Cultural Labour in Crisis: A Sociological Study of Folk Artists in Maharashtra during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way societies functioned across the globe but its effects were far from equal. In India, one of the most profoundly affected yet least discussed communities were the folk artists who carry forward the country’s diverse oral and performative traditions. This paper explores the experiences of folk artists in Maharashtra through a sociological lens, examining how state-imposed lockdowns and social distancing disrupted not only their livelihoods but also their social identities and emotional well-being. Drawing on qualitative interviews from the districts of Osmanabad, Latur, Parbhani, and Nanded, this study reveals how structural inequalities, intersectional disadvantages, and lack of institutional recognition made these cultural workers particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. The analysis is informed by theoretical frameworks from Karl Marx’s theory of labour and alienation, Antonio Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony, Pierre Bourdieu’s ideas on habitus and cultural capital, and feminist theories of intersectionality. Together, these perspectives illuminate how cultural labourers navigated a crisis that simultaneously silenced their art and questioned their value within the social hierarchy. The paper argues that the pandemic was not only a public health emergency but also a sociological event that exposed the fragility of cultural economies and the invisibility of the informal creative sector. It concludes by proposing academic policy implications for inclusive cultural governance that recognizes folk artists as vital contributors to India’s social, economic, and symbolic life.