Myth, Memory, and Identity: Ramkatha in the Tribal Cultures of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

This paper examines the rich tradition of Ramkatha (the story of Rama) as it has been appropriated, transformed, and lived by tribal communities in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Moving beyond the pan-Indian Sanskritic tradition represented by Valmiki's Ramayana and Tulsidas's Ramcaritmanas, the paper explores how Adivasi communities have made the epic their own through oral narratives that reflect their social structures, ethical values, and historical experiences. Through detailed analysis of the Kunkana Ramayana of the Dangs region, the Ramnami tradition of Chhattisgarh, and contemporary political engagements with tribal Ramkatha, the paper argues that these narratives constitute distinct literary traditions in their own right—"living" and "contemporary" literature rather than mere variants of a dominant text. The paper considers three interrelated dimensions: the narrative transformations that distinguish tribal Ramkathas from their Sanskritic counterparts, particularly in their treatment of gender and marginalised characters; the role of these narratives in constructing and preserving tribal identity; and the contemporary political context in which tribal Ramkatha has become a site of contestation over religious identity and cultural autonomy. The paper concludes by reflecting on what these traditions reveal about the nature of epic narratives in India and their capacity to accommodate diverse worldviews.