Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025)

Editor-in-Chief

Professor (Dr.) Ashimananda Gangopadhyay

Journal of Cultural Research Studies

(ISSN: 2583-6137)

Vol. IV, Issue I, 2025

Published: 30-07-2025

Articles

  • Exploring the Essence of Ali Aye Ligang A Cultural and Agricultural Perspective

    Urbashi Lachit, Scholar, Agnimitra Bora
    1-15
    Abstract views: 234Downloads: 46
    Abstract

    The northeastern region of India is a vibrant landscape of folk literature, where each ethnic group carries a rich oral tradition shaped by its history, environment, and way of life. Among them, the Mising community has nurtured a distinctive and dynamic folk heritage, deeply embedded in their cultural fabric. Their oral literature, songs, narratives, and ritualistic expressions reflects their close relationship with nature, agricultural practices, and collective identity. However, as globalization progresses, traditional practices are undergoing shifts in their modes of transmission, influencing how cultural knowledge is preserved and shared. One of the most significant expressions of Mising cultural life is Ali Aye Ligang, an agricultural festival that marks the beginning of the sowing season. It is not just a celebration but a reflection of the Mising people's deep-rooted connection to the land and their agricultural traditions. The festival, observed with ceremonial rituals, music, and dance, is a cultural expression that binds the community together, passing down collective memories and values through generations. Yet, evolving socio-economic conditions and modern influences have brought changes to the ways this festival is observed. While it continues to hold cultural importance, its role within the community is adapting to contemporary realities. This paper explores Ali Aye Ligang in the context of Mising livelihood, analyzing its cultural significance and the challenges it faces in contemporary times.

    Keywords: Folklife, Mising Tribe, Agricultural Festival, Ali Aye Ligang, Cultural Identity

  • Archives of Unspeakability Food, Materiality and Emotional Aphasia in Indubala Bhater Hotel

    Ananya Sarkar, PhD. Research Scholar
    16-31
    Abstract views: 42Downloads: 31
    Abstract

    It is out of a recent turn in critical research that objects have started being taken seriously as potent elements in a circuit of emotional transaction. In The Politics of Nature (2004), Latour suggests that objects can be actants – “source[s] of action” (237) – that can “make a difference, produce effects, alter the course of events”. Building on this idea, I would like to use the scope of this paper to look into the potential that food carries as a mnemonic tool and as a critical “actant” in a cycle of affective or e-motional exchange. Memory and food have been found to be intrinsically related in various past research, and present an association the tenacity of which can hardly be challenged. But what is it about food that makes it such a powerful site of (re)constructing memory? What specific memories does food have the ability to etch? More importantly, in fact, how do those memories invoke nuances from the past in ways that also seek to inform perceptions of the present and visions of the future? To delve deeper into these questions, this paper intends to do a close reading of Kallol Lahiri’s Indubala Bhater Hotel (2017), a Bengali post-partition novel that looks at the protagonist’s struggle in a new country (amidst the volatility wrecked by the Bangladeshi Liberation War and the Naxalite movement in Kolkata) through her navigation of her past memories of food, home and nation. I specifically aim to look into a certain emotional aphasic condition of trauma/displacement survivors in the text, and explore how food becomes an important material avenue for the protagonist to recollect private memories and attempt to survive in an alienated land post partition.

    Keywords: Emotional materiality, Aphasia, Food, Memories, Displacement

  • Can the Native speak? Native American voices and the problem of representation and visibility in Hollywood . A Case Study of White American Directors Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick in Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) and The Shining (1980)

    Purbali Sengupta Mitra, Assistant Professor
    32-41
    Abstract views: 88Downloads: 62
    Abstract

    The invasion of the Americas is a distinctive moment in history, which is also a vanishing point for intense cultural clash, dislocation, and trauma. This paper meditates on the thematic concerns of settler colonialism, ethnic genocide, and Native subjection that is concomitant in every imperial project, and the problem of translating Native experience on screen. Invader colonization with cultural imperialism hand-in-gloves with missionization led to the eradication of Native cultures, histories, and identities in America. Two classic films by two white American filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick considered Hollywood Auteurs have been analysed in this paper to explore the complexities of depicting Native American History on celluloid. Set as a Western in 1920s Oklahoma, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) throws a spotlight on the Osage reign of terror; the unsolved murders of Native Americans by White Americans attempting to gain control over their oil rich land. Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980), on the other hand, deviates from its source (Stephen King's novel) to blatantly address the genocide committed on the Natives by the founding fathers of America. This paper explores some of the theoretical concerns of Filmic Orientalism to debate who represented the Native voices best.

     

    Keywords: Native American, Hollywood, Genocide, Orientalism, Representation

  • Folk Beliefs and Ecological Sustainability Unveiling Traditional Wisdom in the Sundarbans

    Srijita Roy
    42-53
    Abstract views: 117Downloads: 79
    Abstract

    Traditional ecological knowledge plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability, particularly in regions where formal conservation policies face implementation challenges. The Sundarbans, a vast mangrove ecosystem spanning India and Bangladesh, presents a compelling case of how local belief systems regulate resource management. Religious and supernatural frameworks, such as the worship of Bonbibi, fear of DakshinRai, and reverence for water spirits, establish informal ecological codes that govern activities like honey collection, fishing, and wood gathering. This study explores the intersection of folk beliefs and conservation practices, analyzing the role of sacred landscapes, supernatural entities, and oral traditions in promoting environmental stewardship. Using qualitative research methods, it aims to document the ways in which these traditional narratives contribute to sustainable ecological practices in the region.

     

    Keywords: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Folk Beliefs, Conservation, Sundarbans, Bonbibi, Sacred Landscapes

  • Folklore, Folk Studies, and Communal Harmony A Multifaceted Exploration

    Nilendu Chatterjee
    54-67
    Abstract views: 140Downloads: 65
    Abstract

     This research paper explores the intricate relationship between folklore, folk studies, and communal harmony. It examines how folklore, as a repository of shared cultural narratives, traditions, and beliefs, contributes to the formation and maintenance of social cohesion. Furthermore, it analyzes the role of folk studies in understanding and interpreting these narratives, highlighting their potential for fostering intercultural dialogue and promoting social harmony. The paper also addresses challenges and complexities, including the potential for folklore to reinforce social inequalities or divisions, and the limitations of folk studies in addressing contemporary societal issues. Finally, it proposes strategies for leveraging the power of folklore and folk studies to build stronger, more inclusive communities.

     

    Keywords: Challenges, Limitations, Social Harmony, Cultural Narratives

  • Singing to the Trees Bāul(s) Recasting BarṣāMaṅgal amid Climatic Dissonance

    Mir Masudul Hoque
    68-80
    Abstract views: 43Downloads: 49
    Abstract

    BarṣāMaṅgal, the traditional festival celebrating the monsoon, has long been entrenched in the cultural and agrarian life of Bengal, representing the deep interdependence between seasonal cycles and human existence. This paper explores the multifaceted significance of the monsoon, encompassing its historical,religious, literary, socio-cultural, and ecological dimensions, within South Asian thought and practices. Central to this inquiry is the Bāultradition, a mystic-heretic folk tradition from Bengal, whose philosophy venerates prakṛti (nature/ female self) as sacred and inseparable from the ‘self’. For the Bāul(s),the monsoon is not merely a meteorological event but a metaphysical metaphor that animates their deha-tattva (bodyphilosophy) and spiritual worldview.Against the backdrop of contemporary ‘ecoprecarity’ and escalating climatic dissonance, they are recasting BarṣāMaṅgal as a site of vernacular environmentalism and resistance, transforming it into a platform for ecological engagement through innovative ritualistic interventions, i.e., singing to trees, leading plantation drives, and organizing day-long events that promote coexistence and harmony with all living and non-living beings. Through an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates textual analysis, ethnographic observation, and ecocriticaldiscourses, this study critically examines how the Bāul’scosmo-poetic engagements with rain and rhythm foster a grassroots environmental imaginary, where the festival becomes both an archive of indigenous eco-wisdom and a performative protest against planetary collapse.

     

    Keywords: Bāul, BarṣāMaṅgal, Monsoon, Ecoprecarity, Vernacular Environmentalism

  • Painful Journey of the Refugee Women in West Bengal:1947-1971

    Sri Amrita Haldar
    81-97
    Abstract views: 45Downloads: 49
    Abstract

    The independence of India was a matter of triumph, joy, and honor to the people of India after being ruled by the British for a long time. But for the Indian people, this freedom came with many hardships, challenges, and sacrifices. Like other parts of India, Bengal celebrated India's Independence on 15th August 1947 in Calcutta with great joy. Another important issue associated with Indian independence in 1947 was the partition of India, which led to the creation of the two states of India and Pakistan. Even after the independence of India, issues such as the partition of Pakistan, the creation of East and West Pakistan, and the influx of refugees from East Pakistan became a cause of concern for the people of Bengal. The partition of Bengal became a cause of concern for the people of Bengal. As a result of the partition of India, many refugee people started entering Bengal from East Pakistan after 15th August 1947. In this case, the arrival was a painful and difficult one. All the refugees who entered Bengal from East Pakistan during this time had a very difficult journey, especially the women who had a very painful journey.  After the partition of India, many refugees had to leave their homes in East Pakistan and come to Bengal in the dead of night. In this case, the situation of children and women was very miserable, and their journey was very difficult.

     

    Keywords: Independence, Partition, Refugees, Painful, Rehabilitation

  • The Nature of ParaiyarDalit Devotion in Tamil Nadu Possession and Embodiment of Deity

    Sunil Basak
    98-109
    Abstract views: 26Downloads: 19
    Abstract

    The emotions ‘loyalty’, ‘love’ and ‘care’ which are attached to devotion are shifted to a metaphysical stance by Religion. It is always an aspiration to something which is beyond human boundaries. Although, it is a connect between human, earthly to gods, divine, there are modes to attach oneself to the divine through devotion. One of these modes of devotion is the nature of possession in worshipping Dalit deities in Tamil Nadu. Dalit deities are gods which are not recognized by Hindu pantheon but worshipped by Dalits. Possessions are states when a devotee is embodied by the deity, he/she is devoted to. It is a state when human and divine coincide a single flesh. Many forms of possessions are institutionalized with an inherited status of the devotee who is claimed to be the bearer of a deity, purity of heart with sexual purity are the primary criteria along the devotion to be possessed. Although suspicion to this mode is evident, communal belief and faith of their own deities have helped them form a unique identity for Dalits. Whether the devotion is true or not or what is nature of this devotion is the primary focus of this paper.

    Keywords: ,, , , 

    Keywords: Dalit Devotion, Possession, Embodiment, Host to Deity, Identity

  • Folk Crafts and Environmental Sustainability A Roadmap for Sustainable Development

    Dr.Shipra Bhattacharjee
    110-119
    Abstract views: 102Downloads: 66
    Abstract

    In the age of rapid industrialization and technological advancement, the importance of traditional folk crafts in promoting environmental sustainability cannot be overstated. Folk crafts, which are artisanal skills and practices passed down through generations, offer a unique pathway to sustainable development by fostering local economies, preserving cultural heritage, and reducing environmental impact. This article explores how folk crafts can be integrated into modern sustainability efforts, providing a roadmap for a more holistic and inclusive approach to environmental conservation.The intersection of folk crafts and environmental sustainability presents a unique opportunity for sustainable development, particularly in the context of traditional crafts that embody cultural heritage and ecological mindfulness. This paper explores the role of folk crafts in promoting sustainability, emphasizing their potential to foster community resilience, preserve cultural identity, and contribute to environmental conservation.

     

    Keywords: Folk Crafts, Environmental Sustainability, Development, Conservation

  • বাঁকুড়া জেলার আদিবাসী সম্প্রদায়ের খাদ্যাভ্যাস ও সংস্কৃতি

    Raju Biswas
    120-130
    Abstract views: 25Downloads: 25
    Abstract

    ইতিহাসওঐতিহ্যেরউপরভিত্তিকরেধারণাকরাযায় “বাঁকুড়া” জনপদেরমনুষ্যবসবাসেরসূত্রপাতহয়েছিলসুপ্রাচীনকালথেকে।এই “বাঁকুড়া” জনপদটি “মল্লভূম” অঞ্চলেরএকেবারেকেন্দ্রস্থলেঅবস্থিত।বাঁকুড়াতেবিভিন্নজনগোষ্ঠীথাকলেওপ্রধানতভূমিজ (সর্দার), মুন্ডা, সাঁওতালএইতিনটিজনগোষ্ঠীকেপ্রধানধরাহয়েছে।এছাড়াওকিছুউপগোষ্ঠীদেখাদেয়সেগুলিহলবাগদী, বাউড়ী, পুলিন্দ, জেলে, হাড়ি, ডোমপ্রভৃতি।আমিআমারগবেষণাপত্রেরমাধ্যমেদেখানোরচেষ্টাকরেছি “বাঁকুড়ারআদিবাসীসম্প্রদায়েরখাদ্যাভাসওসংস্কৃতি”।বাঁকুড়ারআদিবাসীসমাজেরখাদ্যাভাসেরতালিকায়ছিলমাছ, মাংসওঅন্যান্যখাদ্য।তাঁরাশামুককাঁকড়া, মোরগমাংসওপঞ্চনখাপ্রাণীরমাংসখেত।এছাড়াওমাছেরতালিকায়ছিলবিভিন্নরকমআঁশছাড়ামাছওসর্পাকৃতিবানমাছ। তাঁরাবিভিন্নঅনুষ্ঠানেআলাদাআলাদাখাবারগ্রহণকরে।শুকরেরমাংস, মুরগিরখিচুড়িতাদেরপ্রিয়খাবারেরতালিকায়পাওয়াযায়।বাঁকুড়ারআদিবাসীসমাজেরসংস্কৃতি বলতেআমরাদেখেছিমকরসংক্রান্তি, করমউৎসব, বান্দনাবাসাহারাই, গাজনমেলা, ধারারমেলা, ঝুমুরনাচপ্রভৃতি।যেসবসংস্কৃতিভারতেরআরকোনসম্প্রদায়েরমধ্যেদেখাযায়না। এদিকথেকেদেখতেগেলেতাদেরখাদ্যাভাসওসংস্কৃতিঅন্যসম্প্রদায়েরথেকেআলাদাওস্বতন্ত্র।

     

    Keywords: খাদ্যাভ্যাস, পরব, সংস্কৃতি, ভাষা, জনগোষ্ঠী, খাদ্য

  • ভারত-সংস্কৃতির দূত সুনীতিকুমার চট্টোপাধ্যায়

    Sukumar Gantait
    131-146
    Abstract views: 42Downloads: 25
    Abstract

    ভাষাচার্য হিসাবে সুনীতিকুমারের ব্যাপক পরিচিতি থাকলেও তিনি মূলত ভেবেছেন মানুষের সংস্কৃতি নিয়ে। যেহেতু ভাষা ও সাহিত্যের ব্যাপক অনুশীলন তাঁকে একইসঙ্গে ভারতীয় উত্তরাধিকারের মহত্ব সম্পর্কে শ্রদ্ধাশীল করে তুলেছিল, তাই ভারতীয় সংস্কৃতিও হয়ে উঠেছে তাঁর কাছে স্বাভাবিক অনুধ্যান ও অনুসন্ধানের বিষয়। তিনি বাংলা ভাষার ভাষাতাত্বিক ব্যাবচ্ছেদের মধ্যে বাঙালি জাতির ইতিহাসকে খুঁজে পেয়েছেন। তিনি এর সাথে উপলব্ধি করেন, যে বাঙালি খাঁটি বাঙালি হতে পারেনি তারপক্ষে ভারতীয় মহাজাতির শরিক হওয়া সম্ভব নয়, একই ভাবে অন্য প্রদেশের ভারতীয়দের জন্যও একথা প্রযোজ্য। আবার যিনি ভারতীয় মহাজাতির শরিক হতে পারেননি, তাঁর পক্ষে বিশ্ব সংস্কৃতির শরিক হওয়াও প্রায় একপ্রকার অসম্ভব। ‘বসুধেব কুটুম্বকম্‌’- এর ভাবনায় তাঁর সংস্কৃতি চিন্তা চালিত; রবীন্দ্রনাথের ‘দিবে আর নিবে, মিলাবে মিলিবে’ ভাবনায় তিনি নিজেকে ঋদ্ধ করেছেন আজীবন। বর্তমানে আমাদের চারিপাশে সাংস্কৃতিক বিপন্নতা দেখা দিয়েছে নানা দিক থেকে, এই বিপন্নতার মুহূর্তে অত্যন্ত জরুরি হয়ে পড়েছে ভারতীয় সংস্কৃতিকে বিশ্বের দরবারে মাথা উুঁচু করে পৌঁছে দিতে একসময় যিনি অগ্রণী মনীষীর ভূমিকা নিয়েছিলেন, তাঁর চেতনাকে আমরা কীভাবে অন্তরে গ্রহণ করতে পারি। মনেকরি, বাঙালি তথা ভারতীয় সংস্কৃতির এই প্রকৃত আর্দশকে উপলব্ধি করতে পারলেই আমাদের আত্মিক মুক্তি সম্ভব। আমাদের এই গবেষণাধর্মী প্রবন্ধে তাই আলোচনা করা হয়েছে।

    Keywords: নবজাগরণ, সংস্কৃতি, সভ্যতা, হিন্দু, ধর্ম, বাঙালি, ভারতীয়, রামমোহন, বিদ্যাসাগর, রবীন্দ্রনাথ, স্বাধীনতা, স্বদেশী আন্দোলন