Folklore is a term coined by William John Thoms in the periodical ‘The Athenaeum’ in 1846 as he find the two terms commonly used in England ‘Popular Antiquities’ and ‘Popular Literature’ to be inappropriate. In proposing the word folklore, Thoms gave a collective name to “the manners, customs, observances, superstitions, ballads, proverbs, etc of the “olden time” and provided a linguistic basis for subsequently designating a distinctive field of study (folkloristics) and those who made the lore of the people” the focal point of their inquiries (folklorists). John Roberts is noteworthy to mention as he has produce some of his work by successfully adapted the Khasi third reader a few lessons of the Aesop’s fables. U Jeebon Roy, U Rabon Singh and U Sib Charan Roy jaid Dkhar is a few earlier writers that have tried in their own way to instill the people the importance of folklore.
Table of Contents
1. KHASI FOLKLORE: AN INTRODUCTION
2. Khasi Folklore
3. Folklore as a discipline
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to introduce the academic study of folklore and advocate for its integration into the cultural and educational landscape of Meghalaya, specifically focusing on the preservation and analysis of Khasi oral traditions and contemporary narratives.
- The historical origin and definition of the term "folklore" in an academic context.
- The four fundamental functions of folklore as identified by William Bascom.
- The evolution of folklore studies, from early European collectors to modern global perspectives.
- The specific status, challenges, and scholarly contributions within the field of Khasi folklore.
- The importance of folklore as a mechanism for safeguarding cultural identity and redressing historical injustices.
Excerpt from the Book
Khasi Folklore
Folklore, which is a study of oral narratives and contemporary culture, as well as the tangible items, should be given recognition in Meghalaya too. Many Khasi scholars have tried to bring out khasi folklore the datas has not been concrete enough to take to the outside world for literary critical analysis and making varied and broad comparison with other culture. Some may argue that the Khasis only have their written script in the mid nineteenth century introduced by Thomas Jones in 1841 “Ka kot pule ba nyngkong” and printed in 1842 at the Calcutta Baptist Press while in the west folklore has gained momentum at the same period. However, some may argue that it is because of the people willingly welcoming Christianity ignoring that it is embodied with western ideals and western culture. John Roberts is noteworthy to mention as he has produce some of his work by successfully adapted the Khasi third reader a few lessons of the Aesop’s fables. U Jeebon Roy, U Rabon Singh and U Sib Charan Roy jaid Dkhar is a few earlier writers that have tried in their own way to instill the people the importance of folklore. Jeebon Roy was also the leading sponsor of the Seng Khasi and in 1897; his first book entitled “Ka niam jong ki Khasi” was published. U Rabon Singh has elaborately work on religion “Ka niam kheiñ ki Khasi” and “Ka kitab puriskam” and Sib Charan Roy “Ka kot tohkit tirtir” had made few ripples in the field of cultural literary study. Later, Dr H. Lyngdoh, P.Gatphoh, G.Costa, H.Elias T.Cajee (1920-1940), D.Bareh, F.M.Pugh, Prof G.G.Swell (1941-1966) are few individuals which has contribute to the cultural literary study of the Khasi folklore but their work but has yet to help the folk and to make retribution in the academic fields. L.G.Shullai has contributed in the cultural literary field too with some of his major works “Ryngkat bad ki san thymmei pyrkhat” and “Talawiar u Sohpetbneng”. However, from all the khasi literary scholars, D.T.Laloo is one person, which has made a huge contribution when he published his work “Ka Sajer” elaborating the ritualistic beliefs and practices of the ‘raid nonglyngdoh.’
Summary of Chapters
KHASI FOLKLORE: AN INTRODUCTION: This chapter defines folklore as an academic field, outlining its historical origins with William John Thoms and the four essential functions identified by William Bascom.
Khasi Folklore: This chapter examines the state of folklore studies in Meghalaya, highlighting the historical contributions of Khasi scholars and the challenges in formalizing their oral traditions for academic analysis.
Folklore as a discipline: This chapter discusses the global status of folklore as an academic inquiry and encourages current scholars to use folklore as a tool to amplify ancestral voices and safeguard cultural identity.
Keywords
Folklore, Folkloristics, Khasi, Meghalaya, Oral Narratives, William Bascom, William John Thoms, Cultural Identity, Traditional Lore, Ritualistic Beliefs, Academic Discipline, Heritage, Ethnography, Preservation, Oral History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The paper provides an introduction to the academic discipline of folklore and discusses its specific application and importance within the context of Khasi culture in Meghalaya.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include the definition and history of folklore, its functional utility in society, global developments in the field, and the specific historical effort to document Khasi traditions.
What is the main goal of the author?
The author aims to advocate for the systematic study of Khasi folklore to safeguard the community's cultural identity and to encourage scholarly analysis of their oral traditions.
Which scientific methodology is primarily referenced?
The paper references several methodologies, including the historical-geographical (Finnish) method, structural analysis, and the functional approach developed by scholars like William Bascom.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of folklore, the history of folklore collectors, the emergence of urban folklore, and a detailed review of Khasi literary contributors.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Keywords include Folklore, Khasi, Oral Narratives, Cultural Identity, Folkloristics, and Heritage Preservation.
How does the author view the role of a folklorist?
The author argues that a folklorist has a moral responsibility to amplify and validate the voices of the people and to redress historical grievances through the preservation of their stories.
What is the significance of the scholars mentioned in the Khasi section?
These scholars, such as Jeebon Roy and U Rabon Singh, are identified as pioneers who worked to document religious practices and cultural traditions, laying the groundwork for further literary study.
- Citar trabajo
- Macdonald L. Ryntathiang (Autor), 2010, Khasi Folklore: An Introduction, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/214038
