Urban Migration and the Erosion of Traditional Kinship Systems: A Case Study of Ranchi District, Jharkhand, India

Abstract (English)

Urban Migration and the Erosion of Traditional Kinship Systems: A Case Study of Ranchi District, Jharkhand, India
Dr. Paras K. Choudhary
Associate Professor & Head,
University Department of Sociology,
Ranchi University, Ranchi,
Jharkhand

Present paper investigates the profound impact of urban migration on traditional kinship systems in the context of Ranchi district, Jharkhand a region where tribal and rural communities have historically sustained strong kinship networks as the backbone of their social, economic, and cultural life. The study critically examines how the accelerated processes of urbanization and internal migration, driven by economic aspiration, education, and employment opportunities, are transforming long-established familial structures and interpersonal relationships. The primary objective of this research is to explore the extent to which urban migration is altering kinship roles, responsibilities, and patterns of social support among the tribal and rural populations of Ranchi. The paper aims to identify the emerging challenges faced by families as younger generations detach from their ancestral homes, leading to weakened intergenerational ties, diminished communal rituals, and the declining relevance of clan-based authority. Furthermore, it seeks to analyze how these sociocultural shifts are affecting social identity, marriage practices, caregiving roles, and resource-sharing mechanisms, all of which are vital elements in the anthropological understanding of kinship. Present study holds both academic and practical relevance within the field of anthropological sciences. Academically, it contributes to contemporary kinship theory by offering ethnographic evidence of change in a rapidly urbanizing society. It also engages with broader anthropological discourses on modernity, mobility, and cultural continuity. By employing qualitative field methods, including in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and kinship mapping in both rural and urban settings, the research captures the nuanced transformation of social life. This case study ultimately emphasizes the need for anthropological engagement in understanding how global economic shifts interact with localized cultural realities, especially in underrepresented regions such as Jharkhand.
Keywords: Kinship systems, Urban migration, Tribal communities, Social transformation, Jharkhand