The Marine Fisherfolk of Odisha (A Study of Their Socio-Economic Conditions and Political Participation)

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The present study is an account of marine fisher folk of Odisha, known as Nolias. Nolias, a Telugu-speaking migrant marine fisher community, reside in a number of coastal villages of Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha. Nalias are now representing a mix of two cultures and two identities. This mixed identity of Nolias, though significantly rooted in pragmatism, is causing some tension in them as it is replete with duality, ambiguity and uncertainty.

The Nolia fishing labourers are a subaltern group as they are vulnerable to direct or indirect exploitation by all those who occupy command positions in the chain of marine fishing economy. Nolias are no longer a sleeping and stagnant community. Fishing modernisation has impacted the life and status of Nolias. They have woken up. They are still poor, but their poverty has, to some extent, decreased. Illiteracy is still wide-spread, but their interest in education has increased. By and large, Nolias are confined to their own world: they do not have much interest in what is happening beyond its borders. However, elections-local and general - have brought about a marked change in them.

This book is an empirical study with interdisciplinary orientation. It is a study of the interaction and inter-influence of socio-cultural, economic and political aspects of the life of marine fisher-folk. It will be of immense help to the Researchers, Policy Makers, Marine Officers and others having interest in marine sociology and economy. General readers will find the book interesting and valuable.

Dr. Siba Prasad Mishra, has been associated with the teaching of Political Science for the last thirty years. Currently, he is working as Reader & Head of the Department of Political Science, Pipili Degree College, Pipili, in the district of Puri, Odisha.

J.K. Baral, is a former Professor of Political Science and former Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University, Odisha. He was awarded MIA by Columbia University in 1974 and Ph.D by JNU in 1977. Dr. Baral was a recipient of of Fulbright scholarship (both Junior and Senior). He has published several books and large numbers of research articles in national and international journals.

The study presents a multi-faceted profile of the Nolins of Puri district. Odisha based on data collected mostly through field-study. Interaction with Nolias, Telugu-speaking marine fishers, both on-shore and off-shore produced objective information about their social, economic and political life. The study is the story of the social and economic changes which have taken place in their society and their slowly increasing political awareness and participation. It is a critical analysis of their daily encounters with the sea and periodic natural hazards on the one side, and, on the other, their interactions with the external world. It is an account of the sansikritisation and modernisation of Nolias and their struggle for livelihood, dignity, equality and justice.

The first chapter presents the survey of literature, hypotheses, objectives and methodology of the study. The second chapter describes the internal as well as external setting of the three sample villages roads, houses, ponds, places of worship, public amenities like supply of water and electricity, and provision for education and health etc. The third chapter discusses the various components of the socio-cultural life of Nolias and their sanskritisation and modernisation. It emphasizes how religious division (between Hindu and Christian Nolias) has not led to communal conflict and violence.

In the fourth chapter, the economic life of Nolias has been studied in the historical context. The nature and impact of modernisation and commercialisation of sea-fishing have been analysed. In the fifth chapter, the participation of Nolias in election politics - in both local and general elections and their leadership pattern have been examined. The last chapter, besides summarising the findings of the study, makes some recommends and conclusive remarks.

1.1 Research Problem and Importance of the Study

The fishing communities of Odisha are broadly four in number, namely, riverine, esturine, marine and lake fishers. The original fishers of Odisha, who are natives and Odia speaking, practised in-land fishing in rivers, estuaries and lake (Chilika lake). Chilika happens to be the largest brackish water lake in Asia. Large parts of the lake are in Puri and Khordha districts, whereas a smaller portion of the lake is in Ganjam district. The annual fish production from Chilika Lake is 14228.20 metric ton (2011-12), and more than 0.2 million fishermen in and around Chilika Lake depend upon it for their livelihood. These fishermen are called Keutos. In recent years, the members of several other Odia castes (mostly Khandayats) have taken keen interest in catching prawns from the lake through nets as well as gheri. In the districts of Balesore and Bhadrak belonging to North Odisha, the Odia-speaking fishermen (Natives and Bengali speaking migrants) like Kaibarta, Gokha, Rajbanshi and Dhibars catch fish from rivers and estuaries. Some of them have also started catching fish from the sea. The Bengali-speaking fishermen, who had migrated from the then East Pakistan/East Bengal, are exclusively marine fishers.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages