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Resea ch A icle
Folk Ecology: Reading Clima e Change Th ough he T adi ional
S o ies o Biha
Malig am Yada 1*, D . Ji end a Kuma Mish a 2
1 Resea ch Schola , Uni e si y Depa men o English, B. R. Ambedka Biha Uni e si y, Muza a pu , Biha , India
2 Senio Assis an P o esso , Depa men o English, L. N. T. College, Muza a pu , Biha , India
Co esponding Au ho : *Malig am Yada DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.5281/zenodo.17776610
Abs ac
Manusc ip In o ma ion
The olk ales o Biha come om e e yday li e. They a e passed om one gene a ion o he
nex h ough s o ies, songs, and illage adi ions. These ales show how closely people once
li ed wi h na u e. They speak abou i e s, ain, c ops, o es s, and animals in simple bu
meaning ul ways. Long be o e anyone used he e m “clima e change,” people in Biha had
al eady no iced changes in wea he and he land. Thei s o ies e lec hese obse a ions.
Many olk ales desc ibe how he seasons beha e, how c ops g ow, and how people eac when
na u e changes suddenly. These s o ies quie ly eco d loods, d ough s, s o ms, and he loss o
ees. They also show how communi ies wo k oge he in di icul imes. Th ough hese small
na a i es, we see an ea ly o m o ecological hinking. The ales each espec o na u e, wa n
agains g eed, and show he esul s o ha ming he en i onmen .
Reading hese olk ales oday helps us unde s and how olde communi ies made sense o
en i onmen al change. They also emind us ha clima e p oblems a e no new. People ha e
aced hem be o e and ha e ied o espond wi h wisdom and ca e. These s o ies a e no jus
o en e ainmen . They hold lessons abou balance, esponsibili y, and su i al. They show
ha Biha i olklo e can s ill guide us as we ace mode n clima e challenges.
▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397
▪ Recei ed: 15-09-2025
▪ Accep ed: 29-11-2025
▪ Published: 01-12-2025
▪ IJCRM:4(6); 2025: 264-270
▪ ©2025, All Righ s Rese ed
▪ Plagia ism Checked: Yes
▪ Pee Re iew P ocess: Yes
How o Ci e his A icle
Yada M, Mish a JK. Folk Ecology:
Reading Clima e Change Th ough
he T adi ional S o ies o Biha . In J
Con emp Res Mul idiscip.
2025;4(6):264-270.
Access his A icle Online
www.mul ia iclesjou nal.com
KEYWORDS: Folk ales, Biha , clima e change, ecology, o al adi ion, economy, sus ainabili y
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1. INTRODUCTION
Folk s o ies in Biha ha e always g own om he land. They
come om illages, ields, i e banks, and o es s. People
c ea ed hese s o ies while li ing h ough changes in wea he ,
loods, d ough s, and a ming cycles. Because o his, na u e
en e s hese ales e y easily. I is no b ough in o deco a ion.
I is pa o daily li e. The people who old hese s o ies li ed
close o he ea h, and hei wo ds ca y signs o ha closeness.
Mos adi ional ales in Biha speak abou na u e in simple
ways. A i e may speak, a ee may wa n, a bi d may guide,
and a season may beha e like a pe son. These images look
small, bu hey show a deep unde s anding o he land. People
obse ed he wo ld a ound hem e y ca e ully. They looked a
he sky each mo ning o guess he day’s wea he . They wa ched
he beha iou o bi ds o know i ain was nea . They ouched
he soil o see i i was eady o seeds. Thei s o ies ca y hese
obse a ions inside hem. They a e no w i en in scien i ic
language, ye hey speak abou he en i onmen wi h hones y.
Biha has always been a egion whe e he en i onmen shapes
daily li e. Many illages s and nea la ge i e s like he Ganga,
Kosi, Bagma i, and Gandak. These i e s b ing wa e o
a ming, bu hey also cause loods. People lea ned o espec
his mixed na u e o he i e . They us ed i , bu hey also
ea ed i s sudden o ce. These mixed eeling shows in hei
s o ies. The i e becomes a cha ac e ha is s ong,
unp edic able, and impo an . I gi es li e bu also es s he
communi y. People paid a en ion o he beha iou o he i e
because hei su i al depended on i .
Seasons also play a majo ole in olk s o y elling. Summe ,
monsoon, au umn, win e —each season changes he way
people li e. Fa ming depends on hese seasonal shi s. Fes i als
ollow hem. E en a el depends on hem. Many ales use
seasons o explain emo ions o e en s. A la e monsoon may
b ing sadness. A long win e may b ing hope o ea . A sudden
s o m may wa n a cha ac e in he s o y o change hei ways.
These ideas show how people unde s ood clima e no as
some hing a away, bu as some hing ha ouched hei li es
e e y single day.
Olde communi ies in Biha aced many en i onmen al
challenges. Floods washed away c ops. D ough s d ied up
wells. Fo es s changed as people se led and a ming sp ead.
People expe ienced ha dship, bu hey also de eloped ways o
deal wi h i . They sha ed g ain. They s o ed wa e . They mo ed
animals o sa e places. They lea ned o ead ea ly signs o
s o ms. These p ac ices en e hei s o ies quie ly. A ale may
show a wise old woman who wa ns he illage abou a coming
lood because she no ices he i e ’s s ange sound. Ano he
s o y may desc ibe a a me who sa es his c op because he
ollows he ad ice o a bi d. These a e no an asies. They show
he ecological knowledge ha olde gene a ions ca ied.
T adi ional s o ies also each mo al lessons h ough na u e.
Many ales wa n ha g eed b ings ouble. A pe son who cu s
oo many ees may ace a s o m. Someone who was es wa e
may ind hei well d y. A cha ac e who ha ms an animal may
ace loss in e u n. These ales make people hink abou hei
ac ions. They show ha na u e esponds when i is no ea ed
well. They c ea e a sense o esponsibili y. Today, when people
speak abou clima e change, hese s o ies sound amilia . They
show ha olde communi ies unde s ood he idea o imbalance
long be o e hese wo ds became common.
Animals also ha e an impo an place in Biha ’s olk
imagina ion. Many s o ies speak o snakes, cows, u les, bi ds,
and e en insec s. These animals a e no shown as dange ous o
useless. They guide, wa n, p o ec , o each. A snake may epay
kindness. A bi d may sa e a los child. A u le may guide a
a elle . These images show ha people once belie ed all
li ing hings had alue. They sha ed he land wi h animals, and
he s o ies helped child en lea n espec o all c ea u es.
T adi ional s o ies also keep memo ies o pas clima es. They
desc ibe hick ogs in win e , s eady monsoon winds, clea
ponds, and la ge shaded ees. Many olde people in Biha o en
say ha hese na u al scenes a e no longe he same. Win e s
eel sho e , summe s eel longe , and ponds d y up mo e
quickly. This change makes he s o ies e en mo e impo an .
They p ese e a pic u e o a clima e ha once el s able.
The idea o “ olk ecology” comes om his ela ionship
be ween s o ies and na u e. The s o ies a e no only o
en e ainmen . They ca y knowledge abou he land, wa e , and
wea he . They show how people li ed wi h na u e and how hey
ead small signs. They eco d how communi ies eac ed o
en i onmen al changes. They also wa n agains ac ions ha
dis u b he na u al balance. They show ha ecological hinking
is no new. I has been pa o u al li e o cen u ies.
Today, clima e change a ec s Biha in se ious ways. Rain all is
une en. Floods a e s onge . Hea wa es las longe . T ees a e
cu as e . Ri e s ise suddenly. These changes make old s o ies
impo an again. They emind people o pay a en ion o na u e.
They show he need o use wa e ca e ully, p o ec ees, and
espec he land. They speak abou su i al, pa ience, and
communi y s eng h.
T adi ional s o ies o Biha o e a simple bu clea message:
na u e and humans a e connec ed. When he e is balance, li e is
peace ul. When he balance b eaks, e e yone su e s. These
ales help us see clima e issues no as dis an p oblems bu as
pa o e e yday li e. They ca y he oice o a communi y ha
lis ened closely o he ea h.
Folk Tales as Ecological Na a i es
Biha ’s olk ales a e ich in na u al image y: i e s ha bless o
des oy, ees ha shel e spi i s, and animals ha speak wi h
mo al in elligence. These s o ies unc ion as ecological a chi es
ha eco d how he communi y pe cei ed, in e ac ed wi h, and
in e p e ed en i onmen al change.
Fo example, ales om he Mi hila egion o en desc ibe loods
(ba h) as bo h di ine punishmen and an ecological e en . In
one popula ale, a illage ha cu s down i s sac ed g o e o
expand a mland is punished by con inuous ain and looding.
This na a i e encodes a simple bu powe ul ecological
message: de o es a ion leads o disas e . Simila ly, d ough
(sookha) ales connec human g eed o mo al decay wi h he
absence o ain, symbolizing ecological imbalance caused by
e hical ailu e.
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These s o ies also celeb a e ees such as he Peepal, Banyan,
and Neem, which hold bo h ecological and spi i ual
signi icance. The Peepal is belie ed o b ea he li e in o he
en i onmen ; mode n science, oo, con i ms i s oxygen-
p oducing p ope ies. The ac o ying h eads a ound sac ed
ees, seen in many u al i uals, is an ancien ecological
p ac ice symbolising he p o ec ion o na u e.
Simila ly, s o ies abou animals such as he ox, cow, and snake
illus a e coexis ence a he han domina ion. The se pen is
e e ed as a p o ec o o ain and e ili y, no me ely a h ea ,
emphasising he ecological in e dependence ha sus ained
illage li e. These ales also o eg ound women as cus odians o
ecological knowledge— i uals like Chha h, Kha na, and Sama-
Chake a embody eminine ecological agency, linking he
e ili y o land o social and mo al pu i y.
S o ies by he Ri e
Ri e s shape he li e o Biha . Many illages s and nea he
Ganga, Kosi, Bagma i, Gandak, Kamla, and so on.
People wake up o he sound o wa e , wo k on i s banks, and
c oss i in boa s. They depend on he i e o a ming, ish, and
d inking wa e . Because i e s ouch e e y pa o daily li e,
hey also en e adi ional s o ies. These s o ies show how
people unde s ood i e s no only as na u al ea u es, bu also as
li ing o ces wi h moods and memo ies o hei own.
Many i e s o ies om Biha desc ibe he i e as a iend and
a guide. People belie ed ha he i e could wa n hem o
dange . A s ange sound in he wa e mean a coming s o m. A
sudden ise o he cu en mean ha ain had allen a away.
These signs helped people p epa e ea ly. They did no need
w i en eco ds o wea he epo s. They lea ned by wa ching
and lis ening. The i e was hei eache .
Some ales speak o a i e ha helps people in ouble. In one
s o y, a young gi l loses he way nea a o es . She si s by he
i e and c ies. The i e speaks o he h ough he whispe s o
he wa es. I ells he which pa h o ollow o each home. This
may sound magical, bu i shows how people ead he di ec ion
o wa e , he shape o he banks, and he amilia pa e ns o he
cu en .
“ , , ”
“Mo he Ganga, ell me he way, help me each my home.”
(T adi ional Ganga ale)
The wo ds o his ale show ca e, hope, and us . The i e
com o s he los child. Behind his gen le image is a eal u h:
people depended on hei knowledge o i e s o mo e sa ely
ac oss he land.
No all i e s o ies a e gen le. Many ales desc ibe he i e as
powe ul and unp edic able. This is especially ue in egions
ouched by he Kosi. The Kosi is o en called he “ i e o
so ow” because i changes i s pa h and causes loods. People
li ing nea i lea ned o obse e i s beha iou wi h g ea ca e.
When elde s no iced a change in he colou o he wa e o he
speed o he low, hey wa ned he whole illage. These
wa nings passed om one gene a ion o he nex h ough
s o ies.
Some ales desc ibe a wise old man who si s by he i e e e y
day. He lis ens o he wa e . He wa ches small lea es loa by.
One day he ells he illage s o mo e hei g ain o highe
g ound. They ask him why. He only poin s o he i e . La e
ha nigh , he i e loods. This s o y shows how people
unde s ood na u al signs long be o e science explained hem.
“ ,
“
(Fea he hue o he Kosi’s wa e ,
The lea says ( o you), Go home now,
The i e 's wa e has become uncon ollable, b o he ,
I he lood comes, hen who will endu e i ?)
(T adi ional Kosi- egion ale)
Such ales show he s ong connec ion be ween communi y
su i al and i e knowledge. People espec ed he i e no ou
o ea alone, bu ou o unde s anding.
Some i e ales also speak abou loss. Many amilies in Biha
ha e memo ies o loods aking away ields, homes, and e en
lo ed ones. S o ies helped people sha e hei pain and ind
s eng h. In a ale om Mi hila, a mo he sea ches o he child
a e a sudden lood. She calls ou o he i e and asks i o
e u n wha i has aken. The i e eplies wi h a hea y hea ,
saying ha i canno con ol i s own o ce. This image shows
how people unde s ood he i e as powe ul bu no c uel.
They accep ed i s na u e.
Ri e s also connec illages. Many adi ional s o ies desc ibe
a el by boa . T ade s, singe s, p ies s, and a me s c ossed
i e s o wo k. Tales o hese jou neys show how people used
he i e as a oad. They knew whe e he wa e was deep, whe e
i was shallow, and whe e i was dange ous. The boa man
appea s as an impo an cha ac e in many s o ies. He knows
he moods o he i e be e han anyone else. His skill p o ec s
li es.
Some old ales p aise boa men as he oes. In one s o y, a
boa man sa es a amily du ing a lood by eading he
mo emen o he wa es. He knows ha he i e bends a a
ce ain poin , and he uses ha knowledge o s ee he boa o
sa e y. Today, when echnology guides us, hese ales emind us
o he sha p na u al awa eness ha olde communi ies held.
Ri e s also appea in s o ies abou i uals and es i als. The
mos amous is Chha h, whe e people s and in he i e o p ay
o he ising and se ing sun. Many ales desc ibe how he i e
becomes calm du ing his ime, as i i espec s he de o ion o
i s people. Mo he s each hei child en ha he i e lis ens o
pu e p aye s.
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Uga ho su uj de a agh ke be
Uga ho su uj de a agh ke be
A agh ke be ho puujan ke be
Malin beṭi phul le le ṭha ba
Malin beṭi phul le le ṭha ba
Sup le le ṭha ba
(T adi ional Chha h ale)
This kind o s o y shows how spi i uali y and ecology blend in
olk imagina ion. Clean wa e is no jus a symbol o pu i y bu
also a p ac ical need o he i ual.
Ri e s also each mo al lessons in many s o ies. Cha ac e s who
ac wi h g eed ace ouble. Those who ac wi h kindness
ecei e help. One ale ells o a man who akes oo much sand
om he i e bank o build his house. The i e becomes ang y
and e odes he land nea his home. In ano he ale, a poo
a me sa es a d owning animal, and he i e blesses him wi h
a e ile ield. These ales show a simple u h: na u e esponds
o human beha iou .
Some i e s o ies explain changes in he land. They speak o
i e s ha once lowed in a di e en di ec ion. They desc ibe
old b idges, old gha s, and old pa hs ha now lie unde wa e .
These ales ac like maps o ecological his o y. They p ese e
memo ies o how he land changed o e ime.
When clima e change b ings s onge loods, ho e summe s,
and unp edic able ain all, hese old s o ies eel bo h amilia
and impo an . They emind us ha people once li ed in close
con e sa ion wi h i e s. They wa ched he wa e . They lis ened
o he wa es. They us ed hei senses. They espec ed he
hy hm o na u e.
These i e s o ies each us o look a he en i onmen wi h
ca e. They show ha he i e is no only wa e bu also
memo y, wa ning, guidance, and li e. They help us unde s and
he pas as we ace he ecological challenges o he p esen .
S o ies o he Seasons
Seasons shape li e in Biha . They guide a ming, es i als,
a el, and daily wo k. Because people depend so much on he
mo emen o seasons, many adi ional s o ies desc ibe hei
beha iou . These s o ies help us unde s and how olde
communi ies ead he signs o hea , ain, win e , and sp ing
wi h g ea ca e.
Summe s o ies o en desc ibe s uggle. The hea eels sha p,
he winds a e d y, and he ponds sh ink. People look o shade
and mo e slowly. In some ales, summe becomes a cha ac e
who a i es ea ly and e uses o lea e. These images show how
s ongly people el he change o empe a u e. They also show
ha summe was no jus a season bu a p esence ha shaped
mood and wo k.
The monsoon holds a special place in many s o ies. When da k
clouds ise, people eel hope. Fa me s wai o ain o p epa e
hei ields. Many s o ies desc ibe a sudden monsoon s o m, o
he joy o he i s showe . Some ales men ion how he i e
wakes up a e sleeping h ough summe . Monsoon s o ies o en
ca y mixed eelings—joy when ain comes, bu ea when i
comes oo much.
Au umn and win e also en e olk ales in gen le ways. S o ies
speak o he so ligh o Ka ik, he smell o new c ops, and he
calm ai a e he monsoon. Win e s o ies desc ibe og, wa m
i es, and long nigh s. Child en si a ound he i e o hea
s o ies, and he change in season becomes pa o he ale.
These s o ies keep memo ies o old win e s ali e, which many
elde s say we e colde and longe han oday.
Some ales ollow all wel e mon hs, known as he ba ahmasa
adi ion. These s o ies link emo ions wi h seasons—hope in
sp ing, longing in summe , joy in monsoon, and e lec ion in
win e . They show how wea he and human li e low oge he .
“ , ,
, ,
”
(As he mon h o Ashadh (Jun-Jul) a i es, my hope g ows
g ea e ,
O T a elle , ha my belo ed would be he e close o me du ing
he ains.
I my belo ed came du ing he showe s, he would shel e me
om he wo ld;
O T a elle , he mon h o Sawan (Jul-Aug) pains me he mos .)
(Bhikah i Thaku : T adi ional ba ahmasa line)
Today, when clima e change a ec s ain all, hea , and win e
pa e ns, hese old s o ies emind us o a ime when seasons
ollowed a s eadie hy hm. Th ough simple wo ds, hey help us
see how closely people once li ed wi h he changing yea and
how deeply seasonal change shaped hei hough s and
memo ies.
Voices o Fo es and Field
Fo es s and ields ha e always been pa o li e in Biha . Olde
communi ies depended on hem o ood, uel, medicine, and
shade. Because o his close link, many adi ional s o ies speak
abou ees, plan s, and animals as i hey a e pa o he amily.
These s o ies ca y gen le lessons abou ca e and espec .
Many ales desc ibe ees as wise and pa ien . The neem ee
s ands o p o ec ion, he mango ee s ands o swee ness and
shade, and he peepal ee s ands o peace. In some s o ies, a
ee wa ches a whole illage g ow a ound i . In o he s, a ee
wa ns a a elle o dange h ough signs like alling lea es o a
sudden us le. These images show how people paid a en ion o
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small changes in na u e. They no iced when a ee looked weak
o when a plan g ew oo ea ly. Na u e was ne e silen in hei
eyes.
Animals also ha e s ong oices in olk s o ies. Snakes, bi ds,
cows, and u les appea again and again. They guide
cha ac e s, ca y messages, o show he igh pa h. This does
no mean people hough animals spoke like humans. I shows
ha people obse ed animal beha iou so closely ha hey
could lea n om i . A bi d calling a nigh , a cow becoming
es less, o a snake beha ing oddly o en wa ned people o
changes in he wea he o he land.
Fields also speak in hese adi ional ales. The soil is ea ed
wi h ca e. A a me es s i wi h his hands, smells i a e ain,
and wa ches o c acks du ing d y mon hs. S o ies o en show
how he heal h o he ield e lec s he heal h o he communi y.
When he ield is s ong, li e mo es smoo hly. When he ield
su e s, e e yone eels he bu den.
,
,
”
(When he Ea h is in good condi ion,
Then e e yone in he illage emains p ospe ous,
I he soil smiles, he woman (wi e) smiles,
And i he woman smiles, he whole amily smiles.)
(T adi ional ea h wisdom ale)
This simple line shows how people imagined he land speaking
o hem. I also eminds us ha a ming was no only wo k bu a
ela ionship.
These o es and ield s o ies help us unde s and how olde
communi ies deal wi h en i onmen al change. They each ha
ca e b ings balance. They also wa n ha neglec can b eak he
na u al ha mony. Today, when o es s sh ink and soil quali y
declines in many pa s o Biha , hese old s o ies eel like quie
eminde s. They show ha na u e has always had a oice.
People only need o lis en.
Lessons om he Old Tales
T adi ional s o ies om Biha each many lessons abou li ing
wi h na u e. These lessons a e no augh di ec ly. They come
h ough small images, simple ac ions, and e e yday e en s.
People lea ned hem by lis ening and by obse ing how na u e
beha es in each ale.
One o he clea es lessons is espec . Many s o ies show ha
na u e eac s when i is ha med. A pe son who cu s oo many
ees aces a s o m. Someone who was es wa e inds hei well
d y. A cha ac e who akes mo e han he needs loses e e y hing
in he end. These momen s each ha imbalance c ea es ouble.
Na u e may no punish like a pe son, bu i esponds h ough i s
own o ces. This idea appea s in many olk adi ions and
shows ea ly awa eness o ecological balance.
Ano he lesson is pa ience. People in olde imes wai ed o
ain, wai ed o win e ligh , and wai ed o he i e o calm
a e a lood. S o ies o en p aise hose who ac calmly and
wa ch he signs a ound hem. They each ha na u e has i s own
ime. When people ac wi h pa ience, hey make be e
decisions. This is impo an oday when clima e change makes
people eel anxious abou sudden wea he shi s.
S o ies also each coope a ion. When loods o d ough s come,
cha ac e s in ales help each o he . Neighbou s sha e g ain.
Families mo e animals o sa e land. Village s ebuild houses
oge he . These ales show ha su i al becomes easie when
people ac as a g oup. E en oday, communi ies acing clima e
challenges depend on uni y and suppo .
Ano he s ong lesson is g a i ude. Many s o ies desc ibe he
ea h as gi ing and gene ous. The soil g ows c ops, he i e
b ings wa e , and he o es o e s ui s and wood. People hank
na u e h ough small i uals o h ough simple ca e. They sweep
he cou ya d, clean he i e bank, o ie clo h a ound a sac ed
ee. Such ac s each ha g a i ude s eng hens he bond
be ween humans and he na u al wo ld.
“ ,
,
”
(The gi gi en by Mo he Ea h,
O innocen human, do no o ge i .
E e yone conside s he Ea h as Mo he ,
She alone is he gi e o ou own ood/g ain.”
(T adi ional mo al ale)
This line shows a gen le wa ning. I ells ha o ge ing he
kindness o na u e b ings loss.
Finally, s o ies each awa eness. Cha ac e s in ales wa ch bi ds,
lis en o i e s, and no ice small changes in he wind. These
de ails help hem s ay sa e and make good choices. Awa eness
becomes a habi . I leads o ecological hinking wi hou hea y
wo ds.
These lessons om he old ales a e simple, bu hey ca y
wisdom ha s ill ma e s oday. They emind us ha na u e has
always been pa o human li e. When people lis en ca e ully
and ac wi h espec , balance emains.
Na u e Now
Na u e in Biha is changing in many ways. Olde people o en
say ha he seasons do no beha e he way hey used o. They
emembe colde win e s, s eadie monsoons, and quie e
summe s. Today, win e s eel sho , summe s s e ch longe ,
and ains come la e o all a once. These changes a ec
a ming, es i als, wa e sou ces, and daily ou ines. When we
look a old s o ies, we see how di e en he na u al wo ld once
el .
Many i e s in Biha ise suddenly now. Floods become
s onge and ha de o p edic . Villages nea he Kosi, Bagma i,
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and Gandak ace new challenges e e y yea . In he pas , people
ead he i e o know wha would happen nex . They us ed
he change in colou , he sound o wa e , o he beha iou o
animals. These signs do no always wo k oday because he
i e changes oo quickly. Clima e shi s make na u al pa e ns
uns able.
Wa e sca ci y also a ec s many pa s o Biha . Ponds d y
ea lie . Wells d op low. Fa me s depend on pumps ins ead o
ain. Old s o ies desc ibe clea ponds and s eady i e s, bu
many o hese places now s uggle wi h pollu ion o low wa e
le els. This change makes he ecological wisdom in old ales
eel e en mo e impo an . I eminds us ha clean wa e needs
ca e and p o ec ion.
Bi ds and animals also beha e di e en ly now. Some bi ds ha
once appea ed in seasonal s o ies a e a ely seen. The koel’s
call, he c ane in he ield, o he pa o on a mango ee we e
once common sigh s. In many places, hese memo ies emain
only in s o ies. Pollu ion, sh inking ees, and ising hea educe
hei p esence. The loss o hese c ea u es is also he loss o old
signals ha guided u al li e.
T ees anish om many a eas as well. New oads, houses, and
a ms ake hei place. Old ales showed ees as s ong, pa ien ,
and gene ous. They ga e shade, ui , and com o . Thei
absence oday c ea es emp iness in bo h land and memo y.
People eel he di e ence when hey walk h ough illages ha
once had many peepal, neem, o mango ees.
“- ,
- ,
- ,
,
,
”
(The shade o he Peepal and Banyan is gone,
The cou ya d and doo way ha e become sad,
The cuckoo lies high and sings in he sky,
Now, how can he e be a dwelling (li e) on his ea h?
How will you li e wi hou he ai ,
How will you su i e wi hou he ees?
O human, plan he ees,
O he wise, you soul (li e) will depa in agony.)
(T adi ional lamen )
These simple wo ds e lec loss. They show how na u e once
held he illage oge he .
Today’s clima e p oblems make hese changes sha pe .
Hea wa es, i egula ain, and pollu ion c ea e s ess. Bu he
old ales s ill o e guidance. They emind us o wa ch na u e,
p o ec i , and espec he balance ha suppo s li e.
CONCLUSION
T adi ional s o ies o Biha show a deep and na u al bond
be ween people and he en i onmen . These s o ies g ew om
daily li e, so na u e en e ed hem wi hou e o . Ri e s,
seasons, bi ds, ees, and animals a e no backg ound elemen s
in hese ales. They guide he cha ac e s, wa n hem, com o
hem, o challenge hem. This close connec ion shows how
ea lie communi ies li ed wi h na u e and how hey unde s ood
i s hy hm.
When we ead hese old ales oday, we see ha hey hold ea ly
ideas o ecological balance. They emind us ha na u e eac s
when i is ha med. They each ha pa ience, awa eness, and
espec help people li e sa ely. They show ha coope a ion and
g a i ude make communi ies s onge , especially du ing loods,
d ough s, o s o ms. These lessons may come h ough simple
images, bu hey ca y quie wisdom.
Clima e change makes hese s o ies e en mo e impo an .
Na u e now changes as e han be o e. Rains come la e o all a
once. Summe s las longe . Win e s sh ink. Ri e s beha e
unp edic ably. T ees anish om amilia places. Bi ds lose
hei homes. In such a ime, old s o ies become guides. They
emind us o wa ch na u e ca e ully. They each us ha su i al
depends on balance, no o ce. They help us see clima e change
no only as a scien i ic p oblem bu also as a human challenge.
These s o ies hold memo ies o how he land once looked and
el . They help us imagine i e s ha we e calme , win e s ha
we e colde , and ields ha we e g eene . They p ese e an
olde hy hm o na u e. When we lis en o hem, we hea he
oices o people who knew hei en i onmen well and ea ed
i wi h ca e.
In he end, he olk ecology o Biha is no only abou he pas .
I is also abou he u u e. I eaches us o slow down, obse e,
p o ec , and li e wi h espec o he wo ld ha sus ains us.
Th ough hese simple ales, na u e con inues o speak. We only
need o lis en.
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Abou he co esponding au ho
Malig am Yada is a Resea ch Schola in he Uni e si y Dep
o English a B.R. Biha Uni e si y, Muza a pu , Biha , India.
His academic wo k ocuses on he s udy o olk li e a u e, olk
ecology, and o al adi ions, wi h special a en ion o how hese
cul u al o ms connec wi h con empo a y li e a y s udies. He
is pa icula ly in e es ed in he ways adi ional s o ies and
p ac ices e lec ea ly ideas o en i onmen al awa eness and
how hey can be ein e p e ed o unde s and p esen -day
clima e change na a i es.
