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236. On Becoming Gods (with Purushottam Bilimale & Indira Hegde)
Understanding Bhūta Kōlā
Speakers
Bhūta Kōlā, also referred to as Daiva kōlā or Nēmā, is a shamanistic ritual dance performance prevalent among the communities of Tulu Nadu and parts of Kasargod in northern Kerala, India. The dance is highly stylized and performed as part of ‘Bhootaradhana‘ or worship of the local deities worshipped by the Tulu speaking population.
It has had it’s influence on Yakshagana folk theatre. Būta kōlā is closely related to Theyyam of neighbouring state of Kerala.
In this episode of BIC Talks, educator, writer and columnist Dr Purushottam Bilimale and researcher and writer Dr Indira Hegde talk about the history, social and religious aspects and contemporary relevance of this ancient ritual practice.
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Speakers
Purushothama Bilimale
Dr. Purushothama Bilimale has served for many years as Professor of Kannada at the Kannada University, Hampi, and then as a Director at the American Institute of Indian Studies, New Delhi. He established the Kannada Language Chair, Centre of Indian Languages, JNU and served as its first Professor.
Prof. Bilimale is a teacher, organizer, writer, and columnist, who helped students and researchers for over forty years. He has had extensive experience in the area of Indian Language, Literature and culture. A long-time student of Yakshagana (a South Indian folk performing art), he has learned and performed Yakshagana for the last 30 years.
He has 28 books to his credit. His autobiography, ‘Kage muttida neeru’ (Crow-Touched Water) has received the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award.
Indira Hegde
Dr. Indira Hegde is an acclaimed scholar and researcher originally from Kinnigoli in Dakshina Kannada. She has done her Masters in Arts, a post graduate diploma in social studies, and holds a Doctorate in Literature. She has also been an entrepreneur.
Writing has been close to her heart from a young age, and she has written many stories, poems and articles. Her published works include three short stories, five novels, seven research papers, one collection of poems, two edited volumes, two autobiographies, three travelogues and one translation. She has presented papers extensively on Tulunadu and Dakshina Kannada culture, and her articles have been published in Udayavani. Her research paper “Buntaru – Ondu Samajo Samskrutika Adhyayana” has been translated into English.
Dr. Hegde has been a recipient of the Karnataka Janapada Academy Folklore Award, the Tulu Sahitya Academy Honorary Award, Ullala Rani Abbakka Award, B.M. Shree Foundation Award, Kannada Sahitya Parishath Award, Kamana Ranga Swami Endowment Award, AWAKE Bangalore Award given to a successful woman entrepreneur (1989).
Among her many literary activities, she was Secretary and Vice President of the Karnataka Women Writers Association. She has also done social service as an honorary member of the school development boards of various private and government schools.
