Livelihood resilience in the face of the cultural assimilation of the Garo community in Bangladesh

Md. Shajahan Kabir; Radović- Marković Mirjana; Muhammad Shoaib Farooq

Authors

Md. Shajahan Kabir Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2200,
Radović- Marković Mirjana Hunnan Normal University, Changsha, China
Muhammad Shoaib Farooq Institute of Business Management, Lahore, Pakistan

Keywords:

Garo community, cultural assimilation, changing livelihood, llivelihood resilience

Abstract

This study was conducted on the indigenous Garo community living within the Madhupur areas of Tangail district and consisted of 180 sample households. The respondents through a sample survey with the help of an interview schedule and descriptive statistics to analyze data. Study shows that 114 couples have built their house away from the husband’s or wife’s parents, 46 are staying in the bridegroom’s house but are independent, 43 couples are staying in the bride’s house but are independent, 61 are living away from the bridegroom’s house. It is a major change caused by a change of religion. The author recommended that the specific lifestyle of the Garo population must be preserved through proper documentation and Governmental recognition. In addition, fostering livelihood resilience among the Garo community involves preserving cultural heritage, integrating ecological wisdom, and empowering individuals to navigate cultural assimilation.

References

Ahmed, K. (2009). Changing Patterns of Marriage and Cultural System of Adivasi Garo Community. Unpublished MS Thesis submitted to the Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Bal, E. (2000). They ask if we eat frogs: Social boundaries Ethnic Categorization, and the Garo People of Bangladesh. Netherlands: Uitgeverij Eburon Press Limited.

Banglapedia. 2006. The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh Edited by Prof. Sirajul Islam, Asiatic Society, Dhaka.

BBS (2022). Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh.

Bleie, T. (2005). Tribal People, Nationalism and The Human Rights Challenges: The Adivasis of Bangladesh. Dhaka: The University Pres Limited.

Burling, R. (1997). The Strong Women of Modhupur, Dhaka: University Press Limited.

Chowdhury, K.A.N. (2007). Residence, Gender and Power in the Garo Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka: University of Dhaka. Doctoral Thesis.

Kabir, M., Fahad, A. A., & Akther, R. (2022). BUILDING RESILIENCE AND IMPROVING LIVELIHOOD STATUS OF FARMERS THROUGH LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY FARMING IN CHAR AREA IN MYMENSINGH. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Resilience, Vol.5, No. 2, 41–57. Retrieved from https://jebr.fimek.edu.rs/index.php/jebr/article/view/81

Md. Shajahan, Radović-Marković M., (2023). Building Resilience of Fishery And Changing Livelihood Status of The Fishermen in Bangladesh, Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Resilience, (JEBR), Vol. 6, No.1, pp. 33–44

Khaleque, K. (1984). Social Change Among the Garos: A Study of a Plain Villages of Bangladesh. Canberra: Department of Prehistory and Anthropology, Australian National University, Australia (Master Thesis).

Partha, P. (2003). Biodiversity of Modhupur Tract. Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous knowledge (BARCIK), Dhaka. Playfair, M. 1998. The Garos. Delhi: D.K. Fine Art Press Limited.

Radović-Marković, M., Kabir Md. S., Jovičić, E. (2020). Gender and technology adoption among farmers in Bangladesh. International Review, No.3-4, pp. 12-29

Singh, R.K., Bhardwaj, R., Sureja, A.K. et al. Livelihood resilience in the face of multiple stressors: biocultural resource-based adaptive strategies among the vulnerable communities. Sustain Sci 17, 275–293 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01057-z

Tanner, T., Lewis, D., Wrathall, D. et al. (2015). Livelihood resilience in the face of climate change. Nature Clim Change 5, 23–26 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2431

Toppo, A., Rahman, M.R., Ali, M.Y., Javed, A., (2016) “Socio-economic Condition of Plain Land Tribal People in Bangladesh”, Social Sciences, 5(4): 58-63

Jannat, A., Islam, M.M., Alamgir, M.S., Al Rafi, D.A., Ahmed, J.U., (2021), “Impact assessment of agricultural modernization on sustainable livelihood among tribal and non-tribal farmers in Bangladesh”, Geo Journal, Springer Netherlands, Vol. 86, pp. 399-415

Nahar, A., Akbar, M. A., Biswas, J. C., Gafur, A., Uddin, M. F., Rashid, S., Mollah, M. A. M., Marma, M. S., Marma, T. M., Marma, A. S. S., Islam, M. K., Neogi, MG., Hamid, A., (2020), “Household demography and food security of Jhum farmers in Bandarban district, Bangladesh”, Journal of Applied Agricultural Economics and Policy Analysis, Vol. 3(1), pp. 8-14.

Afsar, M. (2019), “Food security status of indigenous people: A case of Chapainawabganj district of Bangladesh”, Journal of the EXIM Bank Agricultural University Bangladesh, Vol. 1, pp. 109-114