Singing Sustainability: Teaching Ecological Consciousness through Kerala’s Agrarian Folksongs in the Language Classroom

Abstract

Folksongs are living repositories of indigenous ecological wisdom and cultural identity. In Kerala, agrarian folksongs  such as  Kalappari Pattukal, Njattupattu, Viththidiyilpattu, Koythupattu, and Onasadya Pattu — reflect a deeply ingrained understanding of sustainable agricultural practices, seasonal cycles, biodiversity, and communal values. This paper explores the pedagogical potential of these folksongs in language teaching to foster ecological literacy alongside linguistic competence. Drawing from textual analysis of selected songs and proposing classroom methodologies, the study demonstrates how traditional oral literature can serve as an effective tool for sustainability education, promoting both cultural heritage and environmental consciousness.