Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 20 JUNE: Against a backdrop of beating drums, flowing silk, and soul-stirring melodies, the Department of Folklore at the University of Kalyani came alive with colour, rhythm, and heritage as it hosted a remarkable Cross-Cultural Exchange Programme in collaboration with Kanyashree University and Pub Kamrup College, Assam.
This wasn’t just another academic event—it was a living celebration of two ancient cultures conversing through dance, music, and the oral traditions that continue to define India’s diverse folkloric landscape. The programme also featured a Lecture-cum-Demonstration on the folk performances of Assam, seamlessly blending performance with pedagogy.
The day’s festivities were inaugurated in the presence of an impressive gathering of academic and cultural stalwarts. Among the dignitaries were Prof. Kallol Paul, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kalyani; Prof. Tapati Chakraborty, Vice-Chancellor of Kanyashree University; Prof. Sabitri Nanda Chakraborty, Dean of Arts and Commerce, KU; Dr. Barnali Deka, President of the Cultural Club, Pub Kamrup College; Prof. Ashish Panigrahi, Director of DODL; and faculty members from the Department of Folklore, including Prof. Kakali Dhara Mandal (Acting Head), Prof. Sujay Kumar Mandal (Programme Convener), Prof. Tapan Kumar Biswas, and Prof. Ashimananda Gangapadhyay.
Anchored bilingually by research scholars Ananya Gain and Shipra Ghosh, the programme flowed with effortless cultural synergy, drawing enthusiastic participation from students, scholars, and faculty across the collaborating institutions.
A rich bouquet of folk, classical, and contemporary performances from Assam and West Bengal marked the cultural segment. One of the most powerful moments came through the lecture-cum-demonstration by Dr. Barnali Deka, who not only decoded the depths of Assamese folklore but also mesmerized the audience with her evocative performance of Sattriya—one of the eight classical dance forms of India rooted in Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam.
Prof. Kallol Paul, visibly moved by the Assamese performances, offered a deeply personal reflection. “I was born and brought up in Assam,” he said, “and watching these students perform Sattriya and Bihu brought back an entire childhood of memories. It was not just a cultural exchange—it was an emotional homecoming.”
Prof. Tapati Chakraborty lauded the initiative, describing it as an exemplar of how academia can build bridges across regions and generations. “This is how we ensure our cultural heritage remains alive and relevant,” she said. “Kanyashree University stands committed to supporting more such engagements that nurture both scholarship and soul.”
Programme Convener Prof. Sujay Kumar Mandal reflected on the importance of passing the torch. “Our folklore is not locked in the past—it lives through performance, through language, and most importantly, through the young minds who inherit it,” he remarked. “This event has shown that our future is deeply rooted.”
What made the event particularly memorable was the synergy—not just of traditions but of institutions, disciplines, and generations. For students like Pallavi Das, a research scholar at KU, the day was both educational and emotional. “We often read about cultural exchange in textbooks,” she said, “but today, we lived it. It was powerful, it was beautiful—and it made me feel proud of my roots.”
Echoing the sentiment, Saurabh Barman from Pub Kamrup College added, “Sharing our traditions with students here in Bengal felt like family meeting family. Our songs, our dances—they found a home here today.”
More than just a showcase of regional artistry, the programme created a meaningful dialogue across geographies, deepening mutual appreciation between the folklore of Assam and Bengal. It affirmed that cultural exchange in academia isn’t merely supplementary—it is essential.
As the curtains drew on the day’s performances, the resonance of dhols and the cadence of classical anklets lingered in the air—not just as echoes of an event, but as calls to keep tradition alive, meaningful, and ever-evolving.
