Volume II Issue IV October-December 2022

Name of Author : Dr. P. Prasanna

Title of the paper : The Past Retold: Oral Traditions and Historical Narratives in Mamang Dais Escaping the Land

Abstract: Mamang Dais Escaping the Land deftly examines the relationship between memory, myth, and cultural identity by fusing historical tales with oral traditions. By combining oral memory, folklore, and mythology, this work reimagines the past and illuminates little-known tales of common people whose lives were influenced by historical events. In addition to colonial narratives and Buranjis, the regions history is maintained via oral traditions, myths, and tales since it is a preliterate civilization. These stories provide a non linear view of historical shifts, including governmental shifts, societal upheavals, and intertribal battles. By emphasizing the collective memory and lived experiences of marginalized populations, Dai humanizes history and blurs the line between reality and fiction. The vulnerability of cultural legacy is highlighted by the slow deterioration of oral memory brought on by generational changes. In addition to reclaiming lost voices, Dais nuanced narrative provides a critical prism through which to view the intricate socio cultural development of the region. This essay uses a historical perspective to analyze Dais work, highlighting her contribution to oral traditions and offering a revised history that has current significance.

Keywords : Oral Traditions, Historical Narratives, Myths, Legends, Cultural Memory, Preliterate Society, Folklore, Colonial Accounts, Buranjis, Marginalized Voices, Socio-Cultural Evolution, Reimagined History, Collective Memory.

DOI :

Page No. : 66-70