The Panorama of Odisha’s Rural Culture: A Kaleidoscopic View by Navaneeta Rath, Swayam Prava Mishra, Rashmita Sahoo & Adyasha Sahoo

This book attempts to present the rich and diverse culture of Odisha which has evolved over the ages and is very much synchronised with the social and economic lives of the people of the state. They have their roots in the traditions, conventions, and practices since time immemorial and for a long time they were the source of rural solidarity, rural economy and were dominating the rural social lives and polity. But there is no authenticated documentation on these elements of culture of Odisha which has led to the design of this book. The book documents the typicality of the culture starting from taboos and folklore to customary laws and rural festivities. It has also tried to capture the unique role played by temple culture in the evolution of rural settlements and how till date it controls the rural cultural practices, the scenarios and situations of the rural market, rural cuisine, and rural sports. Added to this it has brought into its ambit a chapter on the handloom haat which not only exhibits the exquisite handloom products but the way it provides life and livelihood to the local rural settlers. All these integral components of Odisha’s rural culture have been picked up from specific districts of the state which symbolise the uniqueness of the rural little traditions and the way they contribute to the great tradition of the state.

Prof. Navaneeta Rath (b.1965), a professor at Utkal University, Odisha has been teaching Sociology for the last 33 years. Her area of interest pertains to Gender Studies, Environmental Sociology,and Development Sociology. She is an active researcher who has published more than 50 articles in various national and international journals. She was a consultant to the World Bank, the U.N.D.P. She has published 5 books and has edited around 65books. Right now, she coordinates the Global Center for Rural Studies created as a Center for Excellence under RUSA-II.

Dr Swayam Prava Mishra (b.1985) has done her MA and PhD in Economics from University of Hyderabad. She was the topper of her batch and has received 2 gold medals in her Masters. She is currently serving as Assistant Professor at the department of Analytical and Applied Economics, Utkal University. Prior to this, she was working as Assistant Professor in the Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad. She is also the Co-coordinator of the Global Center for Rural Studies, a CoE under RUSA 2.0 at Utkal University.

Dr. Rashmita Sahoo (b.1976), an Asst. professor stage III has been teaching in the P.G.Department of Business Administration at Utkal University for the last 12 years. Her area of interest hovers around Finance and Economics. Right now, she is the co-coordinator of the Global Center for Rural Studies created as a Center for Excellence under RUSA-II. She has published more than 50 articles in various national and international journals and has authored 3 books.

Miss Adyasha Sahoo (b.1996), is currently pursuing her PhD. in Sociology at Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha under the supervision of Prof. Navaneeta Rath. After attaining her Master’s Degree from Pondicherry University, she started working in the field of Sociology of Development and Environment with a focus on Natural Resource Management (Water).