Folklore and Northeast Indian History

Meeta Deka

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DOI: 10.4236/sm.2011.14022                

Abstract

The article intends to highlight folklore as an alternative source for the writing of history, particularly of the northeastern region of India, which is inhabited by numerous tribal communities, and where there is a dearth of written documents, archaeological and other evidences. Folklore as a source is important to explain and understand societies in the context of preserving cultural diversity and protecting minority cultures, especially those of indigenous peoples and marginalized social groups. With the increased growth of several ethnic identity crises in the region in recent times, the roots for their respective indigenous history are often traced to folklore.

Keywords

Cultural Heritage, Alternative Source, Traditional Knowledge

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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[5]	*The evolutionary theoryrepresented a framework of a unilinear cultural evolutionary sequence moving from savagery through barbarism to civilization. The peasantry represented the ‘barbarian’ or ‘uncivilized ‘section within a civilization, the ‘non-progressive class in a progressive people’ and the ‘non-literate in a literate society’. Exponents of this theory are Max Muller, the German Orientalist, EB Tylor, the British Anthropologist and Lewis Henry Morgan, the American Anthropologist. ‘Devolutionism’ imp
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