Illustrating the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Santhals and Kuki: Pushing the Boundaries of Knowledge Sharing in the Era of Technology

Abstract. By focusing on both Kuki and Santhal's intangible heritage, the paper offers holistic insights into how these communities navigate the transfer of their cultural knowledge, which further ensures that these traditions remain a dynamic force bridging all spheres of life. Through an anthropological perspective, the paper highlights the contextual understanding of the meaning-making process, a framework rooted in decolonization, and captures intangible practices with case studies related to festivals documented during the fieldwork among the Santhals and the Kukis. It attempts to reflect how cultural identity is constructed and reinforced through multisensory, performative expressions and how heritage, when intertwined with the digital revolution, offers immense possibilities to preserve heritage. As the body becomes dynamic, the focus shifts from the body as it intersects with the machine, substituting the role. Further, it discusses how digital tools from smartphones to virtual and augmented reality, GIS, and 3D Scanning facilitate both preservation and transformation of cultural knowledge, foregrounding community-led efforts to reclaim narrative agency and identity. The paper ultimately argues that effective knowledge sharing today necessitates a negotiated continuum between continuity and change where the body and the digital converge, that is ethically grounded and culturally situated. Ethical concerns surrounding digital representation and participation are addressed, alongside a call for immersive technology, culturally responsive approaches to preservation, including VR-based oral histories and blockchain-enabled tribal archives, and many more. It calls for an interdisciplinary and situated approach to digital heritage and anthropological knowledge production.