“KABAN” THE REVELATION OF THE SOCIAL STATUS OF WOMEN OF THE MISING COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF FOLK SONG.

Abstract

Folklore is a part of age-old tradition consisting of the traditional beliefs,customs and stories of a community passed on through the generations orally.The messages/informations are delivered in the form of folktales,ballads,hymns or chants.It is an essential part of every tribal culture/society.

      The Misings which are the second largest indigenous tribes of Assam has primitive traditions and customs and are also very rich in folk literature.This paper is therefore  a study on one of its variant called “KABAN”, which is an umbrella term used to express deep sorrow and pain in the form of soulful melodious songs.It is sung only by  the elder women of the tribe residing in a particular community.Kaban plays a lenient role in depicting the social conditions of the women as the the song itself is a summation of various social and familiar issues faced by or has been affecting the day-to-day lives of the women.

     The paper uses various indicators and findings based on primary and secondary data.