Krishi O Loksanskriti (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Author: Monanjali Bandopadhyay & Kalyan Chakraborty
• Publisher: Bangiya Sahitya Samsad
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9789383590544

About the Book

Krishi O Loksanskriti (Bengali Version) is a pioneering interdisciplinary study that explores the deep and enduring relationship between agriculture and folk culture in Bengal. Centered on the concept of Farmlore or agricultural culture, the book examines how farming practices, rural traditions, and community life have collectively shaped a distinctive cultural heritage rooted in the intimate bond between land and people.

The authors present agricultural culture as far more than a system of food production. It is portrayed as a way of life that has evolved over centuries, preserving the collective wisdom, beliefs, rituals, customs, songs, festivals, and ecological knowledge of agrarian communities. The book demonstrates how the rhythms of cultivation, seasonal cycles, and the natural environment have profoundly influenced the cultural identity and worldview of rural society.

Drawing upon the disciplines of folklore, cultural anthropology, rural studies, environmental history, and agricultural heritage, the volume investigates the cultural dimensions of farming and the symbolic significance of the soil as the source of life and sustenance. It explores the interconnectedness of nature, human labor, spirituality, and traditional knowledge, revealing how these elements continue to shape folk traditions across generations.

One of the distinguishing features of the book is its interdisciplinary approach. Dr. Monanjali Bandopadhyay and Dr. Kalyan Chakraborty, recognized pioneers in integrating the academic study of agriculture and folklore, combine theoretical perspectives with extensive research to establish a new framework for understanding agrarian culture. Their work illustrates how agricultural practices and folk traditions can be studied both as interconnected cultural systems and as independent academic disciplines.

The book also emphasizes the importance of documenting and preserving agricultural traditions in an era of rapid social and technological change. By highlighting the cultural values embedded within rural life, it encourages readers to appreciate agriculture not only as an economic activity but also as a living repository of intangible cultural heritage.

An invaluable resource for students, researchers, folklorists, anthropologists, rural development scholars, and readers interested in Bengali folk culture, Krishi O Loksanskriti offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between agriculture, tradition, and cultural identity.