CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PLAY ‘BAWA JITTO’: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS APPROACH

Authors

  • Sheeba Hassan Assistant Professor Department of Linguistics, University of Kashmir, India.
  • Shahnawaz Bhat Research Scholar Department of Linguistics, University of Kashmir, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.4960

Keywords:

Folklore, Cultural Identity, Discourse Analysis, Stylistics

Abstract [English]

The legend of Bawa Jitto is a significant part of Jammu’s folklore, portraying the sacrifice of a pious farmer who stood against injustice. More than a folk hero, Bawa Jitto is revered as a deity in the region, with narratives surrounding him serving as a medium for cultural expression and preservation. This study employs a discourse analysis framework to examine the linguistic, stylistic, and socio-cultural dimensions of the Bawa Jitto narrative, uncovering how meaning is constructed. Through an in-depth analysis of characters, plot structure, setting, dialogue, symbols, and themes, the research explores identity strategies, narrative techniques, and recurring motifs to reveal the play’s moral, social, cultural, and historical significance. Using Professor Ramnath Shastri’s Dogri play Bawa Jitto as the primary source, this study highlights the richness and uniqueness of Dogri cultural norms and values, while also examining the complex interplay between language, culture, and power in shaping social meaning.

References

Shastri, Ramnath. Bawa Jitto. Dogri Sanstha, 1985.

Sharma, Vandhana, translator. Bawa Jitto: The English Translation of Ramnath Shastri’s Dogri Play. Sahitya Akademi, 2012.

Secondary Sources:

Chauhan, Abha. Cultural Explorations: Encountering Folk Deities in Jammu Region of Northwest India. Taylor & Francis, 2021.

Hobsbawm, Eric. The Invention of Tradition. Cambridge University Press, 1983.

Kumari, Archana, and K. Nagpal. "Balwant Thakur: A One-Man Institution." Theatre Street Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, 2017, pp. 24–36.

Saxena, A., and V. Saxena. "Religiosity, Ritual Practices, and Folk Deity Worship: Bawa Jitto Shrine in Marh Block of Jammu Region." Studies on Religion and Society in India, edited by M. Sharma, Springer, 2021, pp. 215–230. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1598-6_9

Scott, James C. Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts. Yale University Press, 1990.

Sharma, R. "Oral Tradition as a Source of History through the Canon of Dogri Folk." Archive of Indian Folklore Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, 2021, pp. 45–63.

Sharma, V., and S. Sood. "Cultural Issues in the English Translation of Dogri Play Bawa Jitto." IUP Journal of English Studies, vol. 18, no. 4, 2022, pp. 78–95.

Singh, R. "The Role of Karaks in Dogri Oral Literature: A Study of Bawa Jitto." Indian Journal of Folklore Studies, vol. 19, no. 2, 2021, pp. 112–126.

Waza, M. U. D., and A. Sharma. Living Tradition and Faith Galore: Baba Ballo Devasthan of Village Mathwar in Jammu. Springer, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1598-6_12

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Published

2024-06-30

How to Cite

Sheeba Hassan, & Shahnawaz Bhat. (2024). CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PLAY ‘BAWA JITTO’: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS APPROACH. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(1), 2081–2088. https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.4960