‘We must revive our culture before it fades’

Patna: Chetna Samiti, an organisation committed to preserving and promoting Mithila’s cultural legacy, has begun efforts to raise awareness among the youth about the region’s rich traditions. In a conversation with STOI’s B K Mishra, its president Vivekanand Jha speaks about the growing cultural disconnect and the steps being taken to revive Mithila’s heritage. Excerpts:Do you think the people of Mithila are shying away from their own culture and traditions?Yes, to some extent. Most people, particularly the youth residing away from their native places for studies or jobs, are getting attracted to cosmopolitan culture, forgetting their own roots and traditions. Moreover, our villages are also changing very fast due to recent development initiatives of the govt. This trend is really worrisome.What steps will you take to connect the present generation with the age-old Mithila culture?In today’s times, when people are adopting a western lifestyle, it is the duty of cultural organisations to make society aware of the state’s rich cultural heritage. Special emphasis would be laid on its propagation among the youth so that the coming generation can become aware of the past achievements of Mithilanchal. The Samiti is planning to promote folk songs and folk art and encourage young artists of the region.What special activities have been planned by the Samiti to revive the Mithila culture?The Samiti has decided to organise a month-long “Jagran Yatra” at the district level from May 15 to June 14 with a view to awaken the ‘sleeping’ people of Mithila and make them aware of their rich culture. They would be reminded of old Maithili songs sung on different occasions, including ‘Mudan’, ‘Yagyopavit’, ‘Chumaon’, marriages and various festivals. An interesting programme of ‘Sangeet Sandhya’ would be organised every month. Besides, the youth and women of Mithila would be provided training in traditional songs, dance, drama and painting at the newly constructed Samiti building at Rajendra Nagar in Patna. Regular exhibitions of artefacts of Mithila are also being organised from time to time in different parts of the state to familiarise people with Mithila’s folk art.What is the population of Maithili-speaking people in Bihar?Even though the population of Maithili-speaking people in the state is believed to be more than three crore, the 2011 census has recorded the number as 1.09 crore only. This is mainly because most people from the Mithila region record their mother tongue as Hindi instead of Maithili. The Samiti would appeal to all Maithili-speaking people to get Maithili recorded as their mother tongue in the national census likely to begin shortly.