ADHERING TO NEW NORMAL BEHAVIOUR AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL ACTION-A STUDY IN THE BACKDROP OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH ASSAM.

Abstract

The term new normal first appeared in 2008 to refer the financial crisis to the dramatic economic, cultural and social change that caused precariousness and social unrest impacting collective perception and individual lifestyle. This term has been used again during the COVID-19 pandemic. It directs people to carry out certain action like use of masks, sanitizer avoidance of crowded places etc. that are new to the people in Indian Society. However, Sociological theories of action particularly those who are dealing with micro- Sociology explicates that people’s action is not ordered always. Adapting new normal is a concern throughout the globe. In societies of west, people are not ready to avoid crowd, public vehicle, religious congression as well as maintaining physical distance. Attitudinal ideology of people in India is not individualism rather collectivity. There is a strong bondage of community as well as neighbour-hood feeling. People are accustomed to conglomerate in religious as well as socio-cultural festivals. Systematic queue is hardly seen in bus stand, shop or marketplace. Moreover, there is established inequitable hierarchy in terms of caste, class, education, occupation and locality in India. Unequal hierarchical composition in Indian society contributes in unequal attitude, practices, habits and beliefs regarding all aspects of cultural milieu including health and health seeking behavior. In a country like India people in general and rural as well as semi urban-setting in particular do not get ready to accept new things. They have fear to lose their own culture. Assam is not exceptional in this regard. Being agrarian society Assam is dominated by rural setting following rural culture. The Study areas geographically located in Southern part of Assam bordering Bangladesh is predominated by rural culture and outlook even after three decades of globalization. Hence the present study intends to seek to investigate: the way people are adopting with new-normal life. It seeks to know social arrangement in the attitude of people.