The Marine Fisherfolk of Odisha: A Study of Their Socio-Economic Conditions and Political Participation

The present study is an account of marine fisher-folk of Odisha, known as Nolias. Nolias, a Teluguspeaking migrant marine fisher community, reside in a number of coastal villages of Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha. Nolias are now representing a mix of two cultures and two identities. This mixed identity of Nolias, though significantly rooted in pragmatism, is causing some tension in them as it is replete with duality, ambiguity and uncertainty. The Nolia fishing labourers are a subaltern group as they are vulnerable to direct or indirect exploitation by all those who occupy command positions in the chain of marine fishing economy. Nolias are no longer a sleeping and stagnant community. Fishing modernisation has impacted the life and status of Nolias.