Bhojpuri World

Bhojpuri songs, stories, rituals, and oral traditions have preserved the memories, experiences and aspirations of communities across generations. Bhojpuri World examines these traditions as a living cultural framework shaped by nature, gender, labour, migration, memory and struggles for justice.
Organized around five interconnected themes, the book begins with an examination of nature, women and culture through traditions such as Chhath, which place women at the centre of community life and ecological consciousness. It then explores the Virahini and Urhari traditions to understand migration through women’s experiences of separation, labour and social responsibility. The traditions of Banijiya, Sipahiya, Bidesiya and Girmitiya further expand this history, revealing diverse forms of mobility and their lasting impact on identity, memory and belonging.
The book also recovers fading traditions such as Harparauri and Rudan, highlighting the ways in which women created spaces for solidarity, mourning and social expression. Finally, it examines Bhim-geet as a folk tradition that brings questions of equality, liberty, fraternity, caste and Bahujan consciousness into the cultural sphere. By bringing these strands together, Bhojpuri World presents Bhojpuri culture as a vibrant and evolving tradition sustained by movement, memory and collective experience.
Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach, the book will be of interest to scholars and students of sociology, literature, gender studies, migration studies, environmental humanities and South Asian cultural studies.