This festival presents the essence of a rich cultural tradition, bringing together artists, musicians, and community leaders. The event highlights India’s rich heritage of traditional music, caste narratives, and folk traditions, and emphasizes the importance of preserving these legacies. It reflects upon the role of art and cultural nurturing, while also explaining the unique socio-economic system of the pastoral shepherd castes of the Kuruba communities, which encompasses the complex relationships and shared responsibilities of animal husbandry and care. It explains the evolving concept of Jati Purana (caste narratives), traditional music, and “bhikshavrutti” (alms-seeking practices) in historical context, and connects them to India’s broader cultural identity. This session has also discussed the challenges faced by marginalized communities and their contribution to the preservation of indigenous art forms.

About The Speakers:
Dr Mrittunjoy Guha Majumdar is an Adjunct Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and an Assistant Professor at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Delhi NCR. He holds a PhD from the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. He has conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University, the Indian Institute of Science, and with Nobel Laureate Prof. Brian Josephson. His research spans quantum information, entanglement, and quantum machine learning. A recognized science communicator and policy advisor, he has worked with UNESCO, the G20, and the Government of India. He is the author of the bestselling book From Shiva to Schrödinger (Penguin) and National Convenor of Mandala, a platform integrating science and Indic knowledge systems.

Debasis Sarkar is an Anchor at The Sangam Talks and an independent researcher in Indology.