Psychosocial Dynamics of Indigenous Resilience and Systemic Marginalization: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Mannan and Oorali Tribes in Idukki, Kerala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v24i1-2.854Keywords:
Indigenous resilience, psychosocial dynamics, structural violence, cultural trauma, Mannan tribe, Oorali tribe, Kerala, ontological security, collective identity, acculturative stressAbstract
Indigenous communities in India experience complex marginalization through development-induced displacement, land alienation, and cultural erosion. The Mannan and Oorali tribes of Idukki District, Kerala, represent distinctive cases where traditional socio-cultural systems interface with modern state structures, yet their psychosocial experiences remain inadequately theorized. Objective: This interdisciplinary study examines how macro-level forces of development, displacement, and assimilation interact with micro-level processes of identity formation, collective trauma, and cultural resilience among the Mannan and Oorali tribes. Method: Employing a qualitative interpretive design, we conducted systematic thematic analysis of ethnographic data, historical accounts, and contemporary documentation. Data were analyzed through an integrated theoretical framework combining sociological theories of structural violence (Galtung, 1969) and symbolic capital (Bourdieu, 1977) with psychological concepts of ontological security (Giddens, 1991), collective trauma (Eyerman, 2001), and cultural resilience (Kirmayer et al., 2011). Results: Findings reveal three interconnected psychosocial dynamics: (1) traditional governance systems function as symbolic anchors for collective identity despite institutional erosion; (2) land alienation produces cascading psychological harms including learned helplessness, moral injury, and intergenerational identity conflict; and (3) cultural practices—particularly Koothu performances, lifecycle rituals, and indigenous knowledge systems—operate as mechanisms of psychological coping, social cohesion, and resistance against assimilation. Conclusions: The survival of these tribes constitutes not merely a material struggle but a profound psychosocial battle for meaning, continuity, and ontological security. Effective interventions must address structural determinants while strengthening culturally grounded protective factors. This study contributes to decolonizing methodologies in indigenous psychology and informs culturally sensitive policy frameworks.
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