Cultural Forms and Practices in Northeast India

ISBN-13: 9789811992919 / Angielski

Kailash C. Baral

Opis

The present book examines the cultural diversities of the Northeast region in India. The chapters cover various aspects of cultural forms and practices of the communities. It serves as a bridge between vanishing cultural forms and their commodification, on the one hand, and their cultural ritual origins, evolution and significance in identity formation, on the other. The book analyses the continuity of cultural forms, their plural embodied representations associated with people's belief systems and their reinventions under globalisation. Further, the book underlines historical forces such as colonialism and religious conversion that transformed socio-cultural practices. Yet some of the pre-colonial, ritual-performative traditions hold on. Theoretically rich in analysis, this book presents a balanced view of the region's historical, ethnic-folk and socio-cultural aspects. The book is invaluable to students and researchers in cultural studies, anthropology, folklore, history and literature. It is also helpful for those critical readers engaged in research and interested in Northeast cultural forms and practices.

Spis treści

Chapter 1. Plural Embodiments: The Performative World of Chapter 2. Sankari Vaishnavism in Assam (Dhurjjati Sarma).- Chapter 3. Sattriya Tradition of Assam: Rituality, Memory and Transmission (Anwesa Mahant).- Chapter 4. Ojapali: the Sacred and the Secular in Assamese Folk Performance Culture (Dhira Bhowmick).- Chapter 5. From Sacred to Popular: Demystifying Ojha-Nach of Barak Valley (Sib Sankar Majumder).- Chapter 6. Bihu from Meadows to the Rostrum (Monalisa Borgohain).- Chapter 7. Kushan Gaan: Retelling of the Ramayana (Preetinicha Barman).- Chapter 8. Kherai Ritual and Cultural Performance: Worldviews of the Bodos (Rustam Brahma and Dwijen Sharma).- Chapter 9. The Maibi Tradition and Lai Haroaba (Ahanthem Homen Singh & Dhurjjati Sarma).- Chapter 10. Shamanism Among the Adis (Karyir Riba).- Chapter 11. Religion as Culture: Analysing the Mizo Discourse (Margaret L.Pachuau).- Chapter 13. Cultural Colonialism, 1904-1911 (Sajal Nag).- Chapter 14. Jagoi Raas, the Manipuri Raas Lila (Tayenjam Bijoykumar Singh).- Chapter 15. When (and Where) Ritual is not Romance: Chapter 16. Liminality, Gender and Storytelling Among the Khasis (Jobeth Ann Warjri).- Chapter 17. Cultural Recovery and Reformation: Tourism and the Hornbill Festival at Kisama (Theyiesinuo Keditsu).- Chapter 18. Mizo Tlawmngaihna: Then and Now (Lalthansangi Ralte).- Dynamics of Popular Culture: Jatra in Assam (Namrata Pathak).

O autorze

Kailash C Baral, presently Vice Chairman of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), under the Ministry of Culture, GOI, was a former Professor of English and India Studies at the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, where he also held the position of Pro-Vice Chancellor. He has authored and edited ten books so far; his latest work (2nd edition), published by Routledge, UK, is Theory After Derrida: Essays in Critical Praxis. He has more than 50 international and national publications in journals and about 30 book chapters. He was awarded the Narindra Pradhan Award by the former American Studies Research Centre at Hyderabad. Besides, he is also a recipient of the British Council Travel Fellowship. His research interests include Critical theory, India Studies and North East Studies.

Blurb

The present book examines cultural diversities of Northeast India. The sixteen essays included in the volume cover various aspects of cultural forms and their practices among the communities of Northeast. The present volume is expected to serve as a bridge between vanishing cultural forms and their commodification, on the one hand, and their cultural ritual origins, evolution and significance in identity formation, on the other. The book analyses continuity of cultural forms, their representations and often their reinventions under globalisation. Further, the book underlines historical forces such as colonialism and religious conversion that have transformed communities and their cultural practices. Yet some of the pre-colonial, ritual-performative traditions hold on. Through insightful analyses, this book offers an informed view of the region’s historical, ethnic and cultural practices. It is expected that the volume will be useful for scholars and students interested in Northeast studies.