Gauhati University | A NAAC A+ Grade Institution

The Folklore Research Department is one of the premier and earliest folklore departments in the country, which was established in the university with a view to study oral literature, customs, art forms and performing arts of the communities of Assam and the North-east. The department had its inception in a scheme for a Folklore Archive initiated by Professor Birinchi Kumar Barua in 1955 and for some time it was kept attached to the Department of Anthropology but its affairs were handled by Professor Barua himself till his death in 1964. After his demise Dr Prafulladatta Goswami took the charge of the department. In January 1972, the department was given an independent status and renamed as Folklore Research Department and Dr Goswami was appointed its Professor and Head. After Prof Prafulladutta Goswami retired, Prof Birendranath Dutta took over as Head and worked for the expansion and consolidation of the Folklore research activities. He opened the MPhil programmes in the Department in 1985 and started a small museum in the Department. Prof Dutta was also a renowned musician, author, academician and Padmasree awardee. After Prof Dutta, Prof Nabin Chandra Sarma took over the Charge as Head and worked for popularisation of Folklore studies among the local people with focus on vernacular forms of Folklore . He was a prolific writer besides being a dedicated Folklorist of the region. After these stalwarts new and young blood came to carry forward the academic and research interests of Folklore with more focus on academic and theoretical Folklore.

The department offers courses in folklore theory and methods by experts in the field. Along with its focus on the literary and artistic study of folklore, the department stresses upon the need for studying indigenous knowledge system and folk science in M. Phil and Ph. D research. The department also notes the struggle for survival of the people and how the cultural and intellectual rights of the people could be upheld against the forces which are levelling cultures and destroying traditions.The Department which focused only on research activities under it's M.Phil and PhD programmes has started MA Programme in Folklore studies since 2023-24 session and FYIMP under NEP to begin from the current session.

Future plan/vision for five years

1.To consolidate MA Programme And FYIMP under the NEP guidelines

2. To strengthen research activities on diverse unexplored areas of Folklore of Assam and North east India

3.To start diploma/ certificate course on Indian Folklore and Indian knowledge system, Folk music and performaning traditions and crafts of Assam

4.To enhance collaboration with the other institutions and agencies working for the promotion of Folk Arts, Music, eco tourism And ethnic museum

5. To develope a Full fledged Folklore museum showcasing the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Assam

Student Placement of Folklore Research Department in Last Five Years

Sl No	Name	Placement
1.	Dr Meghna Choudhury	Assistant Professor, Gauhati University
2.	Dr Shaswati Bordoloi	Assistant Professor, Royal Global University
3.	Dr Daisy Barman	Assistant Professor, Assam Down Town University
4.	Dr Pallavi Dutta	Assistant Professor, MSSV (University)
5.	Dr Nirupoma Kardom	Assistant Professor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh
6.	Dr Hemanta Sharma Tamuly	Assistant Professor, Government College
7.	Sabina Begum	Assistant Professor, Government College
8.	Manikha Konwar	Assistant Professor, Government College
9.	Kabita Patowary	Assistant Professor, Government College
10.	Tania Tarannam	Assistant Professor, Government College
11.	Pallabika Sharma	Assistant Professor, Government College
12.	Parismita Sharma	Assistant Professor, Government College
13.	Jwangdaw Basumatary	Assistant Professor, Government College
14.	Lakhiram Narzary	Assistant Professor, Government College
15.	Barnali Kalita	Assistant Professor, Government College
16.	Taposi Hajowary	Assistant Professor, DIET
17.	Papul Das	Assistant Professor, DIET
18.	Rajashree Debnath	Assistant Professor, Government College
19.	Dr Haripriya Sharma	Assistant Professor, Government College
20.	Ayantika Chakravarty	Research Officer, American Centre Delhi
21.	Chintusima Baruah	Assam Government Gr III office assistant
22.	Neelmoni Sonowal	Assam Government Gr III office assistant
23.	Kalpajyoti Kalita	Assistant Teacher, Govt. High School
24.	Dipankar Thakuria	Corporate Executive, Tata Group
25.	Detsung Swargiary	Assam Government Gr III office assistant
26.	Jyotiprasad Deka	SIRD, Govt. Of Assam
27.	Dr Abha Bharali	Media Expert, Agriculture Department, Government of Assam
28.	Jyotisha Saikia	Communication Specialist, FR and Communication, Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA)
29.	Arunabh Barman	Assam Government Gr III Office Assistant
30.	Dimpi Sharma	Project Associate, Assamese Language Team, AI4 Bharat, IIT Madras
31.	Monika Boro	Teacher, JNV, Basugaon
32.	Nandita Das	Health Department, Government of Assam

List of Research Guide last five year since 2019 to 2023

Folklore Research Department Gauhati University

Sl. No.	Name of Ph.D. guide	Designation	Gender	Affiliation (GU Department/ Other)
1.	Prof. Kishore Kumar Bhattacharjee	Professor	Male	Gauhati University
2.	Dr. Anil Kumar Boro	Professor	Male	Gauhati University
3.	Dr. Pallabi Borah	Associate Professor	Female	Gauhati University
4.	Dr. Karuna Kanta Kakati	Registrar	Male	ABILAC
5.	Dr. Nripen Ch. Das	Assistant Professor	Male	B.K.B College
6.	Dr. Dilip Kumar Kalita	Director, ABILAC	Male	ABILAC
7.	Dr. Mrinal Medhi	Professor(Retired)	Male	Damdama College
8.	Prof. Umesh Chandra Deka,	Professor (Retired)	Male	Professor
9.	Dr. Mrinal Kr. Borah	Professor (Retired)	Male	Biswanath Collage
10.	Dr. Dinesh Baishya	Principal (Retired)	Male	B. Borooah Collage
11.	Dr. Sanjay Dey	Principal	Male	Nagaon College
12.	Dr. Paramananda Majumdar	Professor (Retired)	Male	Pragjyotish College
13.	Dr Kandarpa Das	Dept. of Foreign Language Professor	Male	Gauhati University
14.	Dwipen Bezbaruah	Dept of Anthropology, G.U. Professor	Male	Gauhati University
15.	Dr. Upen Rabha Hakacham	Dept. of Assamese, G.U. Professor	Male	Gauhati University
16.	Bhupen Narzary	Professor	Male	Gauhati University
17.	Dr. Jogesh Kakati	Registrar	Male	Pargrjyotishpur University
18.	Dr. Probin ch. Das	Professor (Retired)	Male	Gauhati University
19.	Dr. Birinchi Kumar Medhi	Dept. of Anthropology, G.U. Professor (Retired)	Male	Gauhati University

Folklore Research Department (Renamed as Folklore Studies)