The University of Hyderabad, an Institution of Eminence is putting on the second edition of the Golden Jubilee Distinguished Lecture Series on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee celebrations, from July to October, 2024. The series organised by the School of Social Sciences offers vibrant lectures of experts on diverse topics. On 9th August 2024 at 3 p.m., at the C.V. Raman Auditorium, University of Hyderabad the lecture titled ‘Folk Culture: From Documentation to Dissemination’ was delivered by the speaker, the folklorist and media expert, Balakrishnan Koyyal.
In the presence of the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Professor Jyotirmaya Sharma, professors and enthusiastic students, the chair of the event, Dr. Joly Puthussery, Head of the Centre for Folk Culture Studies welcomed the speaker. The address briefed the audience about Balakrishnan Koyyal’s rich career in the All India Radio, spanning across thirty-seven years and his journey from Kerala to Kolkata to Kurseong to Kochi documenting lives. The address highlighted the speaker’s valuable contributions in the radio programme, Veedum Vayalum (House and Field), engaging it with several folkloric inputs and in the promotion of radio for children; along with his contributions in publishing and editing.
Balakrishnan Koyyal began the lecture by conveying that it was a privilege to have invited for the lecture. He introduced the topic of the lecture, documentation and dissemination of folk culture by stressing on the relevance of folk culture and the need to document. An expert in the arena of broadcasting, the speaker in his introductory note said that documentation is not a mere mechanical act, but is a part of one’s duty to preserve and understand the value it adds.
In an engaging storytelling manner, the speaker recounted his days in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, journeying into the forests and encountering the Jarawa tribe. He reminisced how a chanced rescue of a tribal boy helped the contact team to establish a rapport with the tribe. The food for thought here is the etiquette of documenting, the insider/outsider perspectives, and its repercussions. An example addressed is that of land, resources and exploitation, noting that to the indigenous islanders, it is their own and they are reluctant to intrusion of any kind, even though documentation is particularly pressing in preserving their aspects of life. Also touched upon are the related concerns of policy making, inclusion and inflow of tourists. The presentation also discussed an audio clip of an Andamanese tribal woman Boa Sr singing in a language which is considered extinct and the Battle of Aberdeen which pushed many tribes of the area into extinction, in the context of dying languages and cultures, pointing at the urgency to document and preserve.
Speaking on the relevance of culture and its preservation, the speaker compared it to the roots of a tree and opined that for a society to flourish it is essential to maintain its roots. Drawing from his experience of searching a document in several archives in vain only to realise that it is unavailable in spite of being catalogued called attention to the sad state of affairs of maintaining records. The anecdote tried to drive home the point that documentation needs to be done professionally and sustainably for generations to access. Elaborating on documentation, dissemination and access, it is also emphasised that the process, though complex, entails a scope for celebrating diversity and promoting democratic values.
Supplementing the lecture with an audio-visual clip of charged performances and sacred face writings/paintings of Teyyam performers, the speaker made clear the significance of approval of the concerned party who is to be documented and the notion of sensitivity while doing so. In addition, he drove home the message that one needs to acknowledge the informant in the process of documentation. Describing the process, the lecture also mentioned that the post recording data and project files deserve indexing, quality check and backup.
Talking about the intersections of folk culture with several fields like anthropology, politics, sociology, and sciences, he suggested, “folk documentation is much underestimated.” He added that folk culture is a huge resource to speak history and to search history. Further, illustrated the example of confluence of fashion and folklore, where designers adapt folk elements to express through the costumes. Drawing on ideas from intellectuals like Roland Barthes and Antonio Gramsci, he stressed on the association of collective values, popular and folk culture and encouraged to come out of the reluctance towards documentation and to stretch its canvas.
On a topical note, the lecture mentioned the disaster in Wayanad and discussed on documentation during disaster. The speaker passionately describes the efforts gone into documentation of the traditional artists of Chavitunatakam of Gothuruth assuring them an ex-gratia post 2018 floods in Ernakulam, Kerala.
In the ensuing question-and-answer session, the discussion pivoted back to the notion of roots, its (ir)relevance in documenting folk culture. Another question pertained to the synthesis of folk culture and popular media and the discussion revolved around its potential and drawback. The event drew to a close on a note of vote of thanks by Dr. Joly Puthussery, followed by high tea and conversations. The event on documentation had come full circle as it ended with a photography session.
Contributed by Santhwana, Doctoral Candidate, Centre for Folk Culture Studies, School of Social Sciences