Jadavpur University Documents Folk Songs and Oral Traditions of Bengal’s Language Communities

Jadavpur University in Kolkata is launching a new initiative, the Centre for Translations of Indian Literatures (CENTIL), continuing its strong tradition of work in literature and cultural studies. This project is crucial for preserving and promoting native traditions, especially since Bengal encompasses 28 language communities, all possessing rich collections of songs, stories, and oral narratives. Many of these traditions, however, risk being lost outside their respective communities. The fundamental goal of documenting and translating these works is to protect cultural heritage, give a voice to marginalised communities, and integrate them into the broader framework of India's social and cultural narrative.

In this realm, CENTIL at Jadavpur University is gearing up to work on the SPARC translations workshop project in collaboration with the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK. The objective is now to document and translate oral and written texts from four languages in Bengal: Nepali, Bodo, Lepcha, and Kudmali. Officials explained that there are 28 language communities in Bengal, each with its own rich repertoire of songs, tales, and stories. However, very few among the larger population know about these traditions. They further added that the translation of marginalised Indian languages could help make cultures visible in the national imagination while also benefiting communities to preserve and empower themselves.

The university further articulated how translation studies and the dissemination of major texts would allow representation of these traditions in academic curricula, eventually affecting how Indian multiculturality is perceived and understood by wider public minds. Part of the Academic Social Responsibility (ASR) in translation, linking scholarship with wider social impact, was described in the context of the project.

Professor Sayantan Dasgupta of the Department of Comparative Literature, the principal investigator, stated that the work will promote an understanding of Indian Knowledge Systems. He noted that this was among the chief suggestions of the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020. Progress is being reported by the team through field research and interviews with community leaders, singers, and storytellers. So far, a small archive of audio-visual material has been set up. At the same time, a book is being prepared about Academic Social Responsibility and the Role of Translation in conjunction with an annotated catalogue of genres from Nepali, Bodo, Lepcha, and Kudmali literature, archiving along with English translations.

The university expects these outputs to be completed by December 2025. Under the title Academic Social Responsibility and Humanities in India: Researching, Archiving, and Translating Indigenous and Marginalised Languages of West Bengal, the project has already included visits and lectures by the UEA partner faculty. This initiative stems from the idea that universities owe a duty to society and have a hand in nation-building. Observers have noted that this Jadavpur University Indigenous texts project shows how UK-India collaboration in archiving endangered Indian languages can contribute to cultural preservation.

The folklore and folk songs translation project is taken as part of a larger initiative toward securing indigenous oral literature in India. In documenting and translating texts, Jadavpur University demonstrates how higher education can lend strength in support of language preservation projects undertaken and thereby strengthening the scholarship of marginalised languages.

Editor’s Note:

The role of Jadavpur University of Kolkata has been recognised as a pioneer in literature and cultural studies. With its Centre for Translations of Indian Literatures (CENTIL), it has initiated steps to restore and promote native traditions. In Bengal, there are 28 language communities, each one with songs, tales and oral accounts in abundance. Still, the majority of these traditions remain unknown outside their communities, making documentation and translation paramount for the protection of cultural heritage and the empowerment of marginalised voices. The CETL project does translation workshops under the aegis of SPARC in collaboration with the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK. Translation and documentation of oral and written texts will be done in relation to four colonial languages of Bengal - Nepali, Bodo, Lepcha and Kudmali. Officials maintained that translations of such marginalised Indian languages may contribute to the visibility of these cultures in the national imagination while also strengthening communities and ensuring that their traditions are represented in academic curricula. Good progress has been reported on field studies, including interviews with community leaders, singers, and storytellers. Complementary to this effort, an audio-visual micro-archive has been established alongside the production of a book focused on Academic Social Responsibility and the role of Translation. Furthermore, an annotated catalogue of literary genres from Nepali, Bodo, Lepcha, and Kudmali, complete with English translations, is currently being prepared. These significant outputs, representing a major advancement in cultural preservation and scholarship, are anticipated to be finalised by December 2025.

Skoobuzz mentioned that the project shows how important it is for universities to take part in protecting languages and culture. By documenting and translating indigenous texts, Jadavpur University is helping to preserve heritage, support communities, and strengthen India’s multicultural identity.

FAQs

1. What is the Jadavpur University Indigenous Texts Project?

The project, led by the Centre for Translations of Indian Literatures (CENTIL) at Jadavpur University, aims to document and translate oral and written texts from marginalised languages in Bengal.

2. Which languages are being documented and translated?

The initiative focuses on Nepali, Bodo, Lepcha and Kudmali literature archiving, covering both oral traditions and written texts.

3. Who is Jadavpur University collaborating with on this project?

Jadavpur University is working with the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK under the SPARC translation workshop Jadavpur University scheme.

4. Why is this project considered important?

The project is essential because Bengal has 28 language communities, many of whose traditions remain unknown outside their circles. Translation helps preserve cultural heritage, empower communities, and strengthen India’s multicultural identity.

5. How does translation benefit marginalised languages?

Translation of marginalised Indian languages makes cultures more visible in the national imagination, supports community empowerment, and allows representation of these traditions in academic curricula.

6. What role does Academic Social Responsibility (ASR) play in this project?

The project is part of Academic Social Responsibility in translation, linking scholarship with wider social impact and highlighting the duty of universities in nation‑building.

7. Who is leading the project at Jadavpur University?

Professor Sayantan Dasgupta of the Department of Comparative Literature is the principal investigator. He explained that the work supports Indian Knowledge Systems, a key recommendation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

8. What progress has been made so far?

The team has conducted field research and interviews with community leaders, singers and storytellers. A small archive of audio‑visual material has been created, and work is underway on a book and an annotated catalogue of genres with English translations.

9. When will the project outputs be ready?

The university expects the book and annotated catalogue of Nepali, Bodo, Lepcha and Kudmali texts to be completed by December 2025.

10. What is the wider impact of this initiative?

Observers note that the project shows how UK–India collaboration in archiving endangered Indian languages can contribute to cultural preservation. It also demonstrates the role of universities in safeguarding indigenous oral literature in India and strengthening marginalised languages.