Siddhanta, Vol. III, Myths Revisited and Retold. Edited by Nandini Choudhury and Saba Anish, 2023
The paper attempts to understand the ideological functioning of the retelling of myths through an... more The paper attempts to understand the ideological functioning of the retelling of myths through an exploration of the recently published Indian English fiction. The objective is to examine the politics of retelling of myths so as to expose the society in which we are living.
The paper proposes to investigate various modes of pastoral in Ruskin Bond’s (b 1934) The Book of... more The paper proposes to investigate various modes of pastoral in Ruskin Bond’s (b 1934) The Book of Nature (2004).
The Shifting Role of Women: From Chores to Cores. Edited by Vivek Kumar Dwivedi, 2023
In a world where patriarchal structure is the norm, the Garos or the A·chiks
residing mainly in t... more In a world where patriarchal structure is the norm, the Garos or the A·chiks residing mainly in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya have long been recognised for their matrilineal practices. It is understood that such a society gives much importance to women, since matrilineality envisages women’s welfare and provides relative power, including ownership over property. It is also the women who are the village or clan leaders (nokma), and the lineage is strictly carried forward by women rather than men. This paper examines the present position of the women residing in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya in North East India, and the relevance of the matrilineal practice when it comes to gender-based violence. It also asks whether matrilineal kinship is associated with a more secure environment for women, or whether they are still vulnerable to violence in spite of the fact that matrilocal residence is predominant in this society, and women are always surrounded by their kith and kin when looking after their day-to-day activities. Using the primary data and drawing from feminist theories, we argue that the traditional practices of safeguarding women’s rights and security by the elders of the particular clan are still seen as relevant and adhered to; however, simultaneously, more A·chik-educated women rely on the administrative set-up provided by the government in the district, such as one-stop centres, women’s police, and social service centres.
Translation, in the globalized world, is a form of mediation that negotiates languages and cultur... more Translation, in the globalized world, is a form of mediation that negotiates languages and cultures. The paper examines how a third language is developed in the process of translation. Further, the body of literature that we often call 'Comparative literature' or what Damrosch call 'World literature' is written in the third language. The theories of Walter Benjamin, Ezra Pound, Eugene Nida, Lefevere among others have been used in framing comparative literature.
This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the G... more This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the Garo community of Northeast India, a community that has undergone linguistic divisions and witnessed fragmentation due to colonialism and subsequent conversion to Christianity. Employing an ethnographic approach, this research meticulously examines funeral rituals and practices through engaged participant observation, comprehensive interviews, and meticulous document analysis. Qualitative analysis reveals distinct patterns and themes, casting a revealing spotlight on the symbiotic relationship that exists between tradition and Christianity. The study finds that the Christian Garos have retained social customs such as matrilineality and the kinship system. However, a noticeable departure from their indigenous animistic belief system has taken place, with numerous deities being replaced by a single God, and fundamental beliefs like life after death seemingly abandoned. Nevertheless, upon cl...
Cultural Forms and Practices in Northeast India. Edited by K C Baral, 2023
The paper critically analyses kherai ritual and cultural performance of the Bodos. Kherai, which ... more The paper critically analyses kherai ritual and cultural performance of the Bodos. Kherai, which manifests collective hope and aspiration of the community, is the main cultural form of the Bodos as it is significantly the largest ceremonial performance of Bathou, the ancient religion followed by the Bodos since time immemorial. Kherai is a spiritual performance that has both syntagmatic and paradigmatic dimensions. Thus, it frames their worldviews. It is a synthesis of spirituality, magic, music, dance, and prophecy. In the enactment of the rituals, the religious thoughts, beliefs, values, and attitude to life of Bodos are articulated. Thus, the socio-cultural practices of Bodos seem to have emerged from the performative tradition that is associated with Bathou. Nevertheless, the customs and traditions of the Bodo community have been influenced and reshaped by various cultures that it encountered in the longue duree of history.
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions, 2023
This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the G... more This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the Garo community of Northeast India, a community that has undergone linguistic divisions and witnessed fragmentation due to colonialism and subsequent conversion to Christianity. Employing an ethnographic approach, this research meticulously examines funeral rituals and practices through engaged participant observation, comprehensive interviews, and meticulous document analysis. Qualitative analysis reveals distinct patterns and themes, casting a revealing spotlight on the symbiotic relationship that exists between tradition and Christianity. The study finds that the Christian Garos have retained social customs such as matrilineality and the kinship system. However, a noticeable departure from their indigenous animistic belief system has taken place, with numerous deities being replaced by a single God, and fundamental beliefs like life after death seemingly abandoned. Nevertheless, upon closer examination of funeral rites, certain traditional elements are found to persist, reflecting the complex cultural assimilation within the emerging Christian identity among the Garo people. The primary contribution of this research lies in uncovering how these remnants of tradition persist, despite the transformative impact of Christianity on the religious and cultural landscape of the Garo community.
Music being an integral part of culture is often used as a weapon for social reformation and revo... more Music being an integral part of culture is often used as a weapon for social reformation and revolution. It is possible to understand the culture of a region through music. In fact, culture can loosely be understood as the way of life of a group of human being. However, we need to pause here to ask ourselves a pertinent question: Does music form a part of material culture? How do we define material culture? Material culture includes all the physical things that people create and attach meaning to, and also provides us insight into the non-material culture, which includes the ideas, beliefs habits and values of people. Dr Bhupen Hazarika, the cultural doyen of NorthEast India, has to his credit composed and sang a great number of songs. Besides reflecting humanism, revolutionary spirit, patriotism, history, romance and life, his songs represented material culture in all its nuances. Emphasis would be laid on the study of the subjects like the construction of identity, social disparity and representation of the past with the help of the selected songs of Dr Hazarika.
The paper discusses the creative writings from NorthEast India as ethno-eco-centric texts. It exa... more The paper discusses the creative writings from NorthEast India as ethno-eco-centric texts. It examines the literary representations of socio-cultural, economic and political ideologies of the ethnic communities of NorthEast India to locate the ecological crisis and environmental injustice. The aim has been to expand the structures of ecoculture framed in these literary texts. Nevertheless, from our reading of the texts under study, we found that the ethnic communities of NorthEast India, though moving away from their ecocultures, still possess traditional ecological knowledge, which could be helpful in understanding and solving the environmental crisis and the impending catastrophe.
Indira Goswami: Margins and Beyond. Edited by N. Pathak and D Sarma, May 3, 2022
The paper examines masculinity in Indira Goswami’s fictions. Her fictions seem to present masculi... more The paper examines masculinity in Indira Goswami’s fictions. Her fictions seem to present masculinity as a relational term. Looking from a sociological perspective of gender, masculinity has not only shaped social identity but also defined social roles. Any breach of masculine code is looked as a disruption of the social norms. Each and every society with its own socio-religious codes seems to uphold, most often, only one image of masculinity that constitutes its hegemonic masculinity. The other kinds of masculine claims as well as a scope for femininity are crushed either under the social pressure or by the psychic inter-dialogism of the subject who yearns for an alternative space. In Goswami’s fictions, both male and female characters enact masculinity. Further, characters possessing the prospect of bearing alternative masculinities seem to fall under the feminine category as they are equally sidelined, liminalised or objectified. Nonetheless, the towering masculine figures are also shown crumbling down under the pressure of changing circumstances. Thus, the paper establishes the enactment of alternative masculinities in her fictions. However, the hegemonic masculinity, which has monopolised the socio-cultural space of the patriarchal society, defies and resists the possibility of the existence of alternative masculinity.
Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities
The writing of Buranji in the geographical area that we now call Northeast India began with the e... more The writing of Buranji in the geographical area that we now call Northeast India began with the establishment of Ahom kingdom in 1228 CE. The first Ahom king, Sukapha, who came along with soldiers and kinsmen from upper Burma ordered the writing of buranji as a part of documenting the battles they fought, incidents that took place, followers they gained etc. Initially, the buranjis, which were either written under the orders of the king or by noblemen who wanted to record and authenticate their illustrious lineage, were written in Tai Ahom language, but later these chronicles began to be written in Assamese. The Ahom buranjis not only dealt with the royal family and polity but also with the neighbouring kingdoms with whom battles were fought or had diplomatic relations. Thus, Tripura Buranji, Jaintia Buranji, Kachari Buranji etc were written. Unlike modern historiography based on rationalist-positivist model, the buranjis, though they chronicle and narrate facts and events based on ...
The Garo community living in Meghalaya has always relied on fermented rice liquor known as Chubit... more The Garo community living in Meghalaya has always relied on fermented rice liquor known as Chubitchi as a main beverage in their everyday life. Chubitchi is celebrated by the Garos during feasts and ceremonies. The indigenous populations of North-East India prepare alcoholic beverage in their traditional ways, almost always using rice as the base for those drinks. Chubitchi is a popular traditional alcoholic beverage prepared by the Garo tribe of Meghalaya, India. It is consumed during festive occasions such as Wangala (harvest festival), Do.si Do.doka (wedding festivities) and religious rituals, and also served as refreshments for weary field labourers and guests. It has a great significance in the social and cultural life of the Garos. This paper deals with the traditional preparation of Chubitchi by the Garo tribe, which is a vital part of their culture, and also examines the sociocultural significance of the beverage.
Siddhanta, Vol. III, Myths Revisited and Retold. Edited by Nandini Choudhury and Saba Anish, 2023
The paper attempts to understand the ideological functioning of the retelling of myths through an... more The paper attempts to understand the ideological functioning of the retelling of myths through an exploration of the recently published Indian English fiction. The objective is to examine the politics of retelling of myths so as to expose the society in which we are living.
The paper proposes to investigate various modes of pastoral in Ruskin Bond’s (b 1934) The Book of... more The paper proposes to investigate various modes of pastoral in Ruskin Bond’s (b 1934) The Book of Nature (2004).
The Shifting Role of Women: From Chores to Cores. Edited by Vivek Kumar Dwivedi, 2023
In a world where patriarchal structure is the norm, the Garos or the A·chiks
residing mainly in t... more In a world where patriarchal structure is the norm, the Garos or the A·chiks residing mainly in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya have long been recognised for their matrilineal practices. It is understood that such a society gives much importance to women, since matrilineality envisages women’s welfare and provides relative power, including ownership over property. It is also the women who are the village or clan leaders (nokma), and the lineage is strictly carried forward by women rather than men. This paper examines the present position of the women residing in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya in North East India, and the relevance of the matrilineal practice when it comes to gender-based violence. It also asks whether matrilineal kinship is associated with a more secure environment for women, or whether they are still vulnerable to violence in spite of the fact that matrilocal residence is predominant in this society, and women are always surrounded by their kith and kin when looking after their day-to-day activities. Using the primary data and drawing from feminist theories, we argue that the traditional practices of safeguarding women’s rights and security by the elders of the particular clan are still seen as relevant and adhered to; however, simultaneously, more A·chik-educated women rely on the administrative set-up provided by the government in the district, such as one-stop centres, women’s police, and social service centres.
Translation, in the globalized world, is a form of mediation that negotiates languages and cultur... more Translation, in the globalized world, is a form of mediation that negotiates languages and cultures. The paper examines how a third language is developed in the process of translation. Further, the body of literature that we often call 'Comparative literature' or what Damrosch call 'World literature' is written in the third language. The theories of Walter Benjamin, Ezra Pound, Eugene Nida, Lefevere among others have been used in framing comparative literature.
This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the G... more This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the Garo community of Northeast India, a community that has undergone linguistic divisions and witnessed fragmentation due to colonialism and subsequent conversion to Christianity. Employing an ethnographic approach, this research meticulously examines funeral rituals and practices through engaged participant observation, comprehensive interviews, and meticulous document analysis. Qualitative analysis reveals distinct patterns and themes, casting a revealing spotlight on the symbiotic relationship that exists between tradition and Christianity. The study finds that the Christian Garos have retained social customs such as matrilineality and the kinship system. However, a noticeable departure from their indigenous animistic belief system has taken place, with numerous deities being replaced by a single God, and fundamental beliefs like life after death seemingly abandoned. Nevertheless, upon cl...
Cultural Forms and Practices in Northeast India. Edited by K C Baral, 2023
The paper critically analyses kherai ritual and cultural performance of the Bodos. Kherai, which ... more The paper critically analyses kherai ritual and cultural performance of the Bodos. Kherai, which manifests collective hope and aspiration of the community, is the main cultural form of the Bodos as it is significantly the largest ceremonial performance of Bathou, the ancient religion followed by the Bodos since time immemorial. Kherai is a spiritual performance that has both syntagmatic and paradigmatic dimensions. Thus, it frames their worldviews. It is a synthesis of spirituality, magic, music, dance, and prophecy. In the enactment of the rituals, the religious thoughts, beliefs, values, and attitude to life of Bodos are articulated. Thus, the socio-cultural practices of Bodos seem to have emerged from the performative tradition that is associated with Bathou. Nevertheless, the customs and traditions of the Bodo community have been influenced and reshaped by various cultures that it encountered in the longue duree of history.
Journal of Contemporary Rituals and Traditions, 2023
This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the G... more This paper analyzes the funeral rites and ritualistic practices associated with death among the Garo community of Northeast India, a community that has undergone linguistic divisions and witnessed fragmentation due to colonialism and subsequent conversion to Christianity. Employing an ethnographic approach, this research meticulously examines funeral rituals and practices through engaged participant observation, comprehensive interviews, and meticulous document analysis. Qualitative analysis reveals distinct patterns and themes, casting a revealing spotlight on the symbiotic relationship that exists between tradition and Christianity. The study finds that the Christian Garos have retained social customs such as matrilineality and the kinship system. However, a noticeable departure from their indigenous animistic belief system has taken place, with numerous deities being replaced by a single God, and fundamental beliefs like life after death seemingly abandoned. Nevertheless, upon closer examination of funeral rites, certain traditional elements are found to persist, reflecting the complex cultural assimilation within the emerging Christian identity among the Garo people. The primary contribution of this research lies in uncovering how these remnants of tradition persist, despite the transformative impact of Christianity on the religious and cultural landscape of the Garo community.
Music being an integral part of culture is often used as a weapon for social reformation and revo... more Music being an integral part of culture is often used as a weapon for social reformation and revolution. It is possible to understand the culture of a region through music. In fact, culture can loosely be understood as the way of life of a group of human being. However, we need to pause here to ask ourselves a pertinent question: Does music form a part of material culture? How do we define material culture? Material culture includes all the physical things that people create and attach meaning to, and also provides us insight into the non-material culture, which includes the ideas, beliefs habits and values of people. Dr Bhupen Hazarika, the cultural doyen of NorthEast India, has to his credit composed and sang a great number of songs. Besides reflecting humanism, revolutionary spirit, patriotism, history, romance and life, his songs represented material culture in all its nuances. Emphasis would be laid on the study of the subjects like the construction of identity, social disparity and representation of the past with the help of the selected songs of Dr Hazarika.
The paper discusses the creative writings from NorthEast India as ethno-eco-centric texts. It exa... more The paper discusses the creative writings from NorthEast India as ethno-eco-centric texts. It examines the literary representations of socio-cultural, economic and political ideologies of the ethnic communities of NorthEast India to locate the ecological crisis and environmental injustice. The aim has been to expand the structures of ecoculture framed in these literary texts. Nevertheless, from our reading of the texts under study, we found that the ethnic communities of NorthEast India, though moving away from their ecocultures, still possess traditional ecological knowledge, which could be helpful in understanding and solving the environmental crisis and the impending catastrophe.
Indira Goswami: Margins and Beyond. Edited by N. Pathak and D Sarma, May 3, 2022
The paper examines masculinity in Indira Goswami’s fictions. Her fictions seem to present masculi... more The paper examines masculinity in Indira Goswami’s fictions. Her fictions seem to present masculinity as a relational term. Looking from a sociological perspective of gender, masculinity has not only shaped social identity but also defined social roles. Any breach of masculine code is looked as a disruption of the social norms. Each and every society with its own socio-religious codes seems to uphold, most often, only one image of masculinity that constitutes its hegemonic masculinity. The other kinds of masculine claims as well as a scope for femininity are crushed either under the social pressure or by the psychic inter-dialogism of the subject who yearns for an alternative space. In Goswami’s fictions, both male and female characters enact masculinity. Further, characters possessing the prospect of bearing alternative masculinities seem to fall under the feminine category as they are equally sidelined, liminalised or objectified. Nonetheless, the towering masculine figures are also shown crumbling down under the pressure of changing circumstances. Thus, the paper establishes the enactment of alternative masculinities in her fictions. However, the hegemonic masculinity, which has monopolised the socio-cultural space of the patriarchal society, defies and resists the possibility of the existence of alternative masculinity.
Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities
The writing of Buranji in the geographical area that we now call Northeast India began with the e... more The writing of Buranji in the geographical area that we now call Northeast India began with the establishment of Ahom kingdom in 1228 CE. The first Ahom king, Sukapha, who came along with soldiers and kinsmen from upper Burma ordered the writing of buranji as a part of documenting the battles they fought, incidents that took place, followers they gained etc. Initially, the buranjis, which were either written under the orders of the king or by noblemen who wanted to record and authenticate their illustrious lineage, were written in Tai Ahom language, but later these chronicles began to be written in Assamese. The Ahom buranjis not only dealt with the royal family and polity but also with the neighbouring kingdoms with whom battles were fought or had diplomatic relations. Thus, Tripura Buranji, Jaintia Buranji, Kachari Buranji etc were written. Unlike modern historiography based on rationalist-positivist model, the buranjis, though they chronicle and narrate facts and events based on ...
The Garo community living in Meghalaya has always relied on fermented rice liquor known as Chubit... more The Garo community living in Meghalaya has always relied on fermented rice liquor known as Chubitchi as a main beverage in their everyday life. Chubitchi is celebrated by the Garos during feasts and ceremonies. The indigenous populations of North-East India prepare alcoholic beverage in their traditional ways, almost always using rice as the base for those drinks. Chubitchi is a popular traditional alcoholic beverage prepared by the Garo tribe of Meghalaya, India. It is consumed during festive occasions such as Wangala (harvest festival), Do.si Do.doka (wedding festivities) and religious rituals, and also served as refreshments for weary field labourers and guests. It has a great significance in the social and cultural life of the Garos. This paper deals with the traditional preparation of Chubitchi by the Garo tribe, which is a vital part of their culture, and also examines the sociocultural significance of the beverage.
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residing mainly in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya have long been recognised
for their matrilineal practices. It is understood that such a society gives much importance to women, since matrilineality envisages women’s welfare and provides relative power, including ownership over property. It is also the women who are the village or clan leaders (nokma), and the lineage is strictly carried forward by women rather than men. This paper examines the present position of the women residing in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya in North East India, and the relevance of the matrilineal practice when it comes to gender-based violence. It also asks whether matrilineal kinship is associated with a more secure environment for women, or whether they are still vulnerable to violence in spite of the fact that matrilocal residence is predominant in this society, and women are always surrounded by their kith and kin when looking after their day-to-day activities. Using the primary data and drawing from feminist theories, we argue that the traditional practices of safeguarding women’s rights and
security by the elders of the particular clan are still seen as relevant and
adhered to; however, simultaneously, more A·chik-educated women rely on
the administrative set-up provided by the government in the district, such as one-stop centres, women’s police, and social service centres.
residing mainly in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya have long been recognised
for their matrilineal practices. It is understood that such a society gives much importance to women, since matrilineality envisages women’s welfare and provides relative power, including ownership over property. It is also the women who are the village or clan leaders (nokma), and the lineage is strictly carried forward by women rather than men. This paper examines the present position of the women residing in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya in North East India, and the relevance of the matrilineal practice when it comes to gender-based violence. It also asks whether matrilineal kinship is associated with a more secure environment for women, or whether they are still vulnerable to violence in spite of the fact that matrilocal residence is predominant in this society, and women are always surrounded by their kith and kin when looking after their day-to-day activities. Using the primary data and drawing from feminist theories, we argue that the traditional practices of safeguarding women’s rights and
security by the elders of the particular clan are still seen as relevant and
adhered to; however, simultaneously, more A·chik-educated women rely on
the administrative set-up provided by the government in the district, such as one-stop centres, women’s police, and social service centres.