Page 101 - Sonbeel Utsab 2024

Cultural Traditions & Values:Re-looking at the Folk Derivatives &
Practices of Son-Beel, Barak Valley
Dr. Mala Sharma, Ex-Principal, Ramkrishna Nagar College

Since cultural traditions and values are rooted in every ethnic group and
community, it is generally manifested in their individual folk derivates and
practices. These distinctive rich, diverse legacies of cultural heritage and traditions
have existed from time immemorial and form the bedrock of such ethnic
communities—reflecting their legends, myths, folk songs, mythology and folklore.
The term 'culture' has been variously interpreted and represented by
thinkers, philosophers, social activists and humanists. The earliest definition was by
the Roman orator Cicero, who referred to it as “cultural animi” or the cultivation of
the soul. (web site citation wikipedia). The concept was used in various contexts and
discourses down the ages. Mathew Arnold defined the term as the best that has been
thought and said in the world. Again T. S. Eliot in his book Notes Towards a
Definition of Culture, pointed out that “A national culture, if it is to flourish, should
be a constellation of cultures, the constituents of which, benefitting each other,
benefit the whole” (p 58). Swami Vivekananda too, laid great emphasis on the
societal transformation through cultural exchange. He was in favor of cultural
exchange between the East and the West, although he was a staunch propagator of
the Oriental culture. For him culture meant the exchange of cultural values and
traditions, leading to expansion and not contraction. For Rabindranath Tagore too
culture meant a breaking of all barriers, an opening up or acceptance as well as
interaction of multiple cultures, and at the same time maintaining one's own cultural
identity.

Viewed from the above angles, cultural growth and development takes place
only when there is an exchange—a sense of giving and receiving the cultures of one
another. In a vast and culturally diverse land like India, societal transformation and
progress takes place only when this exchange continues to exist.

This paper is an attempt to focus on the long standing cultural norms and
practices of the fishermen community of Ratabari constituency in Karimganj district
of Assam. It also seeks to show how the area is trying to uphold its ethnic cultural
norms and practices derived from their ancestors, and at the same time inviting
modern technological help and assistance from the concerned Government
authority and NGOS, so that the region may prosper and open up to modern means,
as well as attract tourists and visitors from all over the country. This in its turn will
lead to societal upliftment and progress. The paper also attempts to invite
investigation and research in inter and intra disciplinary studies so that this region
rich in biodiversity, fishery, agriculture, folklore etc may open up new avenues of
thought and study.
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