Routledge Contested Belonging: Routledge Indigenous People Study

Explore the complex history and modern challenges of the Rabha (or Kocha) people in this academic study by Routledge. This book examines the struggles of an indigenous community living where the Himalayan mountains meet the plains of Bengal. Traditionally known for practicing shifting cultivation in jungle tracts, the Rabha people have faced significant shifts in their way of life due to historical and environmental changes. This work traces the impact of British rule, which transformed their lands into tea gardens and reserved forests, forcing the community into labor under the forest department. Karlsson provides a detailed look at how these historical shifts connect to modern threats. Today, the Rabha face new pressures from large-scale illegal deforestation and global interests in wildlife conservation. This book offers a deep look at the development of the Rabha people and their ongoing fight to maintain their identity and access to forest lands in a changing world.