সাঁওতালি লোকসংস্কৃতিতে পরিবেশচেতনা ও প্রকৃতি সংরক্ষণ/ Environmental Consciousness and Nature Conservation in Santal Folk Culture

Abstract

Santali folk culture, rooted in the indigenous wordview off the santals of eastern and central India, presents a profound and sustainable relationship between human life and nature. This paper explores the environmental consciousness embedded in Santali folk traditions, beliefs, rituals, festivals, oral literature, and customary practices, highlighting their relevance in contemporary ecological discourse. The Santals perceive nature not marely as a resource but as a living entity endowed with spiritual significance. Foreste, rivers, hills, animals, and plants are revered as sacred components off the cosmic order, governed by ancestral spirits and village deities such as Marang Buru, Jaher Era.

         Through an analysis of folk songs, myths, agricultural rituals, and seasonal festivals like Sohrai, Baha, karam and Erok Sim, this study demonstrates how Santali cultural practices promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, and ecological balance. Traditional agricultural systems emphasize coexistence with nature, avoiding overexploitation and encouraging regenerative practices. Sacred Place (Jaher Than) function as community-protected ecological zones, ensuring the preservation off flora and fauna. Folk narratives and proverbs transmit ethical value of restraint, respect, and responsibility toward the enviroment across generations.

          In the face of modern industrialization, deforestation, mining, and climate change, Santali folk ecological knowledge offers alternative models of environmental stewardship grounded in cultural ethics rather than legal enforcement alone. This paper argues that indigenous knowledge systems such as Santali folk culture are not archaic but dynamic and essential for sustainable development. Recognizing and integrating these cultural perspectives into contemporary environmental policies can contribute significantly to global conservation efforts.

           By situating Santali folk culture within the broader framework of eco-criticism and indigenous environmental philosophy, the study underscores the improtance of cultural diversity in addressing present- day ecological crises. The research ultimately calls for greater academic attention, documentation, and policy-level acknowledgment of indigenous environmental wisdom as a vital resource for humanity’s ecological future.