THE CULTURE COFFER

A one-of-its-kind project is rescuing Kerala’s forgotten stories and traditions from oblivion

- NIRMAL JOVIAL

Kaliyamma M.K.’s lean, weathered frame reflects a lifetime of arduous labour. Her toothy laugh, though, not only exudes charm but also makes others smile.

A 65-year-old dalit, Kaliyamma cannot read or write—she never had the opportunity to learn. Yet she is a treasure trove of wisdom. Etched in her memory are stories and songs that carry the essence of her ancestors’ experiences—from moments of joy and sorrow to tales of bonded labour, and resistance spanning generations.

On May 26, Kaliyamma was invited as a special guest to a summer camp held at T.R.K. Upper Primary School at Vengad in Kerala’s Malappuram district. There, with her songs and stories, she regaled her audience—a group of “lore-keepers”, or children recording the session with their cellphones. As the session progressed, the lore-keepers playfully asked Kaliyamma to perform a song traditionally sung by those who toil in paddy fields. Kaliyamma laughed and said, “If I were to begin, the song would last for countless hours. So perhaps it is best I refrain from it.”

‘LoreKeepers’ is a one-of-its-kind initiative by Archival and Research Project (ARPO), a nonprofit dedicated to digital archiving, multimedia storytelling, community engagement and conserving cultural heritage. Its primary objective is to gather oral traditions passed down through generations, and involve younger generations in preserving them for posterity. The emphasis is on collecting oral traditions from historically marginalised groups.

“Even those who are now in their forties or fifties did not know many of these stories and songs. So if we do not archive them now, they would be lost forever,” says Majeesh Karayad, artist and project manager at ARPO.