Indian Folklore

The Central Institute of Indian Languages in collaboration with the Social Sciences Research Council of the USE organized a Seminar on Indian Folklore from August 22 to 26, 1980. This Seminar brought together about 26 folklorists of different orientation to exchange ideas and information regarding the collection, analysis and utilisation of Indian folklore materials. The Seminar discussed topics such as the relevance of folklore, in modern India, defining folklore and story Oikotypes, plant symbolism and Indian folk traditions, the concept of Indian folk hero, oral epics in relation to rituals of healing and possession, performance as paradigm: a study of Indian folk dances, the impact of oral traditions on Indian audience, folklore and mass media, oral epics and Indian value system, oral traditions and Indian women Several sessions were devoted to a thorough discussion of some of the issues on which there was overlap of concern among the collective thinking of delegates in these discussion sessions.