Family Values and Cultural Continuity among the Displaced East Bengal Hindus in Kolkata.

In the process of resettlement in Kolkata, the East Bengal (EB) Hindu 'refugee-migrants' initiated some strategic plans for their unity. These plans were reflected in their attitudes of retaining family values, marriage practices and distinct cultural boundaries. EB Hindus known as "Bangal" tended to maintain such distinctive attitudes because they could not easily socialise and adjust themselves with the local people of West Bengal (WB) known as "Ghoti". Initially, the EB Hindus felt threatened by maintaining distinct cultural values and supremacy primarily for their unsettled status. Even after a stay of over 30 years in Kolkata, most EB Hindus could not consider India as their permanent home. Neither the EB migrants took positive steps for their social adjustment with the WB society, nor did the WB locals extend their support for the migrants' socialisation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]