Loksangeet Sawrup Shoson O Prtikriya (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Author: Pankaj Biswas
• Publisher: Bangiya Sahitya Samsad
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9789382012764

About the Book

Loksangeet Sawrup Shoson O Prtikriya (Bengali Version) is an insightful study of Bengali folk music that explores its role as a powerful reflection of social reality. The book argues that folk songs are born from the lived experiences of ordinary people and therefore embody not only artistic expression but also the voices of communities responding to the social, economic, and political conditions of their time.

Moving beyond the conventional view of folk music as a source of entertainment, Pankaj Biswas demonstrates how these songs preserve the collective emotions, struggles, aspirations, and resistance of rural society. Rooted in everyday life, Bengali folk songs become cultural documents that record the experiences of working people and express their responses to injustice and inequality.

The book examines how themes such as exploitation, oppression, corruption, social discrimination, superstition, and abuse of power have found enduring expression in folk music. These songs often function as subtle forms of social criticism, giving voice to those who lacked access to formal platforms of protest. Through symbolic language, satire, irony, and emotional storytelling, folk singers transformed personal experiences into collective narratives of resistance and resilience.

By presenting folk music as a mirror of society, the author encourages readers to understand it as an important historical and cultural source. The study reveals how traditional songs document changing social conditions, moral values, community relationships, and popular perceptions of justice, making them invaluable resources for understanding the history and consciousness of ordinary people.

Drawing upon folklore studies, ethnomusicology, sociology, and cultural history, Loksangeet Sawrup Shoson O Prtikriya offers a multidisciplinary analysis of the relationship between music and society. It highlights the enduring relevance of folk traditions in interpreting social change and emphasizes the importance of preserving these musical expressions as part of Bengal's intangible cultural heritage.

An essential resource for students, researchers, folklorists, ethnomusicologists, and readers interested in Bengali folk culture, this book presents a compelling exploration of folk music as both an artistic tradition and a powerful medium of social commentary.