Issues of Mahali Tribal Education in India: An Ethnographic Study from a Village of Bankura, West Bengal

This paper attempts to examine and understand the present educational scenario and the low literacy level among Mahali tribal community in the state of West Bengal, India. The study was conducted in the Bagdiha village located in the Chhatna Block in Bankura district of West Bengal. The paper highlights the need for special focus on Mahali tribal education, which includes context-specific traditional and innovative interventions. Education is crucial for development of an individual which enhance one's power to become self-reliant. It is considered as one of the prime determinants of change in the position of an individual in a society. This paper is an attempt to deal with the educational status among the Mahali Tribe. The study was based on primary data collected through ethnography. In-depth interviews were conducted with tribal students, graduates, parents, teachers, and principals of tribal schools. The study highlights that there has been development and change in the educational situation of Mahalis in presentday generation as compared to their parent's generation. Better education is evident among the young age generation of present-day Mahalis. Mahalis are now more aware of the positive role of education and its necessity in today's modern competitive society. The study recommends that the continuance of withdrawal of "pass and fail" policy may be reconsidered and an in-depth study on the impact of such policy of ‘pass and fail ’withdrawal particularly among the students of the Mahali community.