In this small volume the author has selected and adapted folk stories from the rich folk heritage of various parts of the Indian subcontinent, especially India. These moral fables feature kings, princesses, farmers, peasants, the foolish and the wise, as well as animals and birds, who, as in all the best folk tales, can talk. Wicked stepmothers and wily cheats get their comeuppance, while more innocent characters tend to learn their lesson in wisdom or receive their reward. These thought-provoking, simple stories will give pleasure to young and old.
This anthology includes eight traditional tales from all over the Indian subcontinent. Bright acrylic illustrations accompany stories of magical spirits in the mountains of the northeast, sneaky robbers and brave heroines in the heart of the Indus Valley, action and adventure in the far south, and much more!
The Indian Subcontinent has been at the centre of folklore inquiry since the 19th century, yet, while much attention was paid to India by early scholars, folkloristic interest in the region waned over time until it virtually disappeared from the research agendas of scholars working in the discipline of folklore and folklife. This fortunately changed in the 1980s when a newly energized group of younger scholars, who were interested in a variety of new approaches that went beyond the textual interface, returned to folklore as an untapped resource in South Asian Studies. This comprehensive volume further reinvigorates the field by providing fresh studies and new models both for studying the “lore” and the “life” of everyday people in the region, as well as their engagement with the world at large. By bringing Muslims, material culture, diasporic horizons, global interventions and politics to bear on South Asian folklore studies, the authors hope to stimulate more dialogue across theoretical and geographical borders to infuse the study of the Indian Subcontinent’s cultural traditions with a new sense of relevance that will be of interest not only to areal specialists but also to folklorists and anthropologists in general. This book was originally published as a special issue of South Asian History and Culture.
Soils and national characters differ, but fairy tales are often the same in plot and incidents, if not in style. Most of the 27 illustrated tales in this volume of Indian fairy tales are known in the West in some form or other; how can we account for their simultaneous existence in both Europe and Asia? In this volume we find stories about Punchkin, the evil magician, and the quaint myth: "How Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to Dinner," the magic fiddle, the broken pot, the tiger, the Brahman, the Jackal, and more. In short, Jacobs has made this book a representative collection of all the fairy tales of India. Some have declared that India is the home of the fairy tale, and that all European fairy tales have been brought from thence by crusaders, Mongol missionaries, Gypsies, Jews, traders, and many other travellers. After all, India is on one branch of the fabled Silk and Spice Routes, over which Europeans and Asians have been travelling for several millennia. We should be prepared, within certain limits, to hold a brief for India. The common fairy stories of the children of Europe, which form a greater part of their stories as a whole, are derived from Indian tales. In particular, the majority of the Drolls, or comic tales and jingles, can be traced without much difficulty back to the Indian peninsula. To assemble this volume, Jacobs has selected the best from the Jatakas, the Bidpai, the Tales of the Sun, the Baluchi folk-tales, and the folk-tales of Kashmir. It is only a further proof that fairy tales are something more than Celtic or Hindoo-they are human. So curl up with a sliver of the Indian sub-continent and lose yourself in a culture and lifestyle of the ancient, Eastern past. Part of a Social Enterprise Program 33% of the net profit from the sale of this book will be donated to organisations, charities and schools around the world.
Listen along with Ravi to Grandfather's captivating stories about India, where the sun is like a ferocious tiger and monsoon rains cascade like waterfalls. Notes after the story include facts about India's animals, food, culture and religion, and a simple elephant dance music score. AGES:4 to 10 years ILLUSTRATIONS: Colour
A collection of 20 stories from India's rich folklore heritage. From wicked magicians to wise old priests, charming princes and beautiful princesses, to greedy tigers and wily jackals, these magical tales are full of adventure and trickery, and infused with deeper messages about morality, Life and the world around us. Founded on the work of folklorist, Joseph Jacob, and from tales from India's Mughul period, award-winning author Bali Rai's lively retellings are a delight for readers of all ages. The book includes endnotes with a glossary, additional information as well as ideas for activities that children can do to explore the stories further.
