Introduction to 'Folktales from India'

1. Culture and Context in Folk Tales

According to A. K. Ramanujan, folktales change their meaning based on the culture and situation in which they are told. He explains that folktales are not fixed stories but keep evolving as people retell them in different times and places. Here are some key points that show how context and culture shape folktales:

1. Written vs. Oral Traditions:
   Indian culture has both written traditions (known as the Great Tradition) and oral traditions (called the Little Tradition). Folktales belong to the oral tradition and change based on the region, language, and social group of the people telling them.

2. Folktales Keep Changing:
   Folktales do not stay the same. They adapt to fit new situations while keeping their main ideas. Ramanujan compares this to a carpenter’s knife—over time, both the handle and blade are replaced, but people still call it the same knife. Similarly, folktales change their details to match current times while keeping their core story.

3. Mixing of Different Cultures:
   India has many languages and traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Christianity. These different traditions influence each other, and folktales often include elements from many cultures. This makes folktales common across India, even though they may have different versions in different regions.

4. Stories Depend on Who Tells Them:
   The meaning of a folktale depends on who tells it, who listens, and where it is told. A grandmother telling a tale at home may focus on family values, while a storyteller performing for a village audience may add humor or political messages. A story told in a religious setting may carry a spiritual lesson, while the same story told at a workers’ gathering may reflect struggles in daily life.

5. Folktales Teach and Reflect Society:
   Folktales are not just for entertainment; they also show real-life social relationships. For example, in a village meeting, a man told a story about a Meo outsmarting two Muslims. The story was not just about a clever trick; it reflected the real tensions and relationships in the community. In this way, folktales can teach lessons, reinforce traditions, or even question authority in a subtle way.

6. Same Story, Different Meanings:
   A folktale can have different meanings in different places. For example, the proverb "It’s dark under the lamp" exists in both Kannada and Kashmiri but carries different meanings in each culture. This shows that stories and sayings change as they move from one place to another.

7. Folktales in Homes and Public Places:
   In Indian families, folktales are often told at mealtimes to keep children engaged. Servants and workers also tell stories, giving insights into different social backgrounds. In contrast, professional storytellers and performers tell folktales in public, mixing ancient stories with modern events to keep them relevant.

Summing Up:

Ramanujan’s study shows that folktales do not have just one fixed meaning. Instead, their meaning changes depending on where, when, and by whom they are told. By looking at folktales in their real-life settings, we can better understand the richness and complexity of Indian culture.