Folk Narratives as Living Ethics in India's Cultural Landscape at Pinkfest 2026 - Dialogue session
- indiapinkfest
- 3 days ago
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Folk narratives are deeply embedded in everyday life and serve as a bridge connecting individuals to their cultural roots.
Rajasthan | INDIA PINKFEST 2026 सामुदायिक स्मृति: लोक कथाएँ एक जीवित नैतिक परंपरा के रूप में Guest Panelist: Shri Narbada Prasad Upadhyay, Prof. (Dr.) Shalindra S Khushwaha, Prof. (Dr.) Tulika Gupta , Dr. Uma Joshi, Swati Vashistha (Moderator)
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A thought-provoking panel discussion on “Folk Narratives as Living Ethics” brought together scholars, artists, and cultural thinkers to explore how traditional storytelling continues to shape ethical values in contemporary society. The session highlighted the enduring relevance of folk traditions as carriers of community memory and moral frameworks.
Opening the discussion, the moderator emphasized that folk narratives are deeply embedded in everyday life and serve as a bridge connecting individuals to their cultural roots. These narratives, expressed through folk music, proverbs, performing arts, and visual traditions such as Rajasthan’s phad art, function as powerful mediums for transmitting ethical values across generations.
The panel underscored that this phenomenon is not confined to India but exists globally. Drawing parallels with Māori traditions in New Zealand, the discussion illustrated how short, wisdom-filled sayings continue to preserve cultural ethics worldwide.
A compelling example from Rajasthan was the story of Amrita Devi of the Bishnoi community, who, along with 363 others, sacrificed her life in the 18th century to protect trees from being cut down. The associated saying—“If the price of saving a tree is your head, it is not a bad deal”—reflects a deep-rooted environmental ethic that remains relevant today and resonates with movements like Chipko.
Folk storytelling ensures continuity of culture and values across generations. - India Pinkfest
UMA JOSHI - Author I Writer & Scholar
Scholar Uma Joshi highlighted the role of classical texts such as the Panchatantra in shaping moral understanding. She noted that these stories, widely circulated across cultures, are designed to impart ethical lessons and sustain cultural continuity through storytelling.
Rituals and celebrations, from birth to marriage, serve as mediums for transmitting ethical values. India Pinkfest Dialogue Session
Prof. Awdhesh Mishra - Writer & artist
Awdhesh Mishra elaborated on the relationship between individual values (sanskaar) and collective culture (sanskriti). He explained that when personal practices expand across communities, they evolve into culture, encompassing language, food, clothing, and artistic expressions. Folk arts, he emphasized, prioritize emotional expression over technical perfection and play a vital role in preserving ethical traditions through rituals and celebrations.
The discussion also touched upon symbolic practices embedded in rituals. An example from Rajasthan’s Thar region—the Mameroora Orna wedding ritual—illustrates environmental respect, where the first ceremonial cloth is offered to a tree, acknowledging nature as a provider.
Sustainability and Folk Wisdom modern consumerism poses a challenge to preserving these traditions, making it essential for current generations to revive and sustain them.
Prof. (Dr.) Tulika Gupta: Director of the Indian Institute of Crafts and design, Jaipur
Dr. Tulika Gupta stressed the importance of sustainability within folk traditions, noting that Indian cultural practices have long promoted reuse and conservation. She warned that modern consumerism poses a threat to these values and emphasized the responsibility of the present generation to revive and sustain traditional knowledge systems. Drawing global comparisons, she cited indigenous practices in Greenland that reflect similar principles of sustainability and respect for nature.
Indian Concept of “Lok” (Folk) - It encompasses all existence—humans, animals, plants, and nature.
Narmada Prasad: Author & Writer
Offering a philosophical perspective, Narmada Prasad explained that the Indian concept of lok (folk) is holistic and inclusive, encompassing all forms of life. He argued that in Indian thought, folk traditions give rise to formal knowledge systems, rather than the reverse. Citing examples from historical sites such as Bharhut, Sanchi, and Ajanta, he demonstrated how folk life has always been deeply integrated into artistic expression.
Folk art is described as a visual culture, rich in symbolism and metaphor
Prof. (Dr.) Shailendra Singh Kushwaha: Former Dean MSU Baroda (Fine Art)
From an art historical viewpoint, the final speaker highlighted the significant yet often overlooked contribution of folk artists. Despite being marginalized, folk traditions have played a crucial role in shaping classical art forms. During the Mughal era, Emperor Akbar incorporated folk artists into royal ateliers, where their creativity enriched mainstream artistic practices. Folk art, described as a vibrant visual culture, continues to reflect symbolic depth and imaginative richness, as seen in miniature painting traditions like Rasik Priya.
The session concluded with a shared recognition that folk narratives are not merely cultural artifacts but living ethical systems. As modern challenges reshape societies, the preservation and revival of these traditions remain essential for sustaining cultural identity and moral continuity.
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