4 Tribal Culture of India Anthropology Industrialization and Tribe built which provide the early glimpses of industrial progress of construction industry. The use of wood, stone, branze, bross, silver, copper, iron, dying, printing, ivory carving and pottery etc. highlight the industrial nature of regional past. The industrial revolution in Europe resulted in factories and mechanized production. The process of imperialism and colonization lead the foundation of commercial and later on industrial towns in various colonies like India. However a process of deindustrialization started in Indian subcontinent. The British industrial boom adversely affected the cotton and silk factories of India. From the 19th century onwards the British encouraged setting of factories in India. The most important among them was tea plantation in Assam. The establishments of cotton textile mills in Mumbai in 1854 and Jute Mills in Kolkata in 1855 were major industrial foundations. The mineral extraction based industries started to evolve during the beginning of 20the century. During the world war periods heavy chemical, ordinance and aircraft production started to meet the immediate requirements of war. Steel, sugar and cement industries were also established before independence. The major advancement in industrialization of country was possible only after independence in 1947. The government of India took mixed economy as its policy for five year planning model to embark upon the road of economic progress. Both public and private sector were involved in setting up industries to increase production. However agriculture remained major employer in economy till date. It was argued that to remain viable as country the nation has to increase the contribution of industrial sector in gross domestic production. In 1991, Government announced the new industrial policy to bring economic reform and liberalization in the country. The privatization of industries became a trend and foreign companies and investment started to come in the country. 4. INDUSTRIALIZATION AND TRIBE The industrialization has impacted the Indian populace and several studies have been conducted across the discipline to highlight the significance of industry for economy of country. However the country has a section of society, who was categorized as Tribe, has traditionally been dependent upon pre- agricultural mode of production and very lately learnt the agricultural activities. These people who have traditionally leaved in hilly and forested areas chose to earn their livelihood by practicing subsistence activities like hunting- gathering, fishing, pastoralism, shifting cultivation and sedentary horticulture. They survived on natural product available and relied on very few tools and instruments for economic production. 5 Tribal Culture of India Anthropology Industrialization and Tribe The land and areas where these tribes used to live were started to be identified as rich in mineral and fuel resources. These resources were primary requirement for the newly industrializing nation. The major industries chose to develop near mineral rich areas so that they can have access to these primary resources. This area also witnessed simultaneous growth of township and urban centers around the industry necessary for the living of workforce near the manufacturing site. The places were actively connected by roads and railways to facilitate easy transportation of goods to the market. This kind of industrial cum urban development has been central to the understanding of impact of Industrialization on tribes of India. Most of the researches which were conducted by anthropologists look at the twin processes and its impact. However there is separate literature to discuss the emergence of non-industrial urban center and its impact on tribes of India. Particularly in North East part of India there is very few industrial-urban centers. The urbanization in that area has been largely because of other reasons and has subsequent impact on tribal life. 5. ANTHROPOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND TRIBE IN INDIA Anthropologists have taken considerable interest in the study of industrialization as socio-cultural process and its impact upon the tribal population. The industrial anthropology as a specialization emphasizes the first hand fieldwork tradition to grasp the complexity of industrial life. Martin Oraon wrote one of the earliest paperstitled “A tribal People in industrial setting in India” in the book Structure and Change in Indian Society (1958) edited by Milton Singer to highlight the impact of industrial setup in Jamshedpur and its impact upon Santal people. In this study he deals with economic issues like labour recruitment and cultural issues like religion and marriage affected by industry. He later on published a book length inquiry The Santal: A tribal in Search of Great Tradition (1965) to discuss his findings in detail. This anthropological study also covers a historical depth of 60 years since establishment of TISCO in 1907 and gives detailed account of assimilation process impacting the tribal life. A M Kurup (1961,

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