48. Prof. Suja Roy Abraham

Abstract 48
Dr.Suja Roy Abraham

Agricultural Folksongs of Central Kerala:  Orality and Resistance

Folksongs reflect the social, economic and cultural organization of the group which create them. These songs are handed down orally from generation to generation. Folksongs in general are expression of emotions that do not find an outlet in any other form either due to social restriction or due to personal inhibition.  They articulate discontent with issues such as casteism, sexism, economic exploitation and so on. Further, they also reflect a way of life closely associated with the land, in which life is not seen in terms of conflict with and conquest/subjugation of nature, but rather as a harmonious co-existence with it.

As the Kerala society was primarily agricultural, the peasant folks, the Pulayar and Parayar, were tied to agricultural work and their lives were tuned to the rhythms of the agricultural occupation. My paper aims to analyse some of the agricultural folksongs of Central Kerala as reflection of the social and political milieu. As literature of dissent  these songs voice protest against the issue of temple-entry and question the practice of barring the lower castes from entering the temple, restrictions on covering the upper parts of the body by lower caste women and  other evils of the society.

These songs are encountering a flail of opposition from the state Workers Trade Union as because of their subversive power. There is a dire need to preserve these songs as they are in danger of becoming extinct and along with them would be lost a vital, alternative paradigm for leading our lives in consonance with nature and voicing protests against structures of exploitation.