Negotiating Tradition &Mordernity : Structural Challenges to Cultural Continuity among the Tai – Phake community of Assam

Abstract

The Tai-Phake community of Assam is a small Tai-speaking Buddhist indigenous group known for its distinct language, religious traditions, festivals, weaving practices, and monastery-centred social life. For generations, these cultural traditions were sustained through close community interaction and active participation in collective practices. However, contemporary social changes associated with education, technological development, occupational mobility, media influence, and increasing interaction with wider social networks have transformed the conditions under which cultural traditions are maintained. Drawing upon Anthony Giddens’ theory of modernity, this paper examines the changing relationship between tradition and modernity within the Tai-Phake community. The study argues that the challenges faced by the community should not be understood simply as cultural decline, but as part of a broader process through which traditional practices are continuously negotiated, adapted, and reinterpreted in response to changing social realities. The paper further explores how intergenerational knowledge gaps, changing perceptions of traditional practices, limited institutional representation, and leadership challenges influence cultural continuity within the community. It also highlights the importance of institutional support, youth participation, and cultural adaptation in sustaining cultural traditions in contemporary society. By focusing on the interaction between tradition and modernity, the study contributes to a broader understanding of how small indigenous communities navigate social change while maintaining cultural continuity.