From Folklore to Religious Politics: A Study of the Character of Nagdo Betala

Dublin Core

Title

From Folklore to Religious Politics: A Study of the Character of Nagdo Betala

Subject

Nagdo Betala
Swapna Saraswata
Konkani folklore
communities
pre-colonial
religious
political

Description

Nagdo Betala is one of the central characters of the well-acclaimed Kannada novel Swapna Saraswata. The novel, metaphorically presents him as the community conscience of Gowda Saraswata Brahmins (GSBs). However, reading and analysis of this character from other sources offer us an understanding of how there is more to this character than what is normally thought of. The character of Nagdo Betala has its origins in the Konkani folklore. Many a different versions of an old folksong on Nagdo Betala are available as well as the varying interpretations of his personality. This paper aims to deliberate on the use of this folk character for religious motives and the concurrent political implications at work in deriving significant meaning for the different communities. These communities are seen either associating themselves with Nagdo Betala’s character or distancing themselves from him, and accordingly, try to elevate or degrade his personality.

Creator

Cynthia Mascarenhas, Mabel

Source

Artha Journal of Social Sciences; Vol. 14 No. 3 (2015): Artha Journal of Social Sciences; 1-11
0000-0000
0975-329X

Publisher

Centre for Publications, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore

Date

2015-07-01

Rights

Copyright (c) 2016 Artha - Journal of Social Sciences
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

Relation

Format

application/pdf

Language

eng

Type

info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
Text

Identifier

Citation

Cynthia Mascarenhas, Mabel, From Folklore to Religious Politics: A Study of the Character of Nagdo Betala, Centre for Publications, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, 2015, accessed November 7, 2024, https://igi.indrastra.com/items/show/158

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