Ethnic Identity among the Bangrus Ethnic Identity among the Bangrus of Arunachal Pradesh, Indiaof Arunachal Pradesh, India

Tame RamyaPh.D. Scholar

Department of AnthropologyRajiv Gandhi University [A Central University]

Rono Hills, Doimukh - 791112, Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Email: tameramya@rediffmail.com

Introduction:Introduction: Identity is among the fundamental issues in sociology or Identity is among the fundamental issues in sociology or

social anthropology which has been of interest of many social anthropology which has been of interest of many researchers and sociologists/anthropologists in recent researchers and sociologists/anthropologists in recent times.times.

Therefore, the present paper is conducted among Therefore, the present paper is conducted among Bangru people of Kurung Kumey district in Arunachal Bangru people of Kurung Kumey district in Arunachal Pradesh in order to examine the factors which effect on Pradesh in order to examine the factors which effect on ethnic identity.ethnic identity.

The question is: which one of these effective social The question is: which one of these effective social factors has the most correlation with inclination toward factors has the most correlation with inclination toward Bangrus’s ethnic identity? In this regard, relative Bangrus’s ethnic identity? In this regard, relative deprivation theory is applied to evaluate and examine deprivation theory is applied to evaluate and examine the issue.the issue.

Theoretical Views:Theoretical Views:

Ethnic identity is a multiple dynamic concept that Ethnic identity is a multiple dynamic concept that includes the correlation sense of people with their includes the correlation sense of people with their ethnical group and their knowledge about their ethnic ethnical group and their knowledge about their ethnic backgrounds (Korenmo, 2004).backgrounds (Korenmo, 2004).

On the other hand as Finni (2003) states, “ethnic identity On the other hand as Finni (2003) states, “ethnic identity is a multiple dynamic concept and refers to a person’s is a multiple dynamic concept and refers to a person’s feeling towards himself as a member of an ethnic group”.feeling towards himself as a member of an ethnic group”.

Thus, the concept of ethnic identity is related to inter-Thus, the concept of ethnic identity is related to inter-ethnic contacts, and describes the cultural and ethnic contacts, and describes the cultural and psychological changes that are the result of continuous psychological changes that are the result of continuous contact among people who belong to different cultural contact among people who belong to different cultural and ethnic groups.and ethnic groups.

Relative Deprivation Theory:Relative Deprivation Theory: In this theory two factors play an essential role: the first In this theory two factors play an essential role: the first

factor is “feeling relative deprivation” which causes self-factor is “feeling relative deprivation” which causes self-dissatisfaction among ethnicity and internalizes it. This dissatisfaction among ethnicity and internalizes it. This sense stimulates ethnic mass as a deprived collection sense stimulates ethnic mass as a deprived collection against privation and enumerates their ethnic ensemble against privation and enumerates their ethnic ensemble as the main reason of privation.as the main reason of privation.

The second factor is “the elite”. They create an ethnic The second factor is “the elite”. They create an ethnic patriotism by using symbols, feelings, religion, culture, patriotism by using symbols, feelings, religion, culture, history, and language, hiding themselves behind history, and language, hiding themselves behind ethnicities. ethnicities.

The relativeness of deprivation is a sign of The relativeness of deprivation is a sign of differences in values, status, and goods & services differences in values, status, and goods & services among ethnoses.among ethnoses.

The Research Method:The Research Method:

Statistical universe of this study consists of Statistical universe of this study consists of Bangru youth (above 18 years of age) of Bangru youth (above 18 years of age) of Sarli Sarli circle in Kurung Kumey district, Arunachal circle in Kurung Kumey district, Arunachal Padesh.Padesh.

The sample of 280 respondents were pick from The sample of 280 respondents were pick from some selected Bangru villages for the study.some selected Bangru villages for the study.

The amount of the sample is based on the The amount of the sample is based on the population of each village.population of each village.

The research method in this study is done The research method in this study is done through survey method where the questionnaire through survey method where the questionnaire method was used for collecting data.method was used for collecting data.

Study Area:Study Area: The study was conducted among the Bangrus, a frontier The study was conducted among the Bangrus, a frontier

ethnic community in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal ethnic community in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh who inhabited geographical belt shares a ‘hard Pradesh who inhabited geographical belt shares a ‘hard international border’ with Tibet (China) in the north international border’ with Tibet (China) in the north (Figure 1). (Figure 1).

Variables and Concepts Definition:Variables and Concepts Definition:

Ethnic IdentityEthnic Identity Ethnic identity is a collection of people who Ethnic identity is a collection of people who

have identical historical domains, common have identical historical domains, common historical memorials and myths, and also the historical memorials and myths, and also the same general-economic culturesame general-economic culture

Generally, ethnic identity is defined as the Generally, ethnic identity is defined as the certain population units whose domains are certain population units whose domains are considered as their motherland in which considered as their motherland in which they have common general culture and they have common general culture and enjoy reciprocal legal right. enjoy reciprocal legal right.

Relative DeprivationRelative Deprivation As Gidnez (1997) says, relative deprivation consists As Gidnez (1997) says, relative deprivation consists

of the way people assess themselves and it of the way people assess themselves and it depends on the fact that to whom they compare depends on the fact that to whom they compare themselves. themselves.

So, relative deprivation is not in line with the extent So, relative deprivation is not in line with the extent of poverty people experience. As a result those who of poverty people experience. As a result those who deal with men of wealth may feel the pressure of deal with men of wealth may feel the pressure of deprivation more than those dealing with destitute. deprivation more than those dealing with destitute.

Paul Brass (1991), on the other hand, defines Paul Brass (1991), on the other hand, defines relative deprivation as a kind of imbalance between relative deprivation as a kind of imbalance between living conditions and living facilities of people who living conditions and living facilities of people who consider themselves entitled to enjoy those facilities.consider themselves entitled to enjoy those facilities.

Feeling DiscriminationFeeling Discrimination It is defined as making a difference among It is defined as making a difference among

people because of their ethnicity, education, people because of their ethnicity, education, income, power, status, etc. income, power, status, etc.

Ethnic discrimination can be distinguished Ethnic discrimination can be distinguished from other kinds of discrimination because from other kinds of discrimination because in this type of discrimination, people are in this type of discrimination, people are deprived from social opportunities just due deprived from social opportunities just due to their membership in certain ethnic groups. to their membership in certain ethnic groups.

This kind of discrimination has the least This kind of discrimination has the least relationship with people abilities.relationship with people abilities.

Political LegitimacyPolitical Legitimacy It relates to the fact that whether a political It relates to the fact that whether a political

system is just and credible or not. system is just and credible or not. It is related to satisfaction in political affairs.It is related to satisfaction in political affairs. The main point of political legitimacy is that The main point of political legitimacy is that

who are the representatives of political who are the representatives of political power, what makes a government legal and power, what makes a government legal and what makes people believe in a what makes people believe in a government.government.

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism It is one of the most essential obstacles in the way It is one of the most essential obstacles in the way

of cultural interactions that cause discrimination. of cultural interactions that cause discrimination. In ethnicity, there is a member's tendency towards In ethnicity, there is a member's tendency towards

considering behavioural methods of his/her group as considering behavioural methods of his/her group as public standards. public standards.

This concept can be examined from two point of This concept can be examined from two point of views: either, one contemplates his/her group as views: either, one contemplates his/her group as superior, knowing its values as public vales, or superior, knowing its values as public vales, or he/she regards other groups inferior, tries to avoid he/she regards other groups inferior, tries to avoid their values, and keeps a social distance from them. their values, and keeps a social distance from them.

The significant point in ethnocentricity believes in The significant point in ethnocentricity believes in superiority of one group (inside group) and it entails superiority of one group (inside group) and it entails humiliating other groups (outside group).humiliating other groups (outside group).

Data Description:Data Description:

The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic IdentityThe Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic IdentityTable 1: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Table 1: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity

Percent According to their SexualityPercent According to their Sexuality

Gender

Ethnic Identity Male Female Total

No. % No. % No. %

Low 15 8.3 5 5.0 20 7.0

Average 28 15.6 43 43.0 71 25.5

High 137 76.1 52 52.0 189 67.5

Total 180 100 100 100 280 100

The Distribution of Ethnic Identity based on The Distribution of Ethnic Identity based on Marriage ConditionsMarriage Conditions

Table 2: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Table 2: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Percent According to their Marriage ConditionsPercent According to their Marriage Conditions

Marital Status

Ethnic Identity Single Married Total

No. % No. % No. %

Low 13 6.4 7 9.2 20 7.1

Average 47 23.0 21 27.6 68 24.3

High 144 70.6 48 63.2 192 68.6

Total 204 100 76 100 280 100

The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Based on their Birth PlaceBased on their Birth Place

Table 3: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Table 3: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Percent Based on their BirthplacePercent Based on their Birthplace

Birth Place

Ethnic Identity Town Village Total

No. % No. % No. %

Low 0 0 23 8.5 23 8.2

Average 3 37.5 62 22.8 65 23.2

High 5 62.5 187 68.7 192 68.6

Total 8 100 272 100 280 100

The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Based on their EducationBased on their Education

Table 4: Abundance Respondents and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Table 4: Abundance Respondents and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Percent Based on EducationPercent Based on Education

Education

Ethnic Identity

Elem. Educ.

Sec. Educ.

Hr. Sec. Educ.

College University Total

No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %

Low 0 0.0 26 14.2 12 17.1 2 11.8 0 0.0 40 14.3

Average 3 30.0 71 38.8 28 40.0 6 35.2 0 0.0 108 38.6

High 7 70.0 86 47.0 30 42.9 9 53.0 0 0.0 132 47.1

Total 10 100 183 100 70 100 17 100 00 00 280 100

The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Based on their Socio-Economic Status Based on their Socio-Economic Status

Table 5: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Table 5: Frequency Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Percent Based on Socio-Economic StatusPercent Based on Socio-Economic Status

Social-Economic Status

Ethnic Identity

Lower Class Middle Class High Class Total

No. % No. % No. % No. %

Low 3 7.5 54 22.7 0 0.0 57 20.4

Average 10 25.0 78 33.0 2 67.0 90 32.1

High 27 67.5 105 44.3 1 33.0 133 47.5

Total 40 100 237 100 3 100 280 100

The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity The Distribution of Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Based on VillagesBased on Villages

Table 6: Abundance Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Table 6: Abundance Distribution and the Respondents’ Ethnic Identity Percent According to VillagesPercent According to Villages

Ethnic Identity

Villages Low Average High Total

No. % No. % No. % No. %

Lichila 12 22.2 19 35.2 23 42.6 54 100

Milli 9 22.0 14 34.1 18 43.9 41 100

Molo 5 22.7 10 45.5 7 31.8 22 100

Sape 8 13.6 18 30.5 33 55.9 59 100

Sarli 19 24.4 25 32.0 34 43.6 78 100

Wabia 3 11.5 8 30.8 15 57.7 26 100

Total 56 20.0 94 33.6 130 46.4 280 100

Conclusion:Conclusion: Feeling deprivation follows a relatively fixed Feeling deprivation follows a relatively fixed

pattern which forms through comparison, that is pattern which forms through comparison, that is why even in desirable conditions, this sense may why even in desirable conditions, this sense may appears.appears.

Finally it may be say that according to this study, Finally it may be say that according to this study, among the variables, relative deprivation, among the variables, relative deprivation, ethnocentrism, feeling discrimination, and political ethnocentrism, feeling discrimination, and political legitimacy, have a significant relation with ethnic legitimacy, have a significant relation with ethnic identity.identity.

So, increased relative deprivation, ethnocentrism, So, increased relative deprivation, ethnocentrism, and discrimination, play the most important role in and discrimination, play the most important role in shaping ethnocentrism among Bangru people.shaping ethnocentrism among Bangru people.

Thank You…!!!Thank You…!!!