Tribal Songs Ballads and Oral Epics of Bastar

Contents: Preface. 1. The setting of the songs. 2. World view oft he tribes in Bastar. 3. Socio-religious oral poetry of the tribes in Bastar: an overview. 4. The legend of Lingo pen. 5. Songs and short poems. 6. Ballad poetry of Bastar. 7. Oral epics of Bastar. 8. New bearings in Bastar poetry. Bibliography. Index.

Tribal songs Ballads and Oral Epics of Bastar is a study that is perhaps the first of its kind. Folk songs poetry in Bastar has hitherto been viewed from the perspective of anthropology and or history. No one yet is known to have examined the socio-religious songs/poetry of the tribes in Bastar from the perspective of literary criticism. This is a new turf for studies on tribal societies in India and to that extent this book breaks new ground and sets new direction for future studies.

The importance of the book however extends far beyond literary criticism. In the words of the authors The tribes like those in Bastar have been practicing songs poetry for ages with an unfailing focus on its relevance to life. The oral songs poetry of Bastar is naturally instinctively spontaneously born out of a commitment toward life that reinforces all aspects of tribal worldview. To study it is both an enriching and humbling experience.

Written in a simple lucid and eminently readable style the book is bound to appeal to performing artists anthropologists sociologists literary critics and to any general reader interested in tribal India. (jacket)