By: SOVAN CHAKRABORTY
This paper presents an in-depth anthropological exploration of the enigmatic Jogi community residing in various blocks of the Darjeeling hills in India. Although they live on the margins of mainstream society, they have maintained a distinct cultural identity and social structure that has remained largely unexplored. The main aim of this study is to understand the role of kinship, marriage patterns, clan structure, and family dynamics within the Jogi community. The paper also investigates their economic organization, livelihood strategies, and spiritual practices, and examines the influence of religion on their social structure and worldview. Their social structure reveals a unique blend of tradition and adaptation, combining ancient customs with the pressures of modernity. This study explains how the Jogi people protect their cultural traditions while also adopting aspects of the larger culture. It provides important insights into a small and lesser-known community. The research contributes to our understanding of human diversity and social life in India today.
