Inter–religion acculturation with special reference to Dhankut

Inter–religion acculturation with special reference to Dhankut of
Bahraich district.
Dr. Alok Chantia
Lecturer,
Dept. of Anthropology,
Sri J.N.P.G.College,
Lucknow
Keywords – Dhankut, acculturation, social mobility, group caste.
Inter-religion acculturation, negative acculturation, marriage,
individual’s name.
Abstract
Acculturation is a natural process. It starts when two groups start living together.
Observation may also produce acculturation but when it is permitted by society, as higher
Hindu caste group neither gave rights to the lower caste group to have names used by the
members of the higher castes (e.g. Ram, Shyam, Sita, Geeta, etc) nor allowed them
entrance into temples. So acculturation does not exit in the same form as in higher castes.
It gave an idea to the lower caste to produce their sacred places in geometrical shaped
images. It was an alternative of direct acculturation, but when social mobility is restricted
for a group, and that group is living with another religious group who are totally different
from their cultural life but social mobility is possible. In such a situation this group will
interact with the other religious group and cultural transition will start. It is an example of
inter-religion acculturation. Dhankut is a neglected social group of Bahraich district and
is banned by the Hindus but social mobility is possible with the Muslims. So a process of
acculturation has started, which will be described in my proposed paper.