International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 1/
Volume 6 Issue 11
The Elements of Bodo Culture Reflected in
the Short Stories of Janil.Kr. Brahma
1
Dinanath Basumatary, Ranjita Brahma*2
1
Department of Bodo, Bodoland University
Kokrajhar, 783370, Assam, India
*Department of Bodo, Bodoland University
Kokrajhar, 783370, Assam, India
[email protected]
Abstract:Janil Kumar Brahma is considered one of the greatest in quantities, but also in the inculcation of quality of
Bodo short story writer. He has published three collections of
knowledge, short stories
short story books named -
i) Dumphaoni Phitha (2005), just as other techniques of writing have also emerged as a
ii) Mwider Muhini (2007), and good technique or scope of writing. Janil Kumar Brahma is
todays most remarkable writer of short story writing in Bodo
iii) Japanni Swima (2009)
language. He was born on 1951 in a village, Tipkai. He is also
He has depicted the picture of rural area in his short
stories. The short stories are the reflection of Bodo society, its a poet and a prose writer. Nonetheless, he has emerged as a
cultures, value, traditions, norms, etc. Moreover, he has shown famous short story writer in Bodo literature. He has published
the habit and act of migration of people in his short stories.
three collections of short story books. Some of them are
There is a discussion on the Bodo cultural heritage and its effort
towards development of cultural norms and standards in the Dumphaoni Phitha (2005), Mwider Muhini (2007) and
writing of Janil Kumar Brahma.
Japanni Swima (2009).
Keywords:Respect towards culture, working of rural peoples, Janil kr. Brahma has also received Sahitya Academy
cultivation, food, clothing, wearing
award for his short story book Dumphaoni Phitha in the year
1. INTRODUCTION 2007.
Short story is one of the most important genre of
2. AIMS OF STUDY
literature. In the present day situation, we find that the
Following are the basic aims of the current study-
popularity of short story is gaining ground in the society.
Abari by Ishan Ch. Muchahary is the first short story in i. Discussion regarding some of the remarkable
Bodo literature. It was published in the Hathorkhi Hala cultural heritage in the writings of Janil kr
magazine in the year 1940 edited by Promod Ch. Brahma. Brahma.
Since then many writers have contributed number of stories ii. Reflection of Bodo culture in the literature of
today in Bodo literature. Not only in the collection of stories Bodo community in the writing of Janil Kumar
Brahma.
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iii. The creativity of Janil Kr Brahma through the language, beliefs, fooding, cultivation, clothing, working,
reflection of Bodo society, traditions and traditional dance, composing songs, faith, worships, livelihood
community are analysed through his short story etc. are reflected through the medium of culture. Therefore, it
writings. is said that culture is a life and backbone of a society. Without
backbone, none can stand for a long moment of time. Just like
that, without culture, no society can proper or stay lively and
3. HYPOTHESIS cannot stay for a long time standing. There is strong sense and
i) The Bodo traditions, cultures are reflected in the involvement of culture in the writings of Janil Kr. Brahma. It
writing of Janil Kr. Brahma. is very remarkable. The analysis on his short stories is
ii) Discussion on the stories in broader way of discussed below.
concept and selecting some of the main central The culture of the Bodo community are very
idea or aim of the stories. remarkably reflected in the short story, Dumphaoni Phitha.
iii) To judge whether the creations based on Janil Kr. Most of the Bodo culture like poultry, cultivation, weaving
Brahma are true facts or not. clothes etc. are reflected in this short story. The Bodo women ,
like in other communities, have started making their own
4. METHODOLOGY business and marketing in todays time which is reflected in
In the preparation of the research works, both the
the story. The character named Dumphao becomes the
primary and secondary sources of data have been taken into
symbol of encouragement for women working in marketing or
account. In the primary sources data has been collected from
business. Example may be cited as below: If the women of
the three short stories published by Janil Kr. Brahma and a
any other culture can survive with betelnut and tea stall, why
face to face interview has been conducted with the writer. On
would it be impossible for the woman of Bodo culture to
the other hand, secondary sources have been collected from
survive in the same way? I am also a human being. Dumphao
different journals, articles and critical writings of different
thinks, she also does it accordingly [1]
writers.
Another remarkable story on the culture of Bodo
5. REVIEW OF LITERATURE community is Alasi. In this story, birds and nature are the
The writings of Janil Kumar Brahma are still praised two components that reflected the image of Bodo culture. In
and spoken about. But, the reflection of Bodo culture in his the words of an elder Bodo person it is said that, chirping of
writings has remained undiscussed till now. In the preparation Khayali bird is a symbol of some visiting guest coming or
of this research work, help and support have been acquired being invited to visit in the peoples home. The bird would
from the writings of Janil Kr. Brahma, the literary works of sing her voice from the early dawn till the morning furling its
Rakhao Basumatary and the critical analysis of literary works wings by sitting at the mango trees. This sound of bird always
of Anil Kr.Brahma. made Labari happy. By having a look at the birds chirpping ,
her heart is filled with joy and she would tie a cock as a ritual.
6. DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT She will rejoice in the hope of a guest or someone close to her
Literature is a mirror of a society. Just like the way
heart will come to her. There is a belief among Bodo people
we see our faces in the mirror, in the same way, when we turn
that if cocks fight each other, then there is again a chance of
the pages of literature in the real sense in a factual way. The
guest coming to the home. Labari beliefs in this thought. So
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International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 1/
Volume 6 Issue 11
she tied a cock which has been defeated in the fight in order to clothes have got focus on the short story. A young girl Sewli
keep ready which would be prepared for the dish when her in the short story, also presented a colourful handkerchief for
guest comes. her lover, Rego the servant.
There is another belief among the Bodos regarding In the culture of Bodo people, the belief on
the cawing of the crows. If the crow caws continuously in a traditional medicine is still prevalent. When someone gets
high voice, it becomes a matter of concern because it sick, instead of getting treatment with the physician the Bodos
symbolizes danger or any untoward incident to the family. would instead go to the practitioner of traditional medicine to
When Labari was suffering from a serious sickness, the crow get relief or for treatment [2]. In the story of Dodore
was cawing continuously with a high loudness, furling its Rumbangni Jieu Dahar, such acitivities can be seen. If any
wings. So, it became a sign of danger for the life of Labari, person from the village does something wrong or harms, the
which ultimately led to the end of the life of Labari. society takes the responsibility to judge and punish the person.
It was ingrained into the culture of Bodo community One of the bad habits among Bodos that is, wine making,
regarding rituals, ceremonies, shraddha etc. that follows after which is continuously going on could be seen throughout the
someones death. In the rituals of Anaram, it seems to be story. Some of the playfulness of children and making home
missing in the story. The drums, mini operas, dancing etc. are with sands, mud and preparation of food of sands etc. are seen
mostly ingrained into culture of Bodos. The cultural products in the story. Dodere and Rumbang were seen playing while
of Bodo people are reflected in the marriage ceremony of they were little children.
Anaram. In todays time, although people have their own
In the season of celebration, most of the people are degrees and qualifications many people are still jobless. If
engaged in the enjoyment of joy like elders,youngers, pupils, someone is poor or does not have contact with the powerful
small children,youthful boys and girls etc. Drinking wine and persons, it becomes tough to get job. So although Sonaram is
visiting house to house asking eggs are also the rituals of a B.A by degree, he takes cultivation as a profession to engage
Bodos. This is based on Bodo traditional culture that cannot himself for his livelihood. Sonaramni Jiuni Lama is a short
be ignored. The writer says in the story : The beginning of a story where such picture has been depicted by the writer
new year begins with the celebration of people together along through this story.
with the elders, youngers, children etc. Those girls Who could In a Bodo community there is a culture called Bisigi
not have husbands like Hamphe, Dumphe, Anathi and Sansri Kanai (ceremony of making friendsip). In the story Mansi
composed their own songs and made a satire or humour out of Geder, there are characters like Khorde and Megonram who
it by making a joke on the Bodo youth. Those men who do not went to study at Cotton college. Both are very close friends.
drink went from house to house asking for eggs in the name of So, they make friendship each other which is called Bisigi
Bodo culture (Alasi). [1] Kanai. So, the story is about unificasion of two friends
Rego Dahwna is a short story on maid servants and together. Bodo people like to welcome or invite guests. In the
cultivators and it is about their way of livelihood. The works story, Khorde invites his close friend Megonram for a dish. It
in paddy fields like graining, ploughing and reaping done was a chicken. In Bodo it is specially called Daola Khasi.
during the monsoon season is the central theme of the short So, he served is friend with a good dish along with wine.
story. Apart from these works, the cultural enrichment of Dry fish, dry meat and serving it with foods,
Bodo women like weaving, knitting, embroidering and sewing preserving it are some of the old cultural habits of Bodo
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International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 1/
Volume 6 Issue 11
people. So it is said Bodos are always self- dependent. They earn the means of livelihood through weaving. Bugalis
need not depend on others for food or shelter. All those friend, Faogali also adopts weaving as her means of
traditional food items of Bodos are available in their home as livelihood.
good food. It is the ability of the Bodo people to make Hwnnanwi Bungtharw Ang is a short story based
themselves. The main character of the story goes to his friend on the beliefs of the Bodo society that is still prevalent and are
Megonram and take a lot varities of Bodo traditional food followed by the Bodo people till today. In this story, Jumbra
items like fish, meat, dry foods etc. Dewani tries to make Thingkli, the daughter of the Khwrwm
Most of the Bodo people are dependent on ojha his second wife. While Jumbras wife, Khobsri goes to a
cultivation. The cultivation process with the help of servant person called Maila, who is considered to be a witch and is
and maid servant in the way of traditional system is seen in feared by most of the people of the village. She goes there in
the story, Uwal. In this story pictures of Bodo culture are order to ask and solve her personal problems. She wants her
seen depicted, such as waking up early dawn with the crow of husband for all the times and to forget Thingkli by applying
cocks. The wife of Songfla Mahajan and the maid servant are Haina Muli. She takes it and serves her husband along with
seen engaging in processing rice as it is done among Bodo rice. It was also said that the medicine must be returned as
people. In todays culture, there are changes in scientific soon as possible. So, she returned it back. Mwider Muhini is
technique, such as rice mill, television, cooking gas etc. a short story where the same theme may be found.
Though these inventions have paved the way towards easing Orge is another short story where another aspects
the workload, the Bodo peoples work ability are still of Bodo society, like keeping someone bound to work under
prevalent like that of Uwal, Gaihen etc. her directions is seen [3]. Orges drunkard father, Thobra went
In the story Lwgwni Haba the writer tried to depict to Bhasiram Mahajan during the raining season to celebrate
the ceremony of making friendship (bilwgw Khanai) of two the beginning of harvesting of rice. He took along with him
friends together in Bodo culture in the story. It is still two quintal of rice bag and also took along with him one
prevalent among the Bodos. Two characters Faogali and whom Bodo called Bandi (bounded labour for work) under
Bugali from the village Sudempara have also tied friendship Bhasiram Mahajan. Some of the culture and traditional food
among themselves. There are still people who sale their lands are also being depicted throughout the story like catching fish,
and property in the name of drinking. Dangsw Mengbrang, the dishes like black lentils along with snails or chicken are also
elder brother of Bugali has taken the same sort of path and depicted.
sold a fifty bighas of paddy field. Later on, he suffered from Hal Jangkra is the last paddy field work.
tuberculosis and this ultimately led to his death. There is also Ceremony is being observed during this time. This is the end
a habit of taking bath among the Bodo people by the side of of the plantation of paddy. This tradition is seen in the story
the river. Both Bugali and Faogali are seen taking bath in the Bijuli Barua On this day, people from the village come to
Alary river. Apart from that some servants and maid servants, Thengwna Mahajans house to enjoy with the traditional
playing hide and seek by small children in the roadside, foods. They are very happy in celebrating the occasion.
community work ,which is called Shaori Janai is also seen On the other side through this story, we see that there
in the story. is the influence of other culture on Bodo culture as we find in
Weaving and handloom are also a major tradition of the story Dayaram Mahajan who was born with Bodos blood
Bodo community. Most of the illiterate Bodo people try to wedded his daughter Bijuli at Sivsagar in the hands of
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International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 1/
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Assamese family to a young man named Pramesh Barua,who depict Bodo peoples endeavour to popularize its culture with
was a Ranger [4]. the help of Jatra Gaan or open air theatre.
Polygamy is being seen among the Bodo community Bodo people are unable to stay for a long period in a
[5]. Man would marry a second wife for his own sake. This is place. They like to change their places frequently. Somewhere
one of the drawbacks of the Bodo community. In the story, in the jungle. This habit of the community is seen in the story
Madwi Udang, this theme is depicted through the character Lakharani Kharlung Akhu.
of Gayaram Mahajan. Although his wife was still alive, he Deubar Gaobura is the richest man of the village
married Odang again. Odang used to complain about his first having hundred bighas of cultivated land. Three numbers of
wife. So, he used to torture his first wife and keep her away granary house, four numbers of cowshed and many more.
from the home. He also kick the servant Budlang out from the While he died, his son Lakhra become the owner of all these.
house. His house was surrounded with big trees, having o size
In this story, some greedy and wicked characters are building. Lakhra the idle illiterate lost all belongingness by
also depicted. Odang was a maid servant in the house of drinking wine. Later on, he went to Gohpur searching new
Gayaram mahajan but due to her greedy for money and plot of land. He could not last long there too. After that he
wealth, she plans to be a maid servant at Gayarams house. At went to Mimang, Dwiang and lastly to Arunachal Pradesh.
the end of the story, it is seen that Odang finally becomes the Marriage by elopement is prevalent among Bodo Community.
owner of all those properties of the house. In this story, Lakhras daughter Huma eloped with the son of a
Bangkhoni Gan Thalim is another short story of teacher named Donda.
the writer. The story is based on an attempted made on the The same picture is also seen in the story Orong.
part of people to clean or serve a society in proper way. It was Making and drinking wine is one of the deep rooted habit of
done by the people of the village name Owabari. Man Bodo community. They are unable to forego this habit at any
cannot survive only by drinking, eating and working. Within cost. In the short story Orong tries to exhibit how a family
the culture of the society a person can gain nationwide losses everything by this sort of habit. These guardians who
attention and make his own identity. So, the people of the loss by drinking wine, lastly adopt searching of new lands
village brought the music teacher and rehearsed a jatra named somewhere in distance places like Mimang, Dwiang, Gohpur,
Khwifwr Muti. In this way they tried to broaden the culture Silapathar etc. They came back home when they cannot
of the Bodo people. materialize their dream in these places.
Borondani Faothai Bijab is a short story planning Fishing by traditional weapons like Jekai, Polo are
to develop language culture and literature are being also seen in the story. Bodo damsels are expert in fishing too.
emphasized. On the other hand, the lack of reading books Bishary, the daughter of Orong, also catches fishes in the river
among Bodo community is also revealed through the story [6]. and sale in the market and tried to cooperate her father. In this
It is seen that the culture of reading books in the society of way she tried to help her father during his bad time.
Bodo is very less as it is seen in the story. Boronda cannot sale
7. CONCLUSION
his Dimaphurni Nida the book of drama at the time of
From the above discussion it is seen that the writer
conference of Bodo Sahitya Sabha. This is a clear picture of
Janil Kr. Brahma has tried to enlarge the culture of the Bodo
the Bodo society where book reading culture is very less.
through his writing. His writing revealed traditions, customs,
Ambushrwn Palla is another short story were the writer try to
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International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 1/
Volume 6 Issue 11
talk and belief, work culture, food habit, weaving and [1] Brahma, Janil Kumar, Dumphaoni pitha.Kokrajhar:Onsumoi
Library,2005. pp 5-12
handloom, costumes and everything of the Bodos. In some
[2] Mwchahary, D. D. and Nath, D. C. (2015), Deforestation
stories, influence of other communities has also been and its Impact on Ethno-Medicinal Practices among Bodo
Tribe of Kokrajhar District in Assam, India, Journal of
observed. In the story, Bijuli Barua the Bodo girl, Bijuli
Environmental Science, Computer Science and Engineering
gets married with a youth of other caste who faced many & Technology, E-ISSN: 2278-179X
[3] Basumatary, Rakhao, Boro Soloni Jwnwm Arw
problems. In the story Hajwni Sikiri, Hayenni Bibar the hill
Jougani,Bodo Publication Board, Bodo Sahitya Sabha;2005.
tribe youth Birdao Waricha gets married with a plain tribe
damsel Goyshri. By their marriage, the writer tries to establish
the cultural unification of both the tribes. In the story,
Undaha the writer tries to focus the Bodo medium problem.
Many Bodo parents educated their children in English
Medium Schools. But some of them failed to give quality [4] Gossami, Nath Trailokya. Adhunik Galpa Sahitya.Guwahati-
1: Published by A.P. Choudhury, Bani Prakash(P) Ltd.,
education to their children. Some family from the Bodo
Panbazar 1965.
community adopts dogs as pets that live on the waste foods.
[5] Lahary,Manaranjan. Nwjwr. Kokrajhar: Alaiyaaron publisher
But the dogs from Japan when adopted are taken care and private Ltd.1992.
given meats to eat every day. Such picture is seen in the story, [6] Boro, Dr. Anil, Gwdan Boro Thunlai, Kokrajhar: Onsumoi
Library, 2006.
Japanni Swima.
Therefore, in every and all of his short stories, the
picture of the culture of Bodos are depicted directly or
indirectly.
********
References:
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