EXPLORING SPATIALITY IN THE FOLK NARRATIVES OF JHAVERCHAND MEGHANI

Abstract

‘Folk narratives are reflections of the societies and individuals which create and transmit them; consequently, they reflect a wide range of human ideas and emotions.’ The purpose of this research paper is to examine the framework of Space as a tool for positing Saurashtra as a region and place in the context of Jhaverchand Meghani's folk narratives by looking at social, cultural, psychological, topological, and other spaces that can be correlated to storied spaces in folk narratives. This research paper proposes to focus on Jhaverchand Meghani's folk narratives through the theories of Edward Soja and other critical thinkers dealing with the research questions - How has Saurashtra emerged as a region in Jhaverchand Meghani's folk narratives? ; How region contributes in comprehending ‘space/s’ in the narratives in the context of social fabric, culture, region, and the lives of people and what are the critical concepts and literary dimensions that can be examined in the folk narratives of Jhaverchand Meghani in understanding the idea of storied spaces? Attempts are made to locate and explore Saurashtra as a region in terms of geography, culture, and literature in Jhaverchand Meghani's folk narratives.