VARIOUS SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES AND SANSKRITIZATION OF SARAK COMMUNITY: SOME THEORETICAL ASPECTS

The process of sanskritization can be seen in the changing religious and economic context even among the Sarak communities that once followed and patronized Jainism. The people of Manbhum i.e. Purulia, Bankura and adjacent areas of Sarak community with distinctive characteristics were forced to move away from their Jainism and assimilate into Hinduism in order to maintain their existence in the context of changing conditions and through this the process of sanskritization of this community began. Later, other communities followed various social norms to improve their place in the prevailing social system. As a result, if the people of this community follow the different social norms of other communities, the process of sanskritization is observed more and more in this community. Gradually, the change in the diet of this community can be observed, that is, along with the change in their position in the society, the individual customs and rituals of this community also change. Then the people of this community started a movement to improve their financial condition and take advantage of the preservation of the whole. As a result, the people of this community become interested in abandoning the previously followed religious customs, social norms and cultural traditions to improve their financial condition. As a result, the sanskritization of this community is clearly observed. Nowadays, the people of this community are more interested in their worldly development than their individual lifestyle, social norms and principles.