Acculturation and Cultural Revival among the Mising Tribe of Assam Assam. The processes of migration, socio-cultural mobility and acculturative change are ubiquitous socio-cultural processes throughout the world. In many disciplines of study, emphasis has been placed on the concept and process of acculturation and how this process contributes to intergenerational differences within a particular community. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Because acculturation is widely applicable, the concept has been studied and applied in a variety of cultures and populations. Surprisingly little has been studied about the Mishing community. Acculturation within the community has evolved in many areas at different rates and in different ways across diverse populations. The study examines the process of acculturation among the Mishing community of Assam. It also attempts to understand the communication variables in the acculturation process. The study argues that there is virtually no discussion on the preservation and revitalization of the rich cultural reservoir and heritage of the tribe. Furthermore, the study argues that documentation is the key to preserving one's culture. While it is important to question political initiatives regarding cultural preservation, it is also necessary to take appropriate measures regarding cultural renewal.IntroductionThe processes of migration, socio-cultural mobility and acculturative changes are omnipresent processes all over the world. Historically, the process of cultural contact, interaction and mixing between members of different cultural groups is not a new phenomenon. In fact, sociocultural plurality is one of the main characteristics of many societies around the world. Such interactions and mixtures between different groups living together in a society give rise over the years to a process of acculturation in which a person or group belonging to a particular culture acquires or borrows certain traits from another culture. This often causes changes in the socio-cultural configuration of groups, with patterns of change that are discernible in customs, religious practices, eating habits, clothing habits and communication patterns. Acculturation is “defined as the changes that occur when two cultures come into direct and continuous contact” (Costigan & Korzyma, 2011; cited in Berry, 2003). The concept of acculturation was conceived in the fields of anthropology and sociology in the early 20th century (Redfield, Linton, & Herskovits, 1936) and has been used to explain the dynamics involved when people from diverse cultural backgrounds come into continuous contact with each other. The term acculturation was coined by anthropologists in the late 1930s. Its definition was later refined by various entities like the Social Science Research Council in 1954 as well as various other fields like psychology. Acculturation within the tribe MisingThe Misings, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman ethnicity and formerly known as Miris, who constitute the second largest group of Scheduled Tribes (Plains) of Assam, have played an important role in the culture and economy of the great Assamese society in general and the tribal society in particular. This colorful ethnic groupliving among the non-tribal Assamese for many centuries has been able to maintain its traditional socio-cultural traits intact despite the changes occurring in the socio-politico-religious life of Assam (Bordoloi et al, 1987). The Misings are a major ethnic group of Assam, the second largest tribe in the state after the Bodos. In the distant past, they used to live in the hilly areas (Abor, Miri and Mishimi hills) between the Siang and Subansiri districts of present-day Arunachal Pradesh, then gradually descended into the plains of Assam between the 13th and the 14th century CE, it is generally assumed that the Misings of Assam closely resemble, in language, customs, clothing and physical status, the Adi or Abor tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The process of acculturation, resulting from social relations and cultural mixing, is omnipresent among members of the Mising community. The Mising have their own cultural practices and traditions. As a community, they have their distinct food habits, clothing habits and socio-cultural practices. Like all other tribes, the Mising community also relies on clan relationships. The Mising migrated to the Brahmaputra valley between the 13th and 14th centuries AD (Pegu, 1998). This had a considerable effect on their traditional and cultural practices. The dominant culture is thus seen to have found its place in the minority ethnic group, affecting almost all areas such as social life, cultural development and religious beliefs. All these changes have had a great impact on the linguistic behavior of the community. A large number of elements probably passed from the Assamese language to the Mising dialect, which led to the emergence of bilingual speech among the Mising. With the signing of the Yandaboo Treaty in 1826, Assam came under the colonial rule of the British. English, considered the dominant language over all other local languages in the region, became the means of communication in the administrative structure of the British. As a result, as the researchers argue, further cross-cultural transmission took place, with elements of dominant British culture seeping into local cultures. Achieving independence from colonial rule in 1947 did not bring immediate changes in the area of linguistic practice. The integration and assimilation of the Misings have always contributed to the formation of a composite Assamese culture. During these long successive evolutions, the Mising community has generally undergone various changes which are reflected in its socio-cultural behavior. And in this process, they tend to lose much of their original characteristics. With the easy penetration of many cultural traits of the host culture, the community has undergone changes in its clothing habits, food habits, religious beliefs and practices as well as its communication system. However, many indigenous cultural, linguistic and religious elements are still prevalent within the community, particularly in rural areas. The acculturation process sometimes also has an effect on the host/dominant culture, with certain elements of cultural traits passing from the minority culture to the dominant culture. “Bihu”, one of the important festivals celebrated by the Assamese population with religious fervour. and which has its origins in the primitive cult of fertility and the primitive harvest festival (Barpujari, 2007). Thus, despite the massive forces of acculturation, the Misings, in association with their various socio-cultural organizations, are making effortscontinue to preserve the rich cultural heritage of their community. The massive acculturation of the Misings tribe over a period of eight hundred years resulted in a change in social, linguistic and religious practices and in the process, a cultural syncretism between the indigenous traits of the Misings and those of the Plains of the Assam took shape. However, the group has not completely renounced its original culture either. Many cultural, linguistic and religious elements still actively predominate in Mising society, especially in rural areas. While it is important to take policy initiatives to preserve culture, it is also necessary to examine the impact of globalization on culture. Why is cultural revival a necessity? In today's globalized world, socio-cultural mixing and exchanges between different groups around the world have become a fairly common phenomenon. Such cross-cultural contacts and associations bring about both psychological and cultural changes. At the cultural level, collective activities and social institutions are altered, and at the psychological level, changes can be observed in an individual's daily attitude and behavior, sometimes even leading to acculturative stress. In acculturation, the flow of cultural values is generally from the dominant group to the minority or less dominant group. However, in some cases the dominant culture also adopts some characteristics of the minority culture in reciprocity. Throughout the acculturation process, individuals and groups engage in contacts, exchanges and cultural mixing. These sociocultural associations may produce a potential consensus of conflict between members of the dominant/host group and members of acculturating or less dominant groups, as well as the need for negotiation that would result in adaptive implications for both groups. . With diversity being an accepted characteristic of the contemporary world, it has become imperative for everyone to find a positive way to adapt to each other in this globalized world. The Mising community has undergone tremendous acculturation over a long period of time. The community has undergone changes in its clothing habits, eating habits, religious beliefs and practices as well as its communication system. However, much of their original cultural, linguistic and religious elements are still pervasive within the community, especially in rural areas. The Mising perpetuate their primary culture and also favor contact culture, which suggests a sociocultural and linguistic syncretism functioning equally between the members of the community. The establishment of the “Mising Agom Kebang” (Mising Language Society) in April 1972 by the educated middle class added a new dimension. Gradually, it obtained its own script and the language began to be taught in Mising-dominated areas at the primary level. In contrast to these efforts, there was a growing tendency among the Mising, especially urban dwellers, to enroll their children in English-medium schools. This has given rise to speculation that this could lead to a gradual disappearance of their ethnic language. Conclusion There is growing concern that the cultural threat is increasing alarmingly within the Mising tribe. It is important to note that despite the massive sociocultural mixing and evolving cultural preferences of the Misings, the community has not completely rejected their traditional beliefs and practices. It is surprising how little attention is given to the loss we may suffer from the extinction of our culture..

Essay / Acculturation and Cultural Revival among the Mising Tribe of Assam Assam. The processes of migration, socio-cultural mobility and acculturative change are ubiquitous socio-cultural processes throughout the world. In many disciplines of study, emphasis has been placed on the concept and process of acculturation and how this process contributes to intergenerational differences within a particular community. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Because acculturation is widely applicable, the concept has been studied and applied in a variety of cultures and populations. Surprisingly little has been studied about the Mishing community. Acculturation within the community has evolved in many areas at different rates and in different ways across diverse populations. The study examines the process of acculturation among the Mishing community of Assam. It also attempts to understand the communication variables in the acculturation process. The study argues that there is virtually no discussion on the preservation and revitalization of the rich cultural reservoir and heritage of the tribe. Furthermore, the study argues that documentation is the key to preserving one's culture. While it is important to question political initiatives regarding cultural preservation, it is also necessary to take appropriate measures regarding cultural renewal.IntroductionThe processes of migration, socio-cultural mobility and acculturative changes are omnipresent processes all over the world. Historically, the process of cultural contact, interaction and mixing between members of different cultural groups is not a new phenomenon. In fact, sociocultural plurality is one of the main characteristics of many societies around the world. Such interactions and mixtures between different groups living together in a society give rise over the years to a process of acculturation in which a person or group belonging to a particular culture acquires or borrows certain traits from another culture. This often causes changes in the socio-cultural configuration of groups, with patterns of change that are discernible in customs, religious practices, eating habits, clothing habits and communication patterns. Acculturation is “defined as the changes that occur when two cultures come into direct and continuous contact” (Costigan & Korzyma, 2011; cited in Berry, 2003). The concept of acculturation was conceived in the fields of anthropology and sociology in the early 20th century (Redfield, Linton, & Herskovits, 1936) and has been used to explain the dynamics involved when people from diverse cultural backgrounds come into continuous contact with each other. The term acculturation was coined by anthropologists in the late 1930s. Its definition was later refined by various entities like the Social Science Research Council in 1954 as well as various other fields like psychology. Acculturation within the tribe MisingThe Misings, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman ethnicity and formerly known as Miris, who constitute the second largest group of Scheduled Tribes (Plains) of Assam, have played an important role in the culture and economy of the great Assamese society in general and the tribal society in particular. This colorful ethnic groupliving among the non-tribal Assamese for many centuries has been able to maintain its traditional socio-cultural traits intact despite the changes occurring in the socio-politico-religious life of Assam (Bordoloi et al, 1987). The Misings are a major ethnic group of Assam, the second largest tribe in the state after the Bodos. In the distant past, they used to live in the hilly areas (Abor, Miri and Mishimi hills) between the Siang and Subansiri districts of present-day Arunachal Pradesh, then gradually descended into the plains of Assam between the 13th and the 14th century CE, it is generally assumed that the Misings of Assam closely resemble, in language, customs, clothing and physical status, the Adi or Abor tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The process of acculturation, resulting from social relations and cultural mixing, is omnipresent among members of the Mising community. The Mising have their own cultural practices and traditions. As a community, they have their distinct food habits, clothing habits and socio-cultural practices. Like all other tribes, the Mising community also relies on clan relationships. The Mising migrated to the Brahmaputra valley between the 13th and 14th centuries AD (Pegu, 1998). This had a considerable effect on their traditional and cultural practices. The dominant culture is thus seen to have found its place in the minority ethnic group, affecting almost all areas such as social life, cultural development and religious beliefs. All these changes have had a great impact on the linguistic behavior of the community. A large number of elements probably passed from the Assamese language to the Mising dialect, which led to the emergence of bilingual speech among the Mising. With the signing of the Yandaboo Treaty in 1826, Assam came under the colonial rule of the British. English, considered the dominant language over all other local languages in the region, became the means of communication in the administrative structure of the British. As a result, as the researchers argue, further cross-cultural transmission took place, with elements of dominant British culture seeping into local cultures. Achieving independence from colonial rule in 1947 did not bring immediate changes in the area of linguistic practice. The integration and assimilation of the Misings have always contributed to the formation of a composite Assamese culture. During these long successive evolutions, the Mising community has generally undergone various changes which are reflected in its socio-cultural behavior. And in this process, they tend to lose much of their original characteristics. With the easy penetration of many cultural traits of the host culture, the community has undergone changes in its clothing habits, food habits, religious beliefs and practices as well as its communication system. However, many indigenous cultural, linguistic and religious elements are still prevalent within the community, particularly in rural areas. The acculturation process sometimes also has an effect on the host/dominant culture, with certain elements of cultural traits passing from the minority culture to the dominant culture. “Bihu”, one of the important festivals celebrated by the Assamese population with religious fervour. and which has its origins in the primitive cult of fertility and the primitive harvest festival (Barpujari, 2007). Thus, despite the massive forces of acculturation, the Misings, in association with their various socio-cultural organizations, are making effortscontinue to preserve the rich cultural heritage of their community. The massive acculturation of the Misings tribe over a period of eight hundred years resulted in a change in social, linguistic and religious practices and in the process, a cultural syncretism between the indigenous traits of the Misings and those of the Plains of the Assam took shape. However, the group has not completely renounced its original culture either. Many cultural, linguistic and religious elements still actively predominate in Mising society, especially in rural areas. While it is important to take policy initiatives to preserve culture, it is also necessary to examine the impact of globalization on culture. Why is cultural revival a necessity? In today's globalized world, socio-cultural mixing and exchanges between different groups around the world have become a fairly common phenomenon. Such cross-cultural contacts and associations bring about both psychological and cultural changes. At the cultural level, collective activities and social institutions are altered, and at the psychological level, changes can be observed in an individual's daily attitude and behavior, sometimes even leading to acculturative stress. In acculturation, the flow of cultural values is generally from the dominant group to the minority or less dominant group. However, in some cases the dominant culture also adopts some characteristics of the minority culture in reciprocity. Throughout the acculturation process, individuals and groups engage in contacts, exchanges and cultural mixing. These sociocultural associations may produce a potential consensus of conflict between members of the dominant/host group and members of acculturating or less dominant groups, as well as the need for negotiation that would result in adaptive implications for both groups. . With diversity being an accepted characteristic of the contemporary world, it has become imperative for everyone to find a positive way to adapt to each other in this globalized world. The Mising community has undergone tremendous acculturation over a long period of time. The community has undergone changes in its clothing habits, eating habits, religious beliefs and practices as well as its communication system. However, much of their original cultural, linguistic and religious elements are still pervasive within the community, especially in rural areas. The Mising perpetuate their primary culture and also favor contact culture, which suggests a sociocultural and linguistic syncretism functioning equally between the members of the community. The establishment of the “Mising Agom Kebang” (Mising Language Society) in April 1972 by the educated middle class added a new dimension. Gradually, it obtained its own script and the language began to be taught in Mising-dominated areas at the primary level. In contrast to these efforts, there was a growing tendency among the Mising, especially urban dwellers, to enroll their children in English-medium schools. This has given rise to speculation that this could lead to a gradual disappearance of their ethnic language. Conclusion There is growing concern that the cultural threat is increasing alarmingly within the Mising tribe. It is important to note that despite the massive sociocultural mixing and evolving cultural preferences of the Misings, the community has not completely rejected their traditional beliefs and practices. It is surprising how little attention is given to the loss we may suffer from the extinction of our culture..

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