Kurmis and Kurmali  

Kurmis, a caste of cultivating people, belong to the Eastern part of India, mainly Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. In West Bengal, Kurmis are found in large numbers in the districts of Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. The Kurmis of different states have different social and economic status. Regarding the social status of the Kurmis of Bihar, Buchanan said they are "the aboriginal Hindu nations that were not of sufficient consequences to be admitted into the order of Kshatris, but too powerful to be thrust into the dregs of impurity". The original and characteristic occupation of Kurmis is agriculture. For their poor economic condition, some of them also work as daily labourers and personal servants in the households of people belonging to higher castes.

The language of the Kurmis is called Kurmali. At present, the Kurmis are very conscious about the preservation of their language and culture. Some Kurmali poets and writers have also emerged with creative works on their language and some fruitful translations of various renowned texts.

UGC-SAP III, DRS Phase II, Department of English, Vidyasagar University

Jhalda II, Purulia, West Bengal

UGC-SAP III, DRS Phase-II, Department of English, Vidyasagar University

10-11 March 2016

Kiriti Mahato
Sripada Mahato
Anadi Mahato

© Department of English, Vidyasagar University

Cultural Text, Linguistic Data, Naach, Dance, Gaan, Song, Performing Arts of Bengal, Performance Studies

JPG Image Files, AVCHD Video File

Bengali

Performing Art and Cultural Text

The Department of English, Vidyasagar University had undertaken a Field Trip to Jhalda II Block of Purulia, West Bengal during 10-11 March 2016 under the aegis of UGC-SAP III, DRS Phase II Project entitled "Translation, documentation, and conservation of Tribal Oral Folk Literature and Cultural Texts of West Bengal"

Cultural Text. Folk Performance/ Folk Drama of Bengal