Author:

Prodyut Mondal
1Ph.D. Scholar
Department of History
University of Kalyani
Kalyani,West Bengal,India

Email: pmondal9169@gmail.com

Abstract::Abstract:The Santals are considered one of the largest and most culturally rich groups among the
indigenous communities residing in the eastern and north-eastern regions of India and Bangladesh. In
West Bengal, the district of Murshidabad holds particular historical significance for the Santals,
where their long-standing settlement has contributed to a unique and continuous cultural presence.
Over the times, the community has experienced profound socio-economic and cultural
transformations – initially under colonial rule and the zamindari system, and later through the
interventions of the modern state. This article seeks to examine the historical evolution of the Santal
community in Murshidabad by analysing transformations in their social organization, religious
beliefs, economic practices, and cultural traditions. The objective of this study is to provide a
comprehensive understanding of the Santals’ social life and intangible cultural heritage, while also
exploring their complex and dynamic relationship with modernity. Through this analysis, the paper
attempts to trace the ongoing negotiation between continuity and change that characterizes the
community’s cultural identity in contemporary times.

Key Words::Cultural transformations, Historical evolution, Deforestation, Santal etc.