Untitled Document
About the Book:
This publication explores various folk festivals, rites, rituals, beliefs and
oral traditions to understand the many processes that went into creating a unique
identity of the area of study – the Radh region of Bengal. The work has
been supplemented with intensive ethnographic fieldwork across the region, supplemented
by available archaeological findings, records and publications. Forming the
western part of the state of West Bengal (India), the present study focuses
on the districts of Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Mednipur (West Mednipur) and
is a representative of understanding a continuous process of historical development
to look into settlement patterns, migrations and resettlements, geographical
boundaries, royal patronages of festivals and beliefs and oral traditions, reflecting
ideas and identities.The local characteristics of these also helps to connect
the area to the larger picture of the region and also brings to context a historical
understanding with the bigger part of India. The fieldwork undertaken, was intensive
enough in nature and looks into rural communities, which have undergone important
processes of assimilation of thought processes and ideas, rendering them a distinct
identity.
The present publication will be of interest to not only common
readers, but anybody who wants to look into the study of history, archaeology,
anthropology of Bengal, eastern India, ethnography, religious studies, folk
culture, folk festivals, oral history and traditions.
Contents:
Acknowledgements
List of Maps
List of Figures
1. Introduction
2. Land and People
3. Historical Background
4. Survey of Ethnoarchaeological Data
5. Discussion
Appendices
Bibliography | Index
About the Author:
Dr. Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai is a Visual Anthropologist, author and international
columnist, her interests include – history, popular culture and communication
and intangible cultural heritage (ICH and oral history) of India and South Asia.
She lectures at Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, India. She has
been a Culture Specialist (Research) at SAARC Cultural Centre, Colombo, Sri
Lanka, a Research Grant Fellow (Indian High Commission, Sri Lanka) and an Assistant
Professor at Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune (India). She
is also on the editorial board of several international journals and has also
been a Guest Editor for Nidan- International Journal of Indian Studies- of University
of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa (2020-2022) for the issues on South
Asian Folklore.
|