Within a span of six months, the centre has successfully conducted an online course on Introduction to Ethnomusicology: Music, Culture, and Society from 7th Jan to 29th Feb 2024 co-ordinated by Mekhala Chattopadhyay and Mir Masudul Hoque and is gearing up to conduct its second online course from 10th April to 31st May 2024 on Performance Studies, titled “The Expressive Canvas: An Introduction to Performance Studies” under the able coordination of Bidisha Chakraborty and Kuntalika Jharimune.
Folklore Studies Network, an arm of CFSR, is an active group that boasts over 60 members worldwide who foster collaboration and knowledge exchange in the field of folklore studies, which is a monthly and sometimes quarterly online reading session in the field of folklore studies. These sessions observe a vibrant engagement of knowledge and discussions through critical thinking.
Apart from the online reading session, the centre under the counsel and moderation of Spandita Das, PhD scholar at IIT Delhi, conducts the Young Folklorist’s Talk Series, which is a particularly important forum as it allows emerging scholars to share their research areas and engage with the participants.
The centre has successfully constituted a library which houses an extensive collection of over 5000 books, which will help promote the learning initiatives among scholars.
Continuous workshops are held with folk artists and performers engaging with diverse traditional artists such as Patua, Jari, and Alkap artists, nurturing cultural exchange, preservation, and cultivating a deep-rooted connection with lesser-known traditional folk forms.
The organisation has collaborated for a conference on “Preserving Cultural Heritage: Empowering Folk Artists for a Sustainable Future” under the able guidance of scholar-artist Mrittika Malakar.
The centre has also collaborated with the Rarh Folk Festival held between 8th and 10th March 2024, which provided an immense opportunity for exploring the vast arena with cultural performances, workshops, talks, seminars, and mutual exchange of ideas.
The Folk Digital Archive is actively involved in curating and archiving resources through extensive fieldwork and visits to various festivals, thereby preserving our cultural heritage for generations to come.
The Centre for Folklore Studies and Research (CFSR), in collaboration with Gour Mahavidyalaya (Malda), Dhupguri Girls’ College (Jalpaiguri), and Ghoksadanga Birendra Mahavidyalaya (Cooch Behar), is organizing an add-on course titled Introduction to Folklore Studies.The course will begin on 6th January 2025 and conclude in the third week of January 2025. Debolina Guha Thakurta will serve as the program coordinator on behalf of CFSR. The medium of instruction will be bilingual, in English and Bengali.
Dnyanprassarak Mandal’s College and Research Centre, Department of English, in collaboration with the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), Government of Goa, & Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts & Centre for Folklore Studies and Research (CFSR), is organizing a Two-Day National Seminar on the theme: “Deciphering Indian Folk Heritage: Revisiting the Past & Reevaluating the Present to Rethink the Future” Date: 10th & 11th January, 2025
The Centre for Folklore Studies and Research (CFSR) is pleased to announce the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dhupguri Girls College, Jalpaiguri . This collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening academic and cultural ties between our institutions. As a part of this partnership, CFSR, in collaboration with the Department of English and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Dhupguri Girls College, hosted a workshop titled “Understanding Folk: Fieldwork and Digitisation.” This workshop aimed to provide students and participants with valuable insights into the methodologies and importance of fieldwork in folklore studies. It also emphasized the critical role of documentation in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. This workshop is the first of many initiatives planned under the MoU, reflecting our shared commitment to fostering academic excellence and cultural preservation. We look forward to future collaborations that will further the goals of both institutions in promoting and sustaining the rich traditions of folklore.
The Centre for Folklore Studies and Research (CFSR) is pleased to announce the successful organization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with Sitalkuchi College, Cooch Behar. This collaboration marks a significant step towards enhancing academic and cultural ties between our institutions.
As part of this partnership, CFSR, in collaboration with Sitalkuchi College, hosted an induction program titled “Understanding Fieldwork and Documentation.” This seminar aimed to provide students and participants with valuable insights into the methodologies and importance of fieldwork in folklore studies. The program also emphasized the critical role of documentation in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. This induction program is the first of many initiatives planned under the MoU, reflecting our shared commitment to fostering academic excellence and cultural preservation. We look forward to future collaborations that will further the goals of both institutions in promoting and sustaining the rich traditions of folklore.
The Department of English at Gour Mahavidyalaya, in collaboration with the Centre for Folklore Studies and Research (CFSR), is organizing an online workshop on “Mastering Fieldwork Reports in Folklore Studies” as part of the MoU activities and program. The session will be led by the CFSR team and moderated by Dr. Arun Pramanik, Assistant Professor of English at Gour Mahavidyalaya. The workshop is scheduled for 4th July 2024, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, and will be held on the Google Meet platform.
We were pleased to announce that the Centre for Folklore Studies and Research presented an eight-week online short-term course titled “Digital Archiving in the 21st Century: Issues and Challenges,” which took place from July to August 2024.
The Centre for Folklore Studies Research (CFSR) recently signed an MoU with Gour Mahavidyalaya, Malda, under the leadership of Dr. Arun Pramanik, Sujauddin, and Subhanwita Sinha. They have worked diligently to collaborate with the students of Gour Mahavidyalaya. The students have been highly engaged, working hard from morning to evening to document the Ramkeli Mela 2024. They have collected many previously unknown stories from the field. We eagerly await the publication of these stories for our readers. We extend our gratitude to all the leaders who have joined us in this effort.
On 31st May,2024 we signed an MoU with Gour Mahavidyalaya to work on preserving the folklore aspects of Malda. Suman Saha delivered a speech on audio-visual documentation. Our member Subhanwita Sinha, who is working on the Gambhira culture of Malda, also participated in the event along with Shuja and Dr. Dhirtiman Chakraborty, IQAC Coordinator, Gour Mahavidyalaya.
The CFSR team has signed an MoU with Gour Mahavidyalaya, Malda, opening a new door for cooperation and collaboration with the college. A joyous moment with Dr. Ashim Kumar Sarkar, the principal of the college, was captured in the frame. We thank Dr. Arun Pramanik and the respected principal for making this possible and for the successful workshop on “Bridging the Gap: A Hands-on Guide on Fieldwork and Documentation.” We are highly honored and pleased to walk together for the betterment of the students and the community we will explore further together. Again, we express our gratitude to the CFSR team, the students, and the teachers of the college who supported us throughout the day.More than 50 students from the English and Journalism and Mass Communication departments participated in the workshop. Many more initiatives are on the way. Stay tuned.
We’ve got the opportunity to attend the Bhaba Pagla yearly Utsav at Kalna Dham on May 11th and 12th, 2024. Despite the lengthy distance of around 150KM and the lack of proper transportation from our location, we are determined not to miss this chance to revisit. This will be our second visit to the festival, where numerous singers from Bengal gather to pay homage to Bhaba Pagla through his songs and philosophy. His legacy, akin to other revered philosophers like Lalon, Bijoy Sarkar, and Hasan Raja, transcends borders and time. Joy Bhaba Pagla! I’ve shared glimpses of this festival, which is impeccably organized. A heartfelt thanks to the team for their outstanding management, from which we glean valuable lessons.
The Centre for Folklore Studies & Research (CFSR) is dedicated to documenting various folk traditions of Bengal. Our team has documented the Astok tradition of Nadia District. To expand our efforts on rare and fading performances, we seek information on lesser-known traditions, particularly those facing decline.
We conducted a workshop-cum-performance on a regular basis, and this time, Amanat Fakir took the lead in coordinating the event at his location. Muslim wedding songs, which had become a popular and common practice during marriages, were the focus of the session. The workshop was held on 21st April 2024 at Amanat Fakir’s Akhra Bari, Pathan Para, Choa, Hariharpara, Murshidabad.
Centre for Folklore Studies and Sonamukhi College, Bankura, have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on various activities pertaining to the folklore of the Sonamukhi region. Together, we have documented the Sonamukhi Mela, with active participation from students of the college. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the college authorities and the Principal for their unwavering support and encouragement.
We are delighted to announce that Kalam Patua, alongside his fellow patua, is spearheading the effort to introduce folk education at the primary level. Their dedication to reviving the age-old tradition of patachitra painting is commendable. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Win English Academy for their collaboration and provision of space to showcase these vibrant artworks, enriching the minds of our young learners.
As part of the MoU, a one-day state-level seminar on “Reviving Rarh: Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Bengal” will be organized as a joint venture between Sonamukhi College and the Centre for Folklore Studies & Research (CFSR). The seminar is scheduled for 2nd January 2025 at the F2 Seminar Hall of Sonamukhi College. In line with decisions made at various district-based meetings to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Rar region, we have planned to organize seminars and workshops in colleges and universities leading up to the Rar festival. Plan Details: Workshops and seminars will be held in each district, featuring local folk researchers and artists. Efforts are being made to engage local colleges and universities to ensure their active participation in this initiative. Special emphasis will be placed on connecting students with the festival through these events.
The 2nd edition of the 8-week online course on “Introduction to Ethnomusicology: Music, Society, and Culture” will be held from November 7th to December 29th, 2024. The course is organized by the Centre for Folklore Studies and Research (CFSR) under the coordination of Dr. Mekhala Chattopadhyay and Mir Masudul Hoque.
Centre for Folklore Studies and Research presented an eight-week online short-term course on “The Expressive Canvas: An Introduction to Performance Studies” from April 2024 to May 2024. The course was coordinated by Dr. Bidisha Chakraborty and Dr. Kuntalika Jharimune.
The Joydeb Mela documentation featured our dedicated team of 8 members. In the captured photos, 7 team members were present. Our team excelled in capturing photos, recording videos, and more for our digital folk archive. We are grateful to Vicky, Rajib, Subho, Swagata, Shuja, Hasim, and Munna, for their invaluable contributions to the Joydeb Mela 2024.
The Centre for Folklore Studies and Research (CFSR) is excited to announce the upcoming 2nd Young Folklorist Conference, in collaboration with the Centre for Folk Culture Studies, University of Hyderabad, scheduled tentatively for March 2025.