Inter-group relationships of interdependence between the Adivasi people and the Jesuits in India: Emergence of a new identity.

This article examines the intergroup relationship between the Jesuit religious order and the Adivasi indigenous peoples in two Jesuit provinces in India—Gujarat and Jharkhand—through the lens of historical colonization and power asymmetries. Using grounded theory and qualitative interviews with Jesuits and Adivasis, the study identifies how Jesuit inculturation practices foster mutual respect and dialogue, leading to the emergence of a new, inclusive identity termed "Adivasi-Jesuit." This identity fusion reflects a symbiotic relationship where Jesuits empower Adivasis socially and culturally, while Adivasis contribute to the local Church’s vitality, contrasting with the stigmatization and pressures exerted by dominant Hindu and colonial influences. The findings highlight the dynamic, context-dependent nature of identity formation and suggest that such dialogical encounters can transform historically unequal relations into cooperative and empowering social identities.