The Research Dialogue

Author: Rajnibala

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64880/theresearchdialogue.v5i2.58

Abstract:

Rajasthani folk tales constitute a rich repository of cultural memory, preserving the historical consciousness, social values, and collective experiences of the communities from which they emerge. This study examines selected Rajasthani folk tales through the theoretical framework of New Historicism to explore the dynamic relationship between literary narratives and the socio-historical contexts that shape them. Rather than treating folk tales as isolated imaginative creations, the study interprets them as cultural texts that both reflect and construct historical realities. It investigates how themes of heroism, gender, caste, kingship, resistance, and regional identity are negotiated within these narratives, revealing the interplay of power, ideology, and memory. By reconstructing cultural memory through oral traditions, the paper highlights the role of Rajasthani folk literature in preserving marginalized voices and indigenous knowledge systems. The study demonstrates that folk tales remain vital cultural documents for understanding Rajasthan’s evolving historical and cultural identity.

Keywords: Rajasthani folk tales; cultural memory; Qualitative research; heroism, gender, caste, kingship, resistance.

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