Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 12(2), pp. 754 - 787
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120208
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Exploring the Continuum and Changes in the Cultural Identity of Migrant Community - Vaniga Vysya, A Tamil Community in Balaramapuram, Kerala

C. Indra ^*, Kumudhavalli Sasidhar
Faculty of Architecture, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, India

ABSTRACT

This research paper would explore the continuum and changes in the cultural identity of Vaniga Vysya community which migrated from Tamil Nadu to Balaramapuram of yesteryears Travancore now in Kerala. The cultural identity comprises tangible and intangible attributes. The scope was limited to three tangible attributes which included 12 variables as listed below. a) Settlement level with variables, type of settlement and public spaces of the community. b) House level - spaces with seven variables namely seating in the front portion of the house, multi-purpose room, puja space, rooms, kitchen, cattle shed and open well. c) House level - house components with three variables namely doors, windows and columns. The other tangible attributes and all the intangible attributes formed part of the limitations of this research. Literature study on culture and migrant community resulted in four processes of acculturation. They were assimilation, separation, integration and marginalization. Three more possibilities apart from the above processes like changes in assimilation, changes in separation and changes in integration were identified. Samples were chosen based on the sampling and selection criteria. Secondary data on the considered tangible attributes of home and host culture were identified, collected and synthesised to form a base template which was used for comparing and categorizing the primary documentation on the considered tangible attributes. This categorization was further checked with processes of acculturation and analysed. The results of the three attributes were as follow: i) settlement level - maximum separation; ii) house level: a) spaces - maximum marginalization; b) house components - maximum integration and changes in separation. The process of acculturation for all the three tangible attributes put together marginalization was most closely followed by separation and the third was changes in separation. This showed that even though there were changes, there was a strong need to maintain their cultural identity. Methodology formulated would be a prototype model for researching on the continuum and changes in the cultural identity of any migrant community. The base template formed would be secondary data for research on tangible attributes of Tamil Nadu and Travancore.

KEYWORDS
Migration, Culture, Trading Community, Acculturation

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] C. Indra , Kumudhavalli Sasidhar , "Exploring the Continuum and Changes in the Cultural Identity of Migrant Community - Vaniga Vysya, A Tamil Community in Balaramapuram, Kerala," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 754 - 787, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120208.

(b). APA Format:
C. Indra , Kumudhavalli Sasidhar (2024). Exploring the Continuum and Changes in the Cultural Identity of Migrant Community - Vaniga Vysya, A Tamil Community in Balaramapuram, Kerala. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 12(2), 754 - 787. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2024.120208.