Syeda Rukhsana Zaman Shanu Poet-Writer & JournalistDhaka, Bangladeshshanu.saidpur@gmail.com

This paper presented on International folk literature seminar at Tribhuban University, Pokhara, Nepal.On 17-18th March/ 2018. Title: - Abstract on Folk Literature

Folk literature has been present since the existence of human civilization. Its origin is impossible to trace as its medium of propagation was in oral form. Until 4000 BCE, all human literature was in oral which later started to get replaced by written form with the advancement of technology and human civilization. However, Bangladesh, or better to say the ancient land of Bengal, was not out of the league of folk literature. Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language possessing a history and tradition of at least a millennium, with a rich tradition of folk literature. Literature created by rural people or common people is known as folk literature. Folk Literature is an aesthetic spirit of rural people.

It is a poetic manifestation of the creative, imaginative, beautiful-looking and practical knowledge of ordinary people. The main spread of folk literature is through regionalism and oral medium.Folk Literature is an original and genuine section of all the literature of all countries. It is timeless and has been around since people have learned to speak. People have been able to express feelings of heart; the beginning of fame has been the beginning of folk literature.

Since the era of society and civilization, people of different populations of the world and people's thoughts and feelings of people, thoughts of reformation - love, romance, happiness and sorrow, laughter, tears of joy, life-giving, diverse experiences, feelings etc. are the natural elements of creative imagination and creativity. The type of folk literature has been circulated in front of face-to-face with a face-to-face expression from generation to generation.

Many scholars and researchers have been trying to divide folk literature into various classes and branches by virtue of its features and characteristics, subject matter and extinction. For example, rhymes, folk songs or folklore, (folk tales), antiquities, fairytale, myths, fairy tales, legends, puzzle, proverbs, mantras, etc. This section of multicolored folk literature and music in various regions of Bangladesh has been running very richly and vigorously for a very long time.

1. Folk Literature (Especially Focus on Bengali folk literature)

Folk literature has been present since the existence of human civilization. Its origin is impossible to trace as its medium of propagation was in oral form. Until 4000 BCE, all human literature was in the oral form which later started to get replaced by written form with the advancement of technology and human civilization. However, Bangladesh, or better to say the ancient land of Bengal, was not out of the league of folk literature. Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language possessing a history and tradition of at least a millennium. It has been developed from Sanskrit and Prakrit languages. No one can claim the exact date of Bengali’s origin; however, there are some differences of opinions regarding its origin. There is no doubt that the Bengali language dates back to at least a millennium.

Bengali is the state language of Bangladesh which is also used in many parts of India like, West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, and Orissa. Bengali is considered to be one of the highest spoken languages in the world by more than two hundred million people and rank in the top seven position currently. Bengali has a rich tradition of folklore and folk Literature created by rural people or common people is known as folk literature. Folk Literature is an aesthetic spirit of rural people.

The civilization, society, and culture of Bangladesh are very popular, mainly in the form of folk beliefs. It can be said the land of Bengal is folk land. Folk Literature of Bangladesh is a collection of people’s traditions as well as highly regarded. When Bengal was an undivided region, folk literature dispersed in many areas like Tripura, Assam, and the remains are still prevalent.

It is a poetic manifestation of the creative, imaginative, beautiful-looking and practical knowledge of ordinary people. The main spread of folk literature was through regionalism and oral medium. Folk Literature is an original and genuine section of all the literature of all countries. It is timeless and has been around since people have learned to speak. People have been able to express feelings of heart; the beginning of fame has been the beginning of folk literature. Since the era of society and civilization, people of different populations of the world and people's thoughts and feelings, thoughts of reformations - love, romance, emotion, happiness and sorrow, laughter, tears of joy, life-giving, diverse experiences, feelings etc. It tends to rely on some mnemonic devices and patterns of language and style. It has its own styles which replete with artistic beauty, wit, and joy are the natural elements of creative imagination and creativity. The type of folk literature has been circulated in front of face-to-face with a face-to-face expression from generation to generation. Although the folk literature of different region varies hugely from one another few have many similarities as well. It has always developed and flourished on a particular geographical aspect. Though it is composed by individual people, folk literature, by the nature of its composition and preservation, becomes a collective product.Folk literature is a prominent element of folk culture. Folk literature is written in the face of the village people and has been in the mouth for a long time. For this reason, folk literature is termed as a living form of folk culture. Through this, the voice of the nation's soul is heard. A Bengali great Poet Rabindranath Tagore said folk literature is village people's heartthrob.

Dr.Ashraf Siddiki has written in his book on folk literature,

‘The people of the rural population still retain hundreds of ancient stories, musical compositions, Dhadha fame, and laughter. And in a quiet evening's room, it is said to be still, it is called Folk Literature.’

This literature created mainly by the unrecognized and half-populated people of different areas of different proficient of villages. Folk literature has been introduced from generation to generation; it is depending on their memory and hearing. It is composed of individuals, but it gets maturity for the practice of all. For this folk literature is a tradition of communities.

Many scholars and researchers have been trying to divide folk literature into various classes and branches by virtue of its features and characteristics, subject matter and extinction. For example, rhymes, folk songs or folklore, (folk tales), antiquities, fairytale, myths, fairy tales, legends, puzzle, proverbs, mantras, etc. This section of multicolored folk literature and music in various regions of Bangladesh has been running very richly and vigorously for a very long time. Every country on earth carries its identity in folk literature. Oral literature and its influence are very strong so that over the ages and survive today. So, we can say folklore is the root of modern literature, such as classical music is the root in the music world. Following subjects are organs of folk literature:

1.1 Rhyme:

Rhyme is an oldest and strongest branch of folk literature. The presentation of rhymes is very charming and magical. There are beautiful rhymes in folk literature within every rural region of Bengal on different domains, for example, to entertain children, to sleep, to calm down, baloney, sports, cultivation, fishing, breaking rice, wishing on the occasions of rainy-sunny weather, at ritual ceremonies, and numerous rhymes which are conventional since ancient times. The origin of many rhymes is unclear. These have spread from one generation to another generation orally.

For Example:

Sleeping Rhyme Ay nind

Bay nindPakurer paatKankata kukur ailoChit koriya thak.

Nindalir mao roiNind diya jaoHamar shonar chokh juriNind diya jao

Sports Rhyme Upenty bioscope

Nine ten teiscopeSultana bibianaShaheb babur boithokkhanaAj boleche jetePan-shupari khetePaaner bhitor morich bataSpringer chabi ataJar naam renubalaGolay dilam muktar mala

The following rhyme differs in wording and dialect from region to region. Agdum bagdum ghorardim saje

Dhag dhol jhajhor baajeBajte bajte challo dhuliDhuli gelo shei komolafuli

Hunting Rhyme Laria re laria-haioi

Hatir pithe charia Hati gelo KorimpurPeye elo Chompaphul

Rhymes on weather, nature, and animals

Ay brishti jhepeDhan debo mepe

Brishti pore tapur-tupur, node ailo baanKhekshiyal er biye holo tin koinna daan

Oid tolay re dewaHarit thunchu naewaBou gaiche baaper bariShaetei hoise chawa

Khajur pata holdi, Megh nam joldi.

Ek bira pan, Jhupjhupaya nam.

Chad uthechhe phul phuthechhe Kodom talay ke?

Hati nachhe ghora nachhe Ramshaliker biye

Countless rhymes have been spread by oral in different regions of Bengal. Later these became available in published form. At the turn of the 19th century, first of these folk rhymes journal was published with 147 rhymes collected by experts from many parts of the then-undivided Bengal. Soon after, prominent researchers and scholars like Yogendra Nath Sarker, Sukumar Sen, Ashutosh Bhattacharya and many others continued compiling and publishing such books. In 1970, Bhabatara Dutt compiled such a book with over one thousand rhymes. All of these have recorded copies at The Bangla Academy, Dhaka. Bangladesh.

1.2 Palagaan:

Palagaan is another ancient branch of folk literature. Originally, this is related to love stories and is presented with music and some dialogues, dance or comedy. From the ancient past, the village people have been singing palagaans. Sir George Abraham Grisson collected many Palaganas from Rangpur when he was the District Collector from 1873 to 1877. Among his collections were Manik Chandra Pala, Gorkhanath pala, Gobind Chandra pala, Meenchetan Pala, Mayabati pala and Gopichand Pala.Subsequently, Badiuzzaman and SM Samiullah Islam collected several Palaganas and published them in book by the initiative of the Bangla Academy, Dhaka. This included Anwar's Koli, Jashmat Khan, Kaliraj, Manik Raja, Jaynub Badshah, Holud Badshah, Ooshon Koynna, Jelkod Badshah, Chadmoni Koynna, Azivan Koynna, Moyramoti Koynna, Binu and Minu, Rup Chand and Kanchanmala and many more. Generally, Palagaan of Bangladesh is divided into four regional areas:

Myemensingh Gitika East Bengal Gitika Sylhet Gitika Rangpur Gitika

1.3 Folk Song:

Bengal’s folk songs are very euphonious. The songs that rural villagers have created in the past have transmitted orally and gave Bengal’s songs a unique variation. This is what folk songs are according to scholars. Folk songs developed with the support of nature. Folk songs of Bangladesh is composed of village people’s thoughts, feelings, consciousness, curiosity, love, separation, happiness, sadness, laughs, cries, the twelve months’ festivals, Bengal’s natural beauty, the waves of rivers, floods, drought, society’s injustice, exploitation, and deprivation; and with these beliefs villagers have created countless songs and passed through generations since ancient times and is still going on. Different kinds of folk songs originated from different regions in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, folk music has a great variety. Ashutosh Bhattacharjee said that Bengali folk-songs have an endless variety of ideas and musical patterns.

For example:

East Bengal’s Bhatiali songs are very common South-West Bengal’s Baul and Marfati North Bengal’s strong Bhawaiya

These songs have gained popularity depending on the daily lifestyle of the common folk. Besides regional influence, the following kinds of songs have independently established in every corner of the country:

Baul Bhatiyali Marfati Murshidi

Many chorus style songs are still common and some of the established types include:

Kabiyal songs Leto Alkab Gombhira and others

1.3.1 Bhatiyali: 

These types of songs are generally sung by boatmen. It is seen nearly all regions of Bangladesh, especially in river side area.

1.3.2 Baul and Spiritual songs: 

It is sung in Birbhum and Kushtia in Bangladesh.

1.3.3 Bhawaiya:

Bhawaiya songs are a kind of love songs that are not just popular in Bangladesh but in the entire world including India. Folk literature linguist Sir George Abraham Grierson was the first ever district collector of the then-undivided Bengal’s Rangpur region during 1873-78. In that period, he collected many Bhawaiya songs that he heard from people. He published them in the year 1903 in the book Linguistic Survey of India. Bhawaiya is seen to be practiced everywhere through concerts in every season. When technology wasn’t that advanced, people would use bull carts to travel far for business. Most of the songs were sung about the coachmen of the carts and the feelings their loved ones had while the coachmen were away. These songs were sung with sadness and deep feelings. These were very popular in many regions. Many national and international singers have taken the pleasure to sing these songs and have earned great compliments worldwide. An American singer Jonathan sings Bhawaiya on a regular basis.Unfortunately, no one has ever been able to identify the original singers of such songs even if they are popular on the mouth of many people.One such type of song:

Oo ki gariyal bhaiKoto robo ami ponther dike chayare..Je din gariyal ujan jay..Narir mon mor jhuiraroy re..Oki gariyal bhaiHakao gari tui cilmarir bondo-re reOki gariyal bhaiKoto robo ami ponther dike chaya re..Aar ki kobo dushker jala.. aa aa gariyal bhai-----------------------------------------------------Oki gariyal bhaiKotoy kandi mui nidhua pathare re..Oki gariyal bhaiHakao gari tui cilmarir bondore reOki gariyal bhaiKoto robo ami ponther dike chaya re..

IwK Mvwoqvj fvBKZ ie Avwg c‡š’i w`‡K Pvqv †i..†h w`b Mvoxqvj DRvb hvq..bvixi gb †gvi SzBiv iq †i..IwK Mvwoqvj fvBnvKvI Mvox ZzB wPjgvixi e›`-‡i †iIwK Mvoxqvj fvB KZ ie Avwg c‡š’i w`‡K Pvqv †i..Avi Kx Ke `y‡ói Rv¦vjv..Av Av Mvoxqvj fvB------------------------------------------IwK Mvoxqvj fvB---KZq Kvw›` gyB wbayqv cv_v‡i †i..IwK Mvwoqvj fvBnvKvI Mvox ZzB wPjgvixi e›`‡i †iIwK Mvwoqvj fvBKZ ie Avwg c‡š’i w`‡K Pvqv †i..This kind of songs is usually sung by the coachman himself, especially in northern region of Bengal. Especially Rangpur Division.

1.3.4 Jarigan: 

It is sung in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Faridpur.

1.3.5 Sari:

 In Sylhet and Mymensingh, a group of singers sing this song with a particular theme.

1.3.6 Gambhira:

In Rajshahi, Malda there is a special kind of song called Gambhira. It is sung by a grand-father and a grand-son on a specific topic.

1.3.7 Murshidi:

Murshidi is a religious song.

1.3.8 Roof-beating songs:

This song is sung at the northern regions of Bangladesh. Basically in rural areas roof-beating songs are sung in weddings.

1.3.9 Nil Puja: 

To celebrate a Puja in Bangladesh this type of songs are sung.

1.3.10 Pastoral songs: 

It is a one kind of regional song, sung by the tribes., especially in Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Habiganj.

1.3.11 Rice cut & land hoe Song:

Farmers sing songs of a kind of hoeing and harvesting crops of fields. This type of songs encourages them and removes fatigue of labor. This song is based on a long and short story-based. This type of harvesting song is widely spread in all parts of Bengal.As like:

Avgvi gvBRv fvB Amar maija bhaimvBRv fvB ˆK †Mjv‡i Shaija bhai koi gela rePj&& hvB gv‡V avb KvwU‡Z| Col jai mathe dhan katite.

Avq‡i †Zviv fzB wbov‡Z hvB Aayre tora bhui narrate jai fyB †gv‡`i gvZv wcZv fzB †gv‡`i cyZ Bhui moder mata pita bhui moder put fzB‡qi †`I‡i‡Z nvgvi Mvjv fiv myL| Bhuier deorete hamar gala bhora shukh.

Gevi avb KvwU‡gv LPvLP Ebar dhan katimo khocakhocav‡bi AvwU gvZvq wbqv Dhaner ati matay niyawdie evox gPvgP| Phirbo bari mocamoc.

†mvbvi av‡b wcVv ev‡b Shonar dhane pitha banew`‡gv gy‡L McvMc Dimu mukhe gopagopGevi avb KvwU‡gv LPvLP| Ebar dhan katimu khocakhoc.

There are many cropped songs that are still sung by farmers in rural areas. These songs were spread by face-to-face among people from one generation to another.

1.3.12 Boat Singing Song:

These songs were heard in the mouth of the river boat boatmen. Singing these kinds of songs gives them an inspiration to work. These songs are exhilarating and exciting due to its rhythm which also brings refreshment in their time on the river. Boat riders also get encouraged to sing these songs and visitors also enjoy the chorus.

For Example:

Aaite shailJaite shailHyer num Borishail.

Shokhi heBali kande kande reKash nahi bandereEmon hauser bali ayna haraicheBali kande kande re

There are numerous Boat-singing songs present in many parts of Bengal region which often touches the hearts of all classes of people.

2. Ballad-Opera (Jatra Gaan):

A theatrical entertainment popular in early 18th-century England, taking the form of a satirical play interspersed with traditional or operatic songs. Once upon a time, myths based on dances, songs, laughs, comedies, and dialogues, were served in different villages, towns, and ports. Later, various variations have been added for the content of the Ballad Opera and its presentation. Kushanagatra with the story of Kush and Loeb of Ramayana also got wide popularity in the near past. On the other hand, there has been a change in the context of jatraagan, as well as innovations and innovations have also been added to the roles

3. Proverb:

In practical life of rural people, profound significance of life experiences is summarized in full form of Proverb. There are numerous proverbs on various subjects in different regions of Bengal. Proverb dates back to the distant past. They are found in the Vedas and the Upanisads as well as in the Charyapada, the oldest specimen of Bangla Literature. Ghusukpad (11th century) used the proverb pana mase harina bairi (The flesh of a deer is its enemy) in the Charyapada.

In Bangla:

Exmple:

Ashol ghorot mushol nai, dhekir ghorot chanda

Kangaler kotha bashi holeo fole

Jom, jamai, bhagnaEi tin noy apna

4. Puzzle:

Puzzle is short compositions that pose problems to be solved. At least two persons are required to play the game or puzzle. Riddles (Puzzles) in prose are usually contained in one sentence, while riddles in verse have at least two to four rhyming lines. These puzzles were spread in the face to face of people from one generation to another generation.

The following Puzzles:

Ektukhani gache/ranga bouti nache Answer: A bride in red branches/On top of a tree)- red chilli

Kothay ache, kaje nei Answer: Exists in words, but not in deeds.

Khodar ki kudrot Natir bhitor shorbot Answer: Sugarcane

In many parts of Bengal, there are numerous puzzles that are common to ordinary people.

5. Gnome:

Including the nature, weather, and cultivation method does affect the daily life in the rural society; depending on it some advisory sentences are called Gnome. Since ancient time it is transferred from generation to generation. In many parts of Bengal, there are numerous utterances that are common to ordinary people.

†hgb: AwZ fw³ †Pv‡ii j¶Y (Oti Bhokti corer lokhkhon) Av‡M `k©bavix c‡i ¸Y wePvwi (Age dorshondhari pore goon

bicari) PK PK Ki‡j †mvbv nq bv (cok cok korle shone hoy na) †Pv‡ii gv‡qi eo Mjv (corer maa’er boro gola)

6. Folklore:

Folktales have survived all these centuries orally from one generation to another. They can be in prose, be it simple or complex, the former being shorter, and the latter longer. Folktales can be classified into 12 different styles depending on their subject matter, form, and meaning. They can be listed as mythical tales, heroic stories, fairy tales, religious tales, sage tales, fables, animal stories, historical tales, legends, comic stories, and more. Bangla folktales usually reflect events from the society and human experiences. Many events like the doctrine of re-birth, marriage, dowry, envy between wives, hatred of stepmother, oppression by powerful people, greed, aristocracy, uneven distribution of property, sufferings of poor and weak people, religious and racial discrimination, conjugal love, fellowship, and much more are depicted in Bangla folktales. Bangla folktales represent their protagonists in the light of fate and divinity, and sometimes spell and magic too. The use of intellect, wisdom, and labor are swiftly neglected when it comes to portraying the protagonists' character.

7. Witchery:

The use of black magic or witchery is very ancient. The use of the witch system as a controlling force for many needs, people's survival from diseases, dangers, mischief, oppression of oppressed power, and protection of lives and resources, from the far past. The Kamarupa-Kamakhya Mantra of Assam is considered as a symbol of the state. The magic-mantra effect is very much in every region of Bangladesh.

8. Indigenous folk literature:

Indigenous people live in different areas of Bangladesh. They have their own language, lifestyle, culture, and literature. Their religious beliefs, rewards, rituals, festivals, ecstasy, life, livelihood are surrounded by various stories, legends, rhymes, songs, proverbs, hedges, riddles, and mantras. All these are a part of folk literature. The tribes like the Santal, Garo, Hajong, Chakma, Marma, Manipuri, Tripuri, and Munda clearly reflect the richness of folk music.

9. Folk literature of various topics:

Folklore game: Folk Games popular and traditional games, chiefly played in rural areas and passed along

from one generation to another. Such games are played for physical exercise and entertainment; at times in a competitive environment Folk games are divided into three groups based on the environment in which the games are played: land, water, and sky. Games played on land are known as games of land; those played on water, such as swimming and boat-racing, are games of water; and flying kites or pigeons are games of the sky.

Those are: Ayanga-ayanga (the tiger and the goats) Baghbandi (capturing the tiger) Bauchhi (the old lady) Chikka (tug and trip) Chhadar Khela (rhyming game) Chhi-chhattar (the kite and the cocks) Chungakhela (the crackers game) Danguli (tipcat) Dariyabanda (stealing the salt) De Pakhal (turn him around) Ekka-dokka (hopscotch), Elating Belating (Hello, there!) Gaigodani (tending the cows) Ghuntikhela (game of dice) Gollachhut (touch and run) Gulikhela (game of marbles) Ha-du-du (game of tag) This game, which now enjoys the status of the national

game, is popular across the country. Kadi khela (cowrie game) Kanamachhi (literally, blind bee; blind man's buff) Lukochuri (hide and seek) Mogalpathan (draughts), Satchada (seven tiles) Satkhola (dice in seven holes) Soljhapta (kissing the stick) Boat-race an ancient and traditional folk game Panijhuppa (skimming the pebbles) Flying kites and pigeons. ect

Folk Art:

Folk art has been greatly influenced by the long historical culture of Bengal. The historical events it follows have created traditions and have left its imprint in people’s creative work and style of work. It has been constantly debated to pin down a time in history of folk art in Bengal. Art has played an integral part along with culture and traditions. People of different regions with different imaginative minds contributed their artistic talents in history which is now seen as a prismatic array of folk art. Some examples of folk art which are widely seen in the regions of Bengal on occasions and in houses are:

Nakhshi KanthaBamboo CraftCane CraftConch Shell CraftDewalchitraGazir PatGhatachitraJute CraftKarandichitraPuppetNakshi PithaWoodworkPatachitraBody PaintingAlpona

Folk Festivals:

Bengali culture is saturated with traditional and religious folk festivals. As it is a land of predominantly farming and cultivation, numerous festivals surrounds on this subject matter. People in the past and present observe many rituals in order to supplicate to specific gods for the rain, vegetation, land fertility, and more. They also observe festivals on the arrival of new crops and during the cultivation by making special foods and rice cakes. Women have been seen to take actively part in the singing, dancing, and going from one house to another to celebrate the occasions wearing colorful garments holding kulas and pakhas.

Some folk festivals are:

AmbubachiBerabhasan or RAFT FESTIVAL Chadak Puja GasbiNabannaPausparvan/posla TUSU  and BHADU KaramPahela Baishakh Sagrai Mul bijhu

10. Similarities between Bengali & Nepali Folk Literature and other countries:

Just like the Bengali culture, Nepali culture originated from Aryans and Mongols. There are many similarities in folk within these two cultures: 12 months festivities, seasons, religious, ballad-opera, proverbs, witchery, folklore game, folk art, etc. A lot of similarities are found with other countries as well.

11. Globalization & extinction of Folk literature:

The current trends in globalization especially the different kinds of modern literature is essentially replacing the age old folk literature passed from generations to generations. It has turned into melody with the mixture of city’s urban culture. It is only practiced in festive days and some in the cities who do don’t even understand folk literature well. Therefore it is important to free it from city’s culture; otherwise, there will come a day when future generations will only learn about folk literature through books.

12. Suggestion to the Organizing Teem:

It is my request to the organizing team that they make a journal out of all the invited guests’ papers and upload it on a website. Later if this is sent to the participating countries’ governments, then they can take necessary steps and make comprehensive policy to preserve and spread it further. Governments will also know that people in the private sector are working on folk literature internationally. I also believe that it will help future generations to research on folk literature.

13. References:

1. Article by Syed Mohammad Shahed University of Dhaka’ Bangladesh, 2. 1957 Banglar lokosahitya Book House by Ashutosh Bhottachrge,3. Loko Sahitto by Dr. Ashraf Siddike, 4. Tagore, Rabindranath 1958 Lokosahitya Volume 6 of the collected works of Tagore. Calcutta: Visvabharati.5. Mymenshingh  Gitika by Denesh Chandra Shen 6. Songit Kosh by Korunamoy Goshami, Bangla Academy, Dhaka.Bangladesh 1995.7. Oral by My father Late Syed Maqsud Hossain

8. Oral by My Mother Late Syeda Hadisa Begum 9. Rongpurer Lokasanskriti O Adibasi Lokosahitto by Anwarul Islam Razu 10. Bangladesh.com 11. Assignmentpoint.com 12. HSC & SSC Text Book. 13. Banglapedia Internet Edition 14. Nepali folk literature by Blogger Nawin lamichaney 15. Various News paper Published article on folk literature 16. And my house visit in different Region of Bangladesh, West Bengal, Tripura, Assam,Odessa & Nepal.

17. Lokasanskritir Nana Prasanga by MA Jalil

18. . External link:

Back to the Oral Tradition The World Oral Literature Project. Oral Tradition Journal.