The Social Status of Lutiha in Khorramabad

The social status of subcultures associated with musical professions in Iran’s cultural regions is a significant topic for examination. One such subculture is the Koli/Luli/Lori, scattered across Iran, with a history tracing back to ancient times in Iran and other countries. Their primary origin was Sindh, in present-day Pakistān, where they engaged in various activities, including music. Although this group, as a form of ancient diaspora, has preserved some of its cultural customs, it has also adopted certain elements from the host culture. One of these adopted elements is music. Currently, the main occupation of the Luti is music, but they sometimes engage in other activities that encompass a wide range, occasionally bordering on societal deviance. The Luti and Goroni, as a group of Koli, are also a group branching from the subculture residing in Khorramābād. This research examines the social status of the Luti, and given the research objective, it forgoes the examination of the Goroni’s life dimensions. The Luti of Khorramābād migrated to Khorramābād for various reasons and settled in certain neighborhoods. Since the establishment of this subculture in the region, despite efforts to adopt some cultural and social aspects of the host culture, the Luti have apparently failed to achieve a conventional social status. This is due to some of the Luti’s behaviors. This research addresses the social status of the Luti based on related social position theories and its various factors. In this research, social status is examined based on three levels: cultural, economic, and social. The research method is qualitative, the presentation method is descriptive-analytical, and the data collection method is based on field study (observation and interviews) and library resources (review of published Iranian and foreign studies). The most important research question is: What factors have influenced the manifestation of the social status of the Luti? The most important cultural aspect relates to religious matters, where a lack of adherence to religious laws and the formal acceptance of religious constraints sometimes leads to alienation. Occupational (economic) activity at three levels—playing music and dancing, engaging in manual labor, and, in some cases, behaviors contrary to norms such as begging, theft, addiction, etc.—has contributed to this issue. Social behaviors such as not continuing education, forcing women and children into unconventional activities, and other factors lead to their rejection and social frustration. Although after the 1979 revolution, the Luti participated in the war, and public attitudes towards the music profession have changed in recent decades, this has moderated some of the interactions in the region towards the Luti. Nevertheless, due to the long history of the influential factors mentioned, the Luti still do not enjoy a suitable social status. In summary, these factors have led to a kind of social isolation. These factors contribute to the emergence of resentment towards the culture of the broader society, concealment of their identity and feeling extraneous, non-marriage/marriage with the host society, frustration with the profession of playing music, and sometimes the migration of some Luti from Khorramābād.