Modern Education Socio Cultural Change and Development among Korku Tribe of Burhanpur with Special Reference to Khaknar Block Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Abstract newlineSocial change is one of the important issues which can determine the level of development newlineand change in the pattern of life for communities. The Korku tribals, living mainly in newlineMaharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, are also undergoing rapid changes as they increase newlineinteraction with other communities and become subject of government programmes and newlineinterventions be it education, health or economic development. This thesis is an newlineethnographic study of the educational and socio-cultural changes in Korku community across newlinefour villages in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The study attempts to document some newlineof the educational, demographic and socio-cultural changes taking place and the views of the newlineKorku community about it. The study uses a mixed methods approach, complementing newlineethnographic observation with quantitative data on the household size, occupation, and status newlineof education and health using a detailed household survey. The thesis adopts a mix of various newlineapproaches like structural functionalist, modernization, westernization and tribe-caste newlinecontinuum approaches to understand the persistence and change in institutions and processes. newlineThe study shows that while the literacy rate among Korkus has risen, many newlineeducational attainment markers are still very low compared to even other tribal communities newlinein Madhya Pradesh. The schooling and higher education opportunities for Korku children are newlinerestricted due to language issues, high drop-outs, poverty and demands on children s time for newlinesibling and farm work. Demographic and economic changes have led to many changes newlineranging from change in the housing styles and shift towards nuclear families to high newlinemigration and changes in agricultural patterns. The study has tried to record and understand newlinechanges in their marriage practices, dressing, language, food or religious rituals and other newlinesocio-cultural practices and found influence of sanskritisation as a key factor, besides newlinemodernization. The use of modern technologies like mobile phones and motorcycles is newlineincreasing. The government policies on health and education are also having their own newlineimpact on Korkus. Among other findings, the study highlights that changes in the Korku newlinesociety are taking place mainly due to the increased interaction with the mainstream society newlinewhich they mainly contact for employment and education. newlineKey words: Korku tribe, Education, Socio-Cultural Change and Development. newlinexiv newline