Author(s): Avishek Manna

Abstract: Human beings are considered to be the offsprings of nature but this relation is paradoxical in my point of view. Though people argue that they love nature they are filled with direst cruelty. Nature and natural resources are mostly harmed by the human agencies. So, human day to day activities are more like an anathema to the mother nature. The mass destruction of the mother nature is serving as a global problem now a days. Amidst all these destructive forces Santal Community people are doing their best to preserve the nature. They are born and brought up in the lap of nature. Nature is worshipped and celebrated by these people whom we term as marginalized communities and think they are obsolete. The paper examines the Santhal communities’ nature centered worldviews, practices and folk knowledge that majorly serves as living system of conservation. In addition, the paper also argues that Santhal ecological custodianship is neither romantic nostalgia nor a static tradition but an adaptable, collective governance ethic that persists despite systemic pressure.

Keywords: Santhal Community, Ecological Custodianship, Indigenous Environmental Ethics, Nature-Centered Worldview, Sustainable Conservation Practices.

Article Info: Received: 15 Jan 2026; Received in revised form: 13 Feb 2026; Accepted: 19 Feb 2026; Available online: 22 Feb 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.111.60