New Delhi: On October 13, 2010, Ravi Mohan, Spokesperson for Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), said that the university is planning to launch a master’s degree programme in Folklore and Culture Studies. It is also planning a website on Folklore.
As per sources, the recommendations have been made by Professor Nandini Sahu, Associate Professor of English, IGNOU. She made the recommendations at a two-day seminar on the Traditions of Folk in Literature. In her report, she said that it is important that policy planners are sensitive to the impact of the developmental processes on the marginalized communities.
In addition, Professor Sahu said that this seminar has contributed to two major concerns, first, it studied the marginal society in their specificity through literature, and second, it discussed the impact of the contact with more complex societies on the marginal communities as tribes.
Professor K R Srivathsan, Pro Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, said that the study of folk traditions is a must in Universities. He added that hundreds of streams of folk literature are disappearing, including local deities, songs and stories.
