Folklore and Public Memory: The Great Earthquake of 1950 in Assam with Special Reference to the Misings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16256677Keywords:
mising, folklore, cultural trauma, vernacular historiography, oral history, 1950 assam earthquakeAbstract
The Great Assam Earthquake of 1950 was not only a geological catastrophe but also a profound cultural event for the indigenous communities of Assam. This paper explores how the Mising community, one of the largest indigenous groups in the region, memorializes the earthquake through oral traditions, including folk songs (oi: nitom), ritual narratives, and communal storytelling. Drawing from cultural trauma theory and vernacular historiography, the study highlights how these oral forms function as repositories of historical memory and tools for cultural resilience. The paper argues that folklore in the Mising context preserves both ecological knowledge and emotional truth, offering alternative modes of witnessing disaster that challenge state-centric historical narratives.
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