Abstract

In the past two decades, advancements in language studies, particularly in language socialization, multilingualism, and power dynamics, have offered new perspectives on cultural interactions. This study examines the impact of Odia’s introduction on the communication between tribal and non-tribal groups in Odisha’s Kandhamal region, focusing on the Kandha tribe. It highlights the shift from forest-based livelihoods to market-related income-generating activities and underscores the need to empower the Kandhas in the changing environment while preserving their cultural identity. Using a mixed-method approach that combines archival research, ethnographic fieldwork, oral history interviews, and surveys, the study analyzes the issue of social mobility among three primary communities: the Kandha tribe, Patra caste, and Pano caste, and how linguistic hegemony has become a vehicle for social mobility. Findings reveal that while bilingualism improved the socio-economic status of the Patra and Pano, the Kandhas have struggled to maintain their linguistic and cultural identity. The study explores how colonial and post-colonial economic changes and Odia’s dominance in education and administration have marginalized the Kui language and along with it the Kandha community.