Author: P C Roy Chaudhury
Publisher: Sahitya Akademi
Year: 2017
Language: English
Pages: 132
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8172016298
Description
This anthology of 78 folktales is the result of an attempt to collect some of the typical folk stories of Bihar. A few footnotes explain particular features of the story.
Folklore is a sure index to the early traditions and culture of the people. The term 'folklore' was coined in 1846 by W J Thomas, but the founder of the scientific study of the subject is commonly held to be Jacob Grim. The approach to folklore has varied from scholar to scholar. Max Muller interpreted it as evidence of nature myths. Sir L Gomme adopted a historical approach to the study of folklore; Malinowski and Radclife-Brown treated folklore as a very essential and integral element in a living culture. All of them have underlined the importance of this heritage.
The folk literature of India is exposed to many dangers. Academic snobbery, rapid urbanization and impact of industrialization have widened the gulf between the rural and urban culture. Fortunately the importance of folk literature is being slowly appreciated. This volume is a welcome attempt in that direction.
The compiler-editor of this volume has retold some of the popular folk tales of Bihar which are almost the same as in other parts of India. The tribal stories of Chotanagpur region have the same motif as the stories of other tribal regions.