A Brief Study On Assamese Oral Lyrical Poetry

Abstract

Assamese oral lyrical poetry derived from past which are now available in their
written form, reflects various aspects of Assamese society. Its huge bulk is a proud
asset to Assamese literature and culture. To trace out the earliest stage of it, one
will have to resort to oral-lyrics which were originated in the hoary past. The great
variety of the oral-lyrics like Nicukani gῑt, Biyā-nām, Āinām, Bihugῑt etc. and many
other ballads like Badan Barphukanar gῑt, Piayali Phukanar gῑt, Manirām Dewānar
gῑt, Patharughātar raṇar gῑt etc. which were transmitted from generation to
generation, despite undergoing a natural process of distortion and interpolation,
are valuable assets for researchers. This paper aims at giving an account of the old
literary intellectual tradition and heritage and history of the Assamese