The Hindu : `Literary traditions of India and Sri Lanka similar'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Literary traditions of India and Sri Lanka similar'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, FEB. 2. Folklore is a "political tool," Sumith Nakandala, Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, said at a National conference on Folklore at the University of Madras today.

Inaugurating the proceedings, Mr. Nakandala discussed how folklore was "deeprooted in South Asia as a serious political weapon." He talked about Sri Lanka's rich tradition of folk songs, dances and tales. "I find there are common roots between Sri Lanka and south India." The literary traditions and stories of the two are "very similar," he said.

A discussion on how the country's educated elite hijacked much of India's folklore and literature and sanitised it to suit its situation, ignoring a rich oral tradition, dominated the proceedings.

The conference, centred on `Folklore as discourse', brought together academics, faculty, scholars and students of folklore.

In an attempt to focus on the status of folklore as discourse, both verbal and non-verbal, in India, Jawaharlal Handoo, president, Indian Folklore Congress in Mysore, said the "final purpose is to change society." He also talked about how there was a political process at work, which had historically undermined some aspects of knowledge — whether alternate medicine or alternate forms of music, dance and drama — and highlighted others.

The conference, organised by the National Folklore Support Centre, the Department of Anthropology, University of Madras, and the Central Institute of Indian Languages, will be held till February 4.

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