The oral tradition is not just a heritage of the past, but a powerful key to understanding contemporary literature and society.
Raipur, January 23, 2026 / Under the Raipur Literature Festival 2026, a series of literary programs organized on the theme “From Beginning to Eternity” held its second session at the Lala Jagdalpuri Auditorium. In this session, an in-depth, thought-provoking, and meaningful discussion was held on the subject “Literature in Oral Tradition”, in which the historical role and contemporary relevance of the oral traditions of Indian literature were extensively deliberated upon.
In this discussion, renowned litterateurs Mr. Rudranarayan Panigrahi, Mr. Shiv Kumar Pandey, Dr. Jaymati, and Mr. Sudhir Pathak shared their views. The session was presided over by senior litterateur Dr. Mahendra Mishra. In their addresses, the speakers shed light on the various forms of oral tradition and their literary significance.
In his presidential address, Dr. Mahendra Mishra said that the oral tradition is not just a heritage of the past, but a powerful key to understanding contemporary literature and society. He stated that in changing times, the preservation, documentation, and sensitive transfer of oral traditions to the new generation has become a significant necessity today.
The speakers described the oral tradition as the main stream of Indian literature, stating that folk songs, folktales, proverbs, myths, and legends have been preserving the cultural memory of society for centuries. They said that before the emergence of written literature, the oral tradition was the primary medium for the communication of knowledge, history, life values, and social experiences, which kept the cultural consciousness alive from generation to generation.