Impact of Urbanization on ‘Horh’ People and Rosion of Majhi- Pargana, Hunting and Tribal Medicine in Shikar Dishom

Abstract

The article deals with the study of changes of Socio-Economic and cultural activities of ‘Horh’ (Santhal and other Tribes) as a result of rapid urbanization. It encompasses an extensive survey of the tribes’ dwelling places in urban, fringe and the rural settlements. The salient features include exploration of the physical and cultural background in the case study area. Composition of tribal families in 1951, Horh population growth rate during 1931 to 2001, Urban to Rural Tribal population ratio, the proportion of Horh people affected by urbanization in the study villages i.e. change of their tradition and culture after the urbanization etc. Major findings include:  Perceptible changes occurred in Socio cultural system of Horh like Majhi-Pargana system and Tribal Medicine etc. Urbanization and urban development are seen in Paschimanchal (W.B),Jamsedpur(Jharkhand) and Mayurbhang(Odisha) area i.e Shikar Desom of Horh people in India. The process of population growth in the urban area along with the commercial, industrial and transport preferment have favored the recent urban development throughout the areas. These have been accelerated with the overwhelming growth of population in urban areas through migration at acceleration and natural growth. These have given rise to systems of central places, problems of slums and squatter settlements besides enhancing the linkages of industrial centers thereby increasing the entropy of urban places. All these have forced the Governments to think about change in the urban policies, population policies and planning prospects. In Shikar Dishom Living standard, Educational and Economic condition had changed, they stand developed in all aspects but as a trade-off lost their socio-cultural composition a great deal. They must continue their positive traditional cultures and social traits to avoid the extinction in the long run from the memory of the future generations. It is possible only by the awareness to them. Aboriginal culture has many important things, which need to be preserved and have to continue as Indian culture in the context of sustaining beautiful diversity of Indian culture landscape.