Adibasi Sangeet Patabhumi Maldah (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Author: Chandana Saha
• Publisher: Bangiya Sahitya Samsad
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9789385131455

About the Book

Adibasi Sangeet Patabhumi Maldah (Bengali Version) is a significant research-based study that explores the musical traditions, oral heritage, and cultural identity of migrant tribal communities residing in the Malda district of West Bengal. Combining the perspectives of cultural anthropology, folklore studies, and sociology, the book sheds light on an important yet often neglected aspect of indigenous cultural history.

The colonial exploitation of India's natural resources and labor force brought profound social and economic disruptions to many tribal communities. As a result of displacement, marginalization, and economic hardship, numerous indigenous groups were compelled to leave their ancestral homelands and settle in new regions. While the socio-economic dimensions of these migrations have been discussed in various academic studies, the literary, musical, and cultural traditions carried by these communities have received far less attention.

Addressing this gap, Chandana Saha undertakes a detailed investigation into the oral traditions and musical heritage of four migrant Austric-Dravidian tribal communities living in Malda. Through extensive fieldwork and firsthand documentation, the author examines how these communities have preserved, adapted, and transmitted their songs, folklore, and cultural memories across generations despite geographical displacement and changing social conditions.

The study provides a nuanced analysis of the role of music in maintaining collective identity, preserving historical memory, and expressing the emotional experiences of migration and cultural continuity. By documenting the current state of tribal musical traditions long after migration, the book offers valuable insights into the resilience of indigenous cultural practices and the challenges they face in the modern world.

Grounded in rigorous field research and supported by the methodologies of cultural anthropology and sociology, Adibasi Sangeet Patabhumi Maldah is an important contribution to the study of tribal culture, folk music, oral literature, and regional history. It highlights the significance of preserving indigenous cultural heritage and broadens our understanding of the diverse cultural landscape of Bengal.

An essential resource for researchers, students, folklorists, anthropologists, and readers interested in indigenous studies, this book stands as a valuable document of the living cultural traditions of migrant tribal communities in Malda.