Eco-Folk Rhythms: A Puttinai Analysis of Mavilan Songs examines the oral traditions of the Mavilan tribe through the ecocritical lens of puttinai, an indigenous theoretical framework. Dr. Abraham's research bridges traditional ecocritical approaches with indigenous knowledge systems, offering fresh insights into how tribal songs encode environmental wisdom and sustainable practices. The book analyzes the Mavilan songs as repositories of ecological knowledge, demonstrating how these oral traditions reflect inter connections among humans, nature, and supernature. Through a close analysis of agricultural, nuptial, and ritual songs, the author reveals how the Mavilan worldview presents an alternative paradigm for addressing contemporary environmental challenges.
Drawing on extensive fieldwork and documentation of Mavilan oral traditions, this study advances puttinai as a theoretical tool that emerges from indigenous perspectives rather than Western academic frameworks. puttinai, formerly known as oikopoetics, was propounded by Nirmal Selvamony from the theory of tinai in Tolkappiyam, the ancient Tamil grammatical treatise.
The analysis demonstrates how Mavilan songs articulate environmental ethics, bioregional consciousness, and sustainable cultural practices. This pioneering work contributes significantly to ecocritical scholarship, indigenous studies, anthropology, folklore and tribal studies for further research.