The Making of Regional Cultures — Class 7 Social Science

Regional cultures refer to the distinct traditions, languages, art forms, food habits, and practices associated with specific regions of India. People are often identified by the language they speak and the region they live in.

Key Features of Regional Cultures:

• Language: Each region developed its own language and literary traditions over centuries
• Food Habits: Regions are associated with specific cuisines based on locally available resources
• Clothing: Traditional dress varies from region to region
• Art Forms: Dance, music, and painting developed unique regional characteristics
• Religion: Local deities and religious practices shaped regional identities

How Regional Cultures Evolved:

• Regional cultures did not exist unchanged from ancient times; they evolved gradually over centuries
• Present-day regional cultures are the result of interaction between local traditions and ideas from other parts of the subcontinent
• Rulers, traders, religious leaders, and common people all contributed to the development of regional cultures
• External influences such as Sanskrit traditions, Persian culture, and European ideas blended with local practices

The development of Malayalam as a regional language provides an excellent example of how language and political power shaped regional identity.

The Chera Kingdom:

• The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram was established in the 9th century in present-day Kerala
• Malayalam was spoken in this region and was introduced in inscriptions by the Chera rulers
• This is one of the earliest examples of a regional language being used for official writing

Sanskrit Influence on Malayalam:

• Sanskrit traditions strongly influenced Malayalam literature
• Many early Malayalam texts borrowed themes and vocabulary from Sanskrit
• A 14th-century text was written in Manipravalam, literally meaning "diamonds and corals"
• Manipravalam was a mixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam, showing how the two languages blended together

Significance:

• The Cheras gave political recognition to the Malayalam language
• The blending of Sanskrit and Malayalam (Manipravalam) shows how regional and pan-Indian traditions interact
• Language became a marker of regional identity in Kerala

The cult of Jagannatha (a form of Vishnu) in Odisha demonstrates how religion shaped regional culture and political power.

Origins of the Cult:

• The deity Jagannatha was originally a local tribal god
• The wooden image of Jagannatha is still made by tribal communities, showing the tribal origins of the cult
• Over time, the deity was identified as a form of Vishnu, linking the local tradition to the broader Hindu tradition

Political Significance:

• In the 12th century, King Anantavarman of the Ganga dynasty built the famous temple at Puri
• In 1230, King Anangabhima III dedicated his kingdom to Jagannatha and ruled as the deity's deputy
• Control over the Jagannatha temple gave rulers political legitimacy
• Mughals, Marathas, and the British all tried to control the temple to gain local support

Why This Matters:

• The Jagannatha cult shows how a local tribal deity was absorbed into the mainstream Hindu tradition
• Rulers used religious institutions to strengthen their political authority
• The temple became a symbol of Odia regional identity

The Rajputs played a central role in shaping the regional culture of Rajasthan, which was called Rajputana by the British in the 19th century.

Rajput Rule:

• From the 8th century, Rajasthan was ruled by various Rajput families
• Rajputs contributed significantly to the regional culture of the region
• They developed a distinct identity centred on ideals of bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice

Heroic Traditions:

• Stories of heroic Rajput kings were composed in poems and songs
• These were recited by trained minstrels (professional poet-singers) to preserve heroic memories
• These stories celebrated courage in battle and loyalty to the king
• The stories inspired both rulers and common people

Women in Rajput Tradition:

• Women were sometimes shown as performing jauhar (mass self-immolation by women to avoid capture by enemies) or sati (self-immolation on the husband's funeral pyre)
• These practices were presented as acts of honour and bravery in the poems

Cultural Impact:

• Rajput ideals of heroism became deeply embedded in Rajasthani culture
• The oral tradition of minstrels kept these stories alive for generations
• This created a unique regional identity centred on martial values

Kathak is a classical dance form associated with North India. Its evolution from temple storytelling to court performance illustrates how art forms can cross regional boundaries.

Origin of Kathak:

• The term Kathak comes from katha, meaning story
• Kathaks were originally temple storytellers who narrated stories through dance and music
• They performed in temples, combining gestures, facial expressions, and music to tell religious stories

Influence of Bhakti Movement:

• Kathak developed further with the spread of the Bhakti movement
• Stories of Radha and Krishna were enacted in folk plays called Rasa Lila
• This gave Kathak a devotional character and made it popular among the masses

Mughal Patronage:

• Under Mughal patronage, Kathak was transformed from a devotional art into a refined court dance
• The dance absorbed new elements like intricate footwork and elaborate costumes
• Two main gharanas (schools/traditions) developed: Jaipur gharana and Lucknow gharana
• Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh, was a major patron of Kathak

British Period and After:

• The British disapproved of Kathak and other traditional dance forms
• Despite this, Kathak survived through dedicated practitioners
• After independence, Kathak was recognised as a classical dance form

India has a rich tradition of both classical and folk dances. The distinction between the two is complex and debated.

Classical Dances:

• Classical dances require long training and follow specific rules and techniques
• They have codified movements, expressions, and musical accompaniment
• Many folk dances also show features of classical dances, blurring the boundary

Recognised Classical Dance Forms:

• Bharatanatyam - Tamil Nadu (one of the oldest classical forms)
• Kathakali - Kerala (elaborate costumes and facial expressions)
• Odissi - Odisha (linked to temple traditions)
• Kuchipudi - Andhra Pradesh (combines dance and acting)
• Manipuri - Manipur (graceful, lyrical movements)
• Kathak - North India (storytelling through dance)

Relationship Between Classical and Folk:

• The term "classical" is complex and not always clearly defined
• Many folk dances influenced classical forms and vice versa
• Both types of dance are important expressions of regional culture

Miniature paintings are small-sized paintings done on paper or cloth. They represent an important regional art tradition in India.

Early Miniatures:

• Early miniatures were painted on palm leaves and wood
• Western India produced early miniatures illustrating Jain texts
• These early paintings had distinctive flat colours and stylised figures

Mughal Miniatures:

• Mughal emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan patronised miniature painters
• Mughal miniatures depicted court scenes, battles, and hunting scenes
• They were known for their realism, fine detail, and rich colours

Regional Schools After Mughal Decline:

• With the decline of the Mughal Empire, artists moved to regional courts
• Rajput courts and Deccan courts developed their own miniature painting styles
• The Basohli style developed in the Himalayan foothills and was known for bold colours and vigorous forms
• The Kangra school emerged later, inspired by Vaishnavite traditions
• Kangra paintings used soft colours and lyrical themes, often depicting Radha-Krishna stories

The development of Bengali as a regional language and its literary traditions show how regional cultures grow through multiple influences.

Growth of the Bengali Language:

• Bengali is derived from Sanskrit but evolved over time with many other influences
• Early inscriptions suggest non-Sanskritic languages were spoken in Bengal
• Trade and political control by Magadha and the Guptas strengthened Sanskrit influence in the region
• By the 7th century, Sanskrit-related languages were widely used in Bengal
• Under the Palas, Bengal became a powerful regional kingdom with its own identity
• Persian became the administrative language under the Sultans and Mughals
• Bengali developed as a common spoken and literary language alongside these official languages
• Modern Bengali includes words from tribal languages, Persian, and European languages

Early Bengali Literature:

• Early Bengali literature had two categories:
• Texts influenced by Sanskrit: Epics, Mangalakavyas (poems praising local deities), bhakti literature
• Oral traditions: Folk tales, ballads, and Nath literature
• Nath literature included songs about Maynamati and Gopichandra
• Dharma Thakur was a popular local deity celebrated in literature
• Many oral texts were not written down and cannot be dated accurately

Bengal's regional culture was also shaped by religious practices, temple architecture, and food habits unique to the region.

Pirs in Bengal:

• From the 16th century, people migrated to south-eastern Bengal
• Forests were cleared for agriculture, especially rice cultivation
• Religious leaders called pirs provided guidance and social stability to settlers
• Pirs included Sufi saints and other religious figures
• They played an important role in shaping Bengal's religious and cultural life

Temple Building in Bengal:

• Temple building increased from the late 16th century
• Temples were built by powerful individuals and rising social groups to demonstrate their status
• Many temples copied the thatched hut style of local architecture
• Two distinctive styles developed: do-chala (two-roofed) and char-chala (four-roofed)
• This led to the development of a distinct Bengali temple style

Food Habits in Bengal:

• Food habits depend on locally available resources
• Bengal is a riverine region with abundant fish
• Fish became a staple food for most Bengalis
• Though Brahmanas traditionally avoided non-vegetarian food, local conditions led to relaxation of rules
• A 13th-century Sanskrit text permitted fish consumption for Bengali Brahmanas
• This shows how local environment and resources can modify even religious dietary rules