THE INTERPLAY OF TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE: A STUDY ON MOBILE PHONE PRACTICES AMONG MUKKUVA COMMUNITY

Abstract

The widespread use of digital technologies has expanded globally and penetrated even the most remote regions of the global south, including people living in underprivileged and marginalised conditions. Despite the increasing influence of mobile phones in all aspects of social life, there is limited knowledge about how mobile phone practices impact the local culture of the Mukkuva community in Kerala. Though Kerala has made remarkable socioeconomic progress, the Mukkuva fishing community remains marginalised and neglected. The fishers' exclusion from mainstream society, resulting from the caste system, has historically limited their interaction with others. This study employs in-depth interviews and non-participant observation to explore the mobile phone practices of the fishing community in two selected coastal villages of Kerala and how it affects the community's language and culture. Using the cultural identity framework of Stuart Hall and a thematic method of data analysis, the paper examines the changing dynamics of the relationship between the church and the community, the evolving self-concept of community members, and their economic activities. The research demonstrates the significance of mobile phones in the changing cultural dynamics of the Mukkuva community, highlighting its role in enabling increased communication and interaction with mainstream society. The study's findings suggest that mobile phones have enabled the community to create a new identity, distinct from their traditional practices, thereby allowing them to engage more actively in social, economic, and political activities. The paper concludes that the increasing use of mobile phones in marginalised communities provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between mainstream and marginalised societies, and encourages the empowerment of these groups.