- Source: Burhi Aair Sadhu
Burhi Aair Sadhu or Burhi Aai'r Xaadhu (Assamese: বুঢ়ী আইৰ সাধু, literally translated to Grand Mother's Tales) is a collection of stories or folklore, that have been compiled by famous Assamese author and poet Lakshminath Bezbaruah. It is one of the most popular texts in Assamese literature. This book was first published in October–November 1911. After the first publication 100 years have been passed and countless editions of the book have been published. This book is in now in the public domain as per copyright law of India.
Book description
Some of the 30 folklores included in the book were his own. The preface itself was a brilliant narration regarding genesis, movement and importance of folklores in different societies and communities of the world. Some of the stories are Bandor aaru Xial, Dhowa Kauri aru Tiposi Sorai, Budhiyak Xial, Gongatop, Tejimola, Xorobjan and Burha Burhi.
= List of stories
=The following list includes the titles of the stories in the original Assamese (sometimes with an alternate spelling) and their respective English translations.
Bandor aru Xial - The Monkey and the Fox
Dhura Kauri aru Tiposi Sorai - The Jungle Crow and the Wren; The Raven and the Wren
Mekurir Jiyekor Xadhu - The Tale of the Cat's Daughter; The tale of the cat's daughters
Dighalthengia - The Long-Legged One
Budhiyok Xial - The Tale of a Cunning Fox
Bagh aru Kekura (Bagh Aru Kekorar Sadhu) - The Tale of the Tiger and the Crab
Tejimola
Burha-Buri aru Xial - The Old Man, the Old Woman and the Fox
Gangatup - The Globefish or Gangatope; Gongatoup
Xorobjan (Sarabjan) - The All-Knowing One
Silonir Jiyekor Xadhu - The Tale of the Kite's Daughter
Eta Boli Manuh (Ata Bolee Manuh) - The Tale of a Strong Man
Kukurikona (Kukurikana) - Purblind
Tula aru Teja - Toola and Teja; Tula and Teja
Kotajuwa Naak Kharoni di Dhak (Kata Jowa nak Kharani di dhak) - Chopped off nose, Cover it with Alkali
Bhekulir Xadhu - The Story of a Frog
Tawoiekor Xadhu (Tawoir Sadhu) - The tale of the father's best friend
Lotkon (Latkan)
Lokhimi Tiruta (Lakhimi Tirota) - The Woman with a Midas Touch
Dui Budhiyok - Two Cunning Fellows
Kanchani
Ou Kuwori (Ow Kooanri) - The Ow-Princess; Ou-princess; Elephant-Fruit Princess
Ejoni Malini aru Ejupa Phool - A Flower-Maiden and a Flower Plant; A lady-gardener and a flowering plant
Numoliya Pu - The Youngest Child
Eta Xingora Maasor Kotha - The Tale of a Singara Fish; The tale of a singora-fish; Story of A Catfish
Tikhor Aru Suti Bai (Tikhar aru Sutibai) - Tikhar and Sutibai
Champavati (Champabati)
Jaradgab Rojar Upokhyan (Jaradgab Rajar Upakhyan) - Tale of King Jaradgab
Panexoi (Panesoi)
Juwair Xadhu (Jouwair Sadhu) - Tale of a son-in-law
Source of stories
The author collected these stories from the common native people of Assam and then prepared this book. The names he mentioned in the preface of the book who contributed the folklores (but without explicitly mentioning who contributed which one) were Bhramarendra Saikia, Mahi Chandra Bora, Sitanath Sharma, Sarveshwar Sharma Kotoky, Rudrakanta Goswami, Wajed Ali, Naranath Sharma, Rusheswar Sharma, Padmadhar Chaliha, Ratnakanta Sharma, Haladhar Bhuyan, Guluk Chandra Sharma, Meghnath Deka, Roop Chandra Barua, Dinanath Medhi, Lokonath Das, Gobinda Chandra Choudhuri, and Dineswar Dutta.
English translation
This book was translated to English as "Old Mother's Wise Tales" by Nripen Dutta Baruah and published by LBS Publications,
India.
Modern uses and adaptations
The stories have been notably adapted for screen, stage, and television over the years.
= Films
=An Assamese film, Haladhar (1991), was made from a story of this book by Sanjeev Hazorika.
Another Assamese movie, Tula aru Teja, directed by Junmoni Devi Khaund and released on 13 April 2012 is based on the story of this book of the same name.
In 2013, Metanormal Motion Pictures announced a new project inspired by four stories contained in Burhi Aair Sadhu. Titled Kothanodi, the film was expected to release in 2015. The four stories referenced in the film are Tejimola, Champawati, Ou Kuwori (The Outenga Maiden) and Tawoir Xadhu (The Story of Tawoi).
References
Bibliography
Barua, J. (1954) [1915]. Folk Tales of Assam. Gauhati, Assam: Lawyer's Book Stall. (collects 17 tales)
Bezbaroa, Lakshiminath (2011). Grandma's Tales. Translated by Pallavi Barua. Hornbill Productions. ISBN 978-81-904424-0-4.
Bezbaroa, Lakshminath (2020). Old Mother's Wise Tales: Burhi Aair Sadhu. Translated by Nripen Dutta Baruah. LBS Publications.
Bez Baroa, Lakshminath (2023). Grandmother's Tales (A Translation of Burhi Air Sadhu). Translated by Jnyanadabhiram Borooah; Dilip Kumar Kalita. Assam: Anundoram Borroha Institute Of Language, Art And Culture. ISBN 9789382680611.
Further reading
Hussain, Farddina (April–June 2022). "Filming Folktales: The 'Uncanny' in Bhaskar Hazarika's Kothanodi ("The River of Fables")". Rupkatha Journal. 14 (2): 1–10. doi:10.21659/rupkatha.v14n2.ne12.
External links
Lakshminath Bezbaruah at OnlineSivasagar.com
Audio links
গল্প সাধুকথা কবিতা জীৱনী at assamesestories.in
Colours of a folk tale - Mridul Sarma reinterprets the story Tejimala in her novel Tejimalar Makar Sadhu.
Gather Around Grandma, Screen — The Indian Express.
6 times 6 translates into 180, all children's stories Screen — The Indian Express.
Burhi Aair Saadhu ebook at AssamKart - North East India's only ebookstore
