Establishment of the Department
The Department of Folklore and Tribal Studies had come into inception in October 2003.
Faculty Positions
One Professor, One Associate Professor and four Assistant Professors.
Professor: Prof. P. Subbachary, M.A. (Telugu with Folklore), M.Phil., Ph.D.,(Telugu with Folklore) Osmania University, Hyderabad.
Associate Professor & Head i/c: Dr. B. Krishna Reddy, M.A. (Sociology), M.Phil., Ph.D., (Social Anthropology), S.V. University, Tirupati. D.Phil., (Social Anthropology) University of Contemporary Studies, Washington D.C., U.S.A.,
Assistant Professor:
1. Dr. M. N. Venkatesha, M.A., (Kannada with Folklore), Ph.D., (Kannada with Folklore), Kuvempu University, Shimoga
2. Dr. K. M. Anil, M.A., Ph.D., (Malayalam with Folklore), M.G. University, Kerala
3. Dr. K. Shyamala, M.A.,(History), University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, M.Phil, Ph.D., S. K. University, Anantapur
4. Dr. G. Aruna (on lien), M.A., (Telugu) M.A, (Sanskrit), M.Com., Ph.D.,
(Telugu), S.V. University, Tirupati.
Existing Courses
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
• Ph. D. Full Time 2, Part Time 3 1Full Time 3 Full Time 4 Part Time
• M.Phil 7 9 - -
• M.A. - 6 4 -
• P.G. Diploma Leading to M.A. - - - - 14
Ongoing Projects
Prof. P. Subbachary (Jambapuranam (Collaboration with NFSC, Chennai), Dr. B. Krishan Reddy (1. From Foraging to Farming: The Case of Yanadi Tribe 2. We Sing for our Patrons: An Ethnographic Study of the Thoti in Andhra Pradesh 3. From Food-gathering to Sedantarization: The Case of Naikpod in Andhra Pradesh 4. The Livelihood Scenario of the Sugali of Anantapur District. Dr. M.N. Venkatesha (1. Impact of IED on Tribal Kids 2. Folk Imagery: A Cross Cultural Study. 3. Patron-Client Relations: The Case of Helava. 4. The Epic of Mailaralinga: Documentation), Dr. K.M. Anil (Dynamics of Localization: Life and Culture of Kannikars). Dr. K. Shyamala (Dommara community: A Tribe in Transition). Dr. G. Aruna (Aadi Krithika Festival: A Comparative Approach)
Publicatios: Books and Research Articles
Dr. P. Subbachary (8 Books 40 articles), Dr. B. Krishna Reddy (2 and 40), Dr. M N Venkatesha (6 and 36), Dr. K. M. Anil (1 and 20), Dr. K. Shyamala (6 Articles), Dr. G. Aruna (5 and 31)
Nadu Siri: A Folk Museum
• Meant for showcasing the Dravidian Culture representing all the four Dravidian States.
• A model building representing each Dravidian State is under construction
• The symbolic commencement of collection of Museum items was inaugurated by Prof. B. Ramaraju on 22nd August 2005
• Several artifacts numbering about 200 have been hitherto procured.
Seminars/ Conferences
1. National Conference on Folklore . 23-25, September 2004 (Organised by Prof. P. Subbachary in Collaboration with FOSSILS, Trivandrum)
2. National Seminar on Folk Narrative and Social Identity. 4-6, March 2005 (Organised by Prof. P. Subbachary in collaboration with CIIL, Mysore)
3. National Seminar on Denotified, Nomadic and Semi- Nomadic Tribes. 3 – 4, November 2006 (Organised by Dr. B. Krishna Reddy in collaboration with Lokdhara NT & DNT National Alliance, Karnataka State Federation of DNTs Associations, C. A. P. Sanchara of Vimuktha Jatula Sangham)
4. National Seminar on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Andhra Pradesh. 18-21 November 2006 (Organised by Dr. B. Krishna Reddy in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal)
Special Lecture Programmes
1. Prof. Peter J. Claus ( California ) - (a) on ‘Recent Trends in Folkloristic Studies ( 21st January 2005) (b) on ‘Problems in Social Science Research’ (25th January 2006)
2. Prof. Simon Charsley (Scotland0 - on ‘Social Identity and Folklore Studies’ (17th September 2005)
Annual Celebrations of World Folklore Day
The Department of Folklore and Tribal Studies celebrates the World Folklore Day annually on 22nd August every year which is earmarked to recall the memory of coining of the anglo-saxon word, Folklore by W.J. Thoms for the first time in his letter to the editor of The Athenaeum magazine. The Department celebrates this event in a unique way by felicitating an eminent Folk artiste as part of the celebrations:
1. In the year 2005, Sri Ramachandraiah an eminent artiste of Kuppam Vidhinatakam, belonging to Animagani Palli of Kuppam Mandal, Chittoor district was felicitated by the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. R. Sri Hari
2. In the year 2006, Sri Urumulu Naganna of Anantapur, Anantapur district and Sri Govinda Rajulu from Palamaner, Chithoor district were falicitated. Urumulu Naganna demonstrated his folk instrument ‘Urumulu’ and narrated his experience in documenting his performance. Govinda Rajulu and his team performed ‘Kolatam’. A Seminar was organized on Folklore in which Prof. Vasantha Lakshmi, Dr. Lakshmi Devi, Dr. T. Vishnukumaran, Dr. K.M. Anil, presented their papers on various aspects of South Indian Folklore. Prof. R. Sesha Sastry chaired the session.
3. In 2007, Sri Lokanathan, an eminent Arjuna role-performer in Kuppam Veedhinatakam, Nagaswara Vidwan, Sri Nagarajan, Pachchori of Tamilnadu, and a young artiste, Mr. Balaji of Palamaner were felicitated on 22nd Aug. 2007 apart from arranging their performances. As part of the Celebrations a one-day Seminar on Folk Performing Arts in relation to Globalisation was organized on 23rd Aug. 2007 in which 15 scholars from allover Andhrapradesh presented their Research Papers on the said theme.
