Tribal transformation in Assam: A village-level study of Thengal Kachari tribe of Assam

This paper investigates how modern forces such as modernization, globalization and Information and Communication technology (ICT) are reshaping the socio-economic lives of the Thengal Kachari tribe in Assam focusing on four villages in Jorhat district of Assam. A mixed methods approach was employed and data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and secondary sources from 25 respondents in each village total of 100 respondents. In recent years the Thengal Kachari tribe has experienced rapid transformation due to new infrastructure, improved connectivity and increasing exposure to global networks. The Thengal Kachari tribe is one of the oldest Bodo group of the Mangoloid family. This tribal group historically inhabiting in a vast area of Assam, including Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, and Sonitpur. The study examines the changes in various areas, including education, health, economy, life style, culture, family system etc. The findings reveal the high mobile phone access, widespread perception of cultural erosion, and moderate ICT based income, declining of traditional practices basically among the youth. The Thengal Kachari experiencing socio-economic advancement together with cultural changes. These findings contribute to broader discussions on globalization, identity and tribal resilience focusing the need for culturally sensitive ICT and development policies.