Keeping Culture Alive: Role of Technology in Preserving Identity of the Oraon Tribe

Tribes, known for their unique indigenous identity, knowledge and practices, exist around the world. India, a sovereign nation, is home to various tribal communities. One of the tribes in top five largest tribal communities in India is the Oraon tribes. Their forms of practices, knowledge, language and identity are not documented enough to sustain. Very few literatures are available as they lack written accounts of their myths and stories, their history and culture are transmitted orally to the next generation. In the contemporary era, technologies can help in preservation and transmission to the masses about the tradition, culture and identity of the Oraon tribe. The loss of identity would mean the lack of indigeneity. Technology has become a significant resource for safeguarding and showcasing their cultural heritage. The objective of this research is to explore the possibilities and opportunities that modern technologies offer that can be utilized for sustaining the life world of the Oraon tribes. Non-participatory observation and semi-structured interviews facilitated understanding of the cultural practices, language and identity, while secondary sources were utilized to examine the technological dimension through the lens of glocalization theory. The analysis revealed that proper coordination between technology and the tribe will cherish the culture, preserve the heritage and sustain the identity. The findings suggest that the technology, as a global force that can be localized by the Oraon community, can support in the digital preservation and transmission of their cultural identity.