• Himashree Sarma

Even though tribal communities are seen as vulnerable to outside influences, their naturally inhabited remote locations can also be seen as keeping them away from mainstream narratives rendering a feeling of indigeneity of their cultures, beliefs, rituals, and norms. Most of the academic literature on tribes focuses on the western concept of indigenous people, which is not a universal understanding of their identity. If one looks at the tribes of the hills and the plains in Assam, the socio-political and cultural changes over the years are evidently visible which has impacted their age-old traditional and aesthetic way of life. This paper is an attempt to understand the tribal identity of one such ethnic community, i.e., the Karbis who are located in the Borbari region of Guwahati city (Kamrup Metro district) and better identified as Karbis of the plains. The paper is based on a qualitative research study conducted amongst the Karbis of this particular region who exists in cohabitation with the Assamese people. It will focus on understanding the various aspects of their culture with reference to their religious life along with certain other features of their community such as dress, food habits, village structure, and the process of transformation since their settlement in this particular area. It will also explore the conceptual analysis of such alterations which presents a discourse of their indigenous identity as well as the process of negotiation with their neighbours over the years.

Acculturation, Cultural change, Karbis, Social change, Tribal identity, Tribes of Assam

"Karbis: Changes in the socio-cultural life", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 12, page no.a674-a682, December-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2112080.pdf

"Karbis: Changes in the socio-cultural life", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 12, page no. ppa674-a682, December-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2112080.pdf