Voicing the Margins: Oral Traditions and Indigenous Resistance among the Birhor of the Purulia District in West Bengal

This research paper explores the oral narratives of the Birhor tribe in the Purulia district of West Bengal, focusing on their cultural expressions, worldview, and literary significance. Through their folktales, myths, and songs, the Birhor people have preserved their unique identity and historical consciousness. The study highlights how oral narratives function as both a repository of indigenous knowledge and a reflection of socio-political realities. Through a postcolonial lens, this paper examines the ways in which storytelling serves as a means of cultural continuity, resistance against external influences, and a voice for marginalized communities in a multicultural world. By engaging with critical perspectives on oral traditions and indigenous literature, this study contributes to the discourse on indigenous epistemology, literary traditions in India, and the significance of preserving subaltern voices.