Abstract:
After independence of India, Adivasi/Tribal societies in general and those who are in Jharkhand
in central India have witnessed large scale changes. Adivasi societies have no longer been left
on self-reliance and even their economic patterns have changed. Many factors like
industrialization, education, occupation, urbanization, displacement and government social
welfare policies, all these considerably changed the Adivasi life.The cultural and social lives
of Adivasis are changing too. This in turn affected the means and the nature of social
communication of many of these socialites in many locations. The introduction of new
technologies of communication medium started to replace the old mode of communication.
Television, radio, satellite TV channels, CDs, mobile phone and the internet have been not only
changing the medium of information but also limiting the social mobility and inter-connection
within societies. This paper will examine how the process of urbanization and introduction of
different media technology in the Adivasi village situated at fringe of Ranchi city, going under
several changes. The area is predominantly habitation of Oraon Adivasi. This Adivasis’ had
their own social and communication system which is changing under various facets. This study
maps these changes in understanding how these changes are the product of the new urban
scenario in which these societies found themselves in. Mapping the changing nature of
communication in the Adivasi society is the main objective of this study. In this study, a survey
has been conducted and an unstructured interview has been performed in the area of Ranchi
which is Adivasi populated area. Focus group discussion (FGD) was also conducted based on
availability of members. A Qualitative approach for analysing the interview data has also been
adopted. This study locates the media ecology of a society and the way it is changing by the
new technological medium and urbanisation. Changing media ecology from traditional pattern
to contemporary medium is changing their culture, social structure and economical pattern and
life-style of the society
