Folk and Freedom Struggle: A Study of National Consciousness in Select Braj Folk Songs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68219/k8dn1x95Keywords:
Braj language, Cultural Nationalism, Freedom Struggle, Indigenous Literary HeritageAbstract
The Indian Knowledge System drew heavily from oral traditions as the accumulated memory of a civilisation, a source of values and of social consciousness. The folk songs as they have been sung and felt all over the world contain within them every human feeling that we experience towards Nature and towards other humans. In the region of Braj these songs became a special aspect of folk tradition and a dimension of human experience. Just as the whole of India fought valiantly for freedom from colonial rulers and gained independence, the folk songs of Braj felt the same passionate hankering for human freedom. And, indeed, the songs also expressed a strong feeling of belonging to the Indian nation. In this article some of the folk songs of Braj have been discussed which were composed and sung during the India’s freedom struggle. Many of these songs contain message of national struggle and inspire to serve country to make it free from bondage. These songs filled with patriotic feeling in vernacular language rendered great vibrations in the rural society as these are part of common life of Braj folk. In this article attempts have been made to analyse and discuss some of the patriotic songs in order to know the spirit of nationalism. This study is based on qualitative and interpretative approaches to read into the thematic trends, imagery and narratives in a select set of songs. It endeavours to grapple with songs that carry ideas of nation, sacrifice and collective combat through local idioms, symbols and cultural references particular to the Braj region. It also explores the role of folk traditions in bridging local cultural expressions with the larger national movement. The paper treats the Braj folk songs as part of the Indian Knowledge System and argues that oral traditions are a vital and largely unrecognised repository of nationalist thought and feelings.
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