TRADITION AND TRANSFORMATION: A STUDY OF THE CULTURE OF TEA WORKERS OF ASSAM

Abstract

India has upheld its robust global dominance in tea production, a remarkable achievement unparalleled worldwide. Particularly impressive is the substantial input from Assam, which contributes to more than half of India's total tea output, highlighting its central importance in this sector. Examining the shifts taking place in the way of life within Assam's tea worker community is of utmost importance, given their integral role in the local society and the worldwide significance attributed to Assam's tea industry. Furthermore, studying their future dynamics within the context of Assam is crucial. Such a study can shed light on the distinct changes brought about by modernity in the lives of those people. The tea worker population in Assam has dispersed across various locations throughout the region. Among them, a field study was conducted in Dejoo Tea Estate in Lakhimpur district and it was taken as the background of the study. The paper discusses the festivals, food, dress, folk beliefs and agricultural practices of the workers of Dejoo Tea Estate. One of the highlighted objectives of this paper is to discuss the changes in the culture and future of tea workers.