Call for Articles: KOITUR Magazine Special Edition on Folklore, Cultural Rights and Indigenous Knowledge Systems

KOITUR (People of Nature), a magazine on the life and culture of indigenous communities published by the Centre for Law and Indigenous Studies under the School of Law and Humanities at Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, invites original and unpublished contributions for its forthcoming Special Edition on Folklore, Cultural Rights and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

The special edition welcomes articles, essays, commentaries, case studies, book reviews and interdisciplinary reflections that critically examine the relationship between folklore, indigenous traditions, customary knowledge, and contemporary legal and policy frameworks.

Folklore is not merely a collection of stories and oral traditions. It represents the living memory, identity, ecological wisdom and normative consciousness of communities. Across tribal and indigenous societies, folklore continues to influence governance, dispute resolution, environmental ethics, social relations and cultural continuity.

Rapid commercialisation, digital reproduction, cultural appropriation and technological interventions have raised serious concerns about the ownership, protection and representation of indigenous cultural expressions. The edition offers an interdisciplinary platform to engage with these conversations from both national and international perspectives.

The following themes are indicative and not exhaustive:

• Folklore and Jurisprudence
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Legal Pluralism
• Tribal Oral Traditions and Community Governance
• Folklore, Gender and Social Justice
• Sacred Ecology and Environmental Traditions
• Intellectual Property Rights and Traditional Cultural Expressions
• UNESCO, WIPO and the International Protection of Folklore
• Cultural Appropriation and Community Consent
• Folklore in the Digital Age: AI, Media and Streaming Platforms
• Indigenous Languages, Storytelling and Cultural Preservation
• Constitutional Protection of Tribal and Cultural Rights
• Folk Narratives and Human Rights Discourse
• Comparative Perspectives on Indigenous Communities across Africa, Latin America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South-East Asia
• Folklore, Decoloniality and Resistance
• Customary Laws and Contemporary Governance
• Community Ownership and Benefit-Sharing Mechanisms
• Folk Art, Music, Performance and Cultural Heritage Protection

Submissions addressing allied or interdisciplinary issues relevant to the theme may also be considered for publication.

The Centre invites contributions from academicians, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, activists and students, as well as from faculty, scholars, photographers, artists and cultural practitioners.

• Word limit: 1000 to 1200 words.
• Manuscripts must be submitted in MS Word format (.doc or .docx).
• Formatting: Times New Roman, font size 12, 1.5 line spacing, A4 size paper with 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Each submission must carry a brief author profile with the name of the author or authors, institutional affiliation, designation, official address, email address and contact number.
• The manuscript must be original and unpublished, and must not exceed a 10% similarity index and 10% AI-generated content on any recognised plagiarism and AI-detection software. Submissions failing these standards may not be considered.
• Citations and references must follow the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (20th Edition).

Articles are to be sent to cslip@hnlu.ac.in on or before 16 August 2026.

The magazine also accepts photographs alongside written contributions.

• Photographs must be submitted in digital format only, at high resolution (minimum 300 DPI) and saved in JPEG or JPG format. Recommended dimensions are 8.5 x 11 inches or smaller.
• Images should show strong composition, clarity and lighting, must be properly focused and free from noise or blur, and minimal editing is encouraged to preserve authenticity.
• Each photograph must carry a caption of not more than 100 words describing the subject, location and context, along with metadata covering the photographer's name, date of capture, location and any other relevant context.
• Contributors must affirm that they hold the necessary copyright and have obtained consent wherever identifiable individuals or private property appear.
• Photographs, captions and author details go to cslip@hnlu.ac.in by 16 August 2026, with a brief bio and complete contact information.
• By submitting, contributors grant the magazine non-exclusive rights to use the images in the magazine and related promotional materials.

All selected contributors receive credit through by-lines and photo credits in the magazine, and recognition through the magazine's website, social media platforms and related academic or promotional initiatives.

The Centre for Law and Indigenous Studies was established under the School of Law and Humanities to explore, understand and preserve the intersection of legal scholarship and indigenous perspectives. It provides a platform for research, discussion and collaborative initiatives on the traditions of indigenous peoples, and works towards legal frameworks that respect and integrate indigenous perspectives.

Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur is celebrating its 20th year of establishment. Its motto, 'Dharma Sansthapanartham', translates to 'for the sake of establishing the primacy of laws of eternal values'. The editorial team for this edition comprises Dr. Ayan Hazra, Mr. Aashutosh Kumar Aahire, Mr. Pradeep Barman, Dr. Priyanka R. Mohod and Dr. Archana Shyam Gharote, with an advisory board of Prof. V.C. Vivekanandan (Vice-Chancellor), Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava (Registrar I/c) and Dr. Avinash Samal (Dean, Social Sciences and Student Welfare).