Published Paper Details:

This research paper is an analysis of the impact of globalization on the indigenous identity of the ethnic Tharu belonging to the Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, India. The Tharu community is rich in cultural heritage, traditional knowledge systems of living, and sustainable livelihood. Under the global economic, social, and cultural currents, this community is undergoing radical changes-it seems as if it were being swept away by a tide. The ethnographic observation, secondary literature review, and comparative analysis have been used to examine the ways globalization factors such as migration, exposure to digital media, education, urbanization, and economic restructuring affect traditional practices, social structures, and self-perceptions within the tribe. The paper thus examines the globalizing process as a doubled-edged sword. Signaling an eclipse of identity through the loss of languages, rituals, and trade-based livelihoods, globalization has also opened new windows for economic mobility, education, and cultural expression via digital platforms. Insights into adaptive strategies and resilience models that can be harnessed for the benefit of the Tharu community are provided by comparative perspectives from other indigenous communities in India (e.g., Gonds, Santhals) and global case studies (e.g., M?ori, Sami). At the close of the study, forward-looking recommendations for cultural conservation, sustainable development, policy reform, and digital empowerment are made. The paper argues, in part, for inclusive governance, bilingual education, and technology-led community engagement in promoting identity resilience under global changes. This approach stresses the importance of indigenous agency.