Socio-Economic and Political Transformation of the Toto Tribe in West Bengal: Continuity, Change, and Emerging Challenges

The primitive and remote Toto tribe only lives in Totopara, a tiny hamlet in West Bengal's Alipurduar region that is encircled by trees and rivers. The Totos were traditionally resistant to societal change and relied on their own way of life and culture. However, due to increased exposure to globalization, there have been observable socio-cultural and economic changes in recent years, particularly among young people. This study evaluates the Toto people's current socioeconomic situation in the altered Totopara environment and looks at how these changes have affected their culture, way of life, and tribal identity. Both primary and secondary data were gathered for the study through field surveys and literature reviews, and standard statistical methods were used for analysis. The results show that traditional Toto culture and ethnicity have been severely damaged by the increasing number of non-Toto people, and the Totos' general socioeconomic situation is still mainly unsatisfactory.