Author: Shibaji Roy
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03120015
Abstract: The Rāḍha (Rarh) region — broadly spanning parts of present-day West Bengal (including Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia and adjacent districts) — is culturally rich with distinctive folk traditions and indigenous educational practices rooted in rural life. Folk culture in Rāḍha (Rarh) comprises music, dance, religious beliefs, festivals and oral lore that has historically served as a vehicle for informal education and social learning. However, modern mass education systems, shaped by colonial and post-colonial policies, have often marginalized local traditions. This article traces: the historical evolution of Rāḍha;s (Rarh’s) folk culture, how folk expression functioned as informal education, the transition to formal mass education, and contemporary efforts to reintegrate cultural knowledge systems. The review finds that folk culture not only embodies local epistemologies but also acts as an agent of community cohesion and moral development. Recognition of this has led to recent initiatives incorporating local art and narrative forms into formal education frameworks. Reasserting Rāḍha’s (Rarh’s) folk heritage within educational planning can help bridge gaps between formal schooling and indigenous knowledge, promoting inclusive and culturally responsive learning.
Keywords: Folk Culture, Rāḍha (Rarh) Region, Informal Education, Mass Education, Indigenous, Knowledge Systems.
Page No: 139-144