Oral Traditions as Historical Sources (With reference to Karnataka)

Author(s)	Dr. Ravichandra G Kantekure
Country	India
Abstract	The oral tradition encompassing epics, ballads, folk songs, legends, and ritual, play a significant role in preserving a collective historical memory within Karnataka. Karnataka's linguistic and cultural diversity is extensive, including Kannada, Tulu, and other Dravidian traditions; oral traditions uniquely archive historical information and serve as an alternative to or as supplementary to the text and archaeological evidence found within traditional historical records. The primary objective of this study is to illustrate through multiple examples—the Siri Epic, the Male Mahadeshwara Kavya, and the Manteswamy Kavya—the value of utilizing these oral traditions to reconstruct the social, cultural, religious, and political histories of marginalized groups, including women and folk heroes. The study identifies the limitations of oral traditions including their fluidity, bias, and the lack of precise chronology; however, it advocates for a critical interdisciplinary approach to utilize oral traditions along with other sources to create a more comprehensive historiography for Karnataka.
Keywords	Oral Traditions, Cultural Diversity, Folk, Narratives, Verbal messages
Field	Sociology > Archaeology / History
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-06
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.80413

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