Painted Words: An Anthology of Tribal LiteratureG. N. Devy May your granary fill till it overflows' Painted Words is the first collection of its kind: writings in a rich variety of genres by Adivasis and denotified tribals. Culled from all over India, the selections include tribal versions of the Mahabharat and Ramayan, colourful legends, rhythmic epics, poignant songs, oral histories and a simple but chilling play depicting the routine exploitation of tribal citizens. Anchoring such fancies as a magical flower, a bed with golden legs and a girl who lights cooking fires with her tongue are the realities of political graft, wedding-day debacles and rank police brutality. Edited by one of India's foremost literary critics, Painted Words spotlights a rarely seen, barely understood facet of India's cultural heritage, and shows how deeply intertwined are the mainstream and tribal traditions. |
Contents
From the Bhilli Mahabharat | 11 |
From the Kunkana Ramayan | 35 |
From Manteswamy | 63 |
Copyright | |
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Apsara arrow asked Assistant Superintendent Baji bath beat began Behold our Shiva bhakar Bhau brother Budhan Chhura child Constable Dada dance Dasharatha daughter denotified Draupadi drink Dwaraka earth eyes father flowers forest Ganga gave girl give gods guru hand Hastinapura husband Inspector Ashok Roy Janaka Jibla Kaba Kauravas kill King Dasharatha King Jambumali King Janaka Kisto Babu Kumari Kunti leave linga live looked Lord Shiva Makar Mansinha marriage marry Maushi meal morning mother Mount Kailash mridangi Nana Nemichand Nerla night old woman paan palace of clouds panchayat Pandavas Parvati Phaltan Phulbakavali playing police station queen Rani Ravana rupees Sabar Salvan Sanawatji Santanu Savar Shyamali Siddayya Sita sitting Sonepeth song spoke Sridhar started tanda Tejan Bal tell thought told took tree tribal Vasuki village wedding wife