Impact of Globalisation on Social Development and Process of Social

Impact of Globalisation on Social Development and Process of Social
Movement
(Sociological Study With Regard to a Marginalised Group Dhankut of District
Bahraich,U.P.)
Dr. Alok Chantia* & Dr. Preeti Misra**
Keywords: Globalisation, Social Development, Social Movement, Dhankut
Abstract: The theory of psychic unity of mind puts an idea about survival of every
individual around this earth which accelerated the process of globalization to establish
social development but resources, carrying capacity and limitation of an individual or
group create many constraints before marginalized people to access the fruits of
globalization and social development. Hence society ultimately face the event of social
movement. All these phenomenon can be visualized in a marginalized group Dhankut of
District Bahraich of Uttar Pradesh.Their living place is known as Dhankuttypura. They
have a small population of 2687 people (2001 census). Cross cousin marriage, parallel
cousin marriage are their queer cultural characters which make them different from other
cultural groups of Bahraich. No literature is available about them even in District
gazetteer. They claim their status as vaish but no linkage has been established so far with
them. Traditional Panchayat, marriage custom make their status as tribal people but even
today they are kept away from the category of SC/ST/OBC by the government. It is a non
agricultural group, they are engaged in their traditional work of cereal selling. After
1980’s when market system was introduced in Bahraich under the influence of
globalization their traditional work disappeared and for their survival Dhankut adopted
23 other categories of occupations as means of survival. Even though Dhankut are living
in the middle of the city but they are devoid of basic facilities of education, electricity,
water supply, sanitary system etc due to poor economic conditions.
Though Dhankut of District Bahraich are marginalized people but government consider
them as of general category and therefore they are far away from all those benefits which
are otherwise available to other marginalized groups such as SC/ST/OBC. Government /
private job is a distant dream for them. Illiteracy and poverty has ruined their lives.
Impotency, skin diseases, albinism are their main health problems. Though Civil Court is
near to their living place but due to poverty they stick to their traditional Panchayat for
dispute resolution. Their Children are also engaged in small time work to earn
livelihood. In order to bring change in their living conditions they have started fighting
for ward election after the declaration of Dhankuttypura as ward
Due to Globalisation and negligent attitude of the government Dhankut have lagged
behind in social development and are becoming more and more marginalized. Recently
they have formed a ‘Dhankut Sangharsh Samiti’ to fight for their identity, status and
development. A case is also pending in SC/ST Commission, U.P., Lucknow for claiming
their status in society.
Present paper attempts to analyse whether globalization is ruining cultural identities?
Whether social development depend upon the economy of a group? Whether
globalization has negative effect on marginalized people? Whether marginalized people
are able to lead any social movement to overcome exploitation and better their position?
Whether fruits of globalization and social development have reached to only small
segment of the society? All these questions will be analysed in the light of study on the
group Dhankut of district Bahraich .
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*Lecturer, Dept. of Anthropology, Sri J.N.P.G. College, Lucknow; Academic Counsellor (Sociology)
IGNOU Study Centre, Sri J.N.P.G. College, (KKC) Lucknow; E-Mail alokchantia@rediffmail.com
** Lecturer, Dept of Human Rights, School for Legal Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar
University, Lucknow; E-Mail misra9us@gmail.com