Symbolic Violence & The Life of Tribal People

Abstract

This article applies Pierre Bourdieu’s theories to examine the marginalization of the tribal communities of Wayanad, specifically the Paniyas and Adiyas. Bourdieu's key concepts, such as habitus (ingrained habits shaped by one's environment), various forms of capital (economic, social, cultural, and symbolic), and field (social arenas of competition), help explain how these communities experience exclusion. Their rich cultural traditions are often undervalued within dominant social structures, resulting in symbolic violence, where they are pressured to adopt mainstream norms and feel inferior. This marginalization perpetuates systemic inequality, economic dispossession, and loss of cultural identity. Bourdieu’s theories provide a lens through which to understand better the mechanisms through which these tribal groups remain excluded in modern society.