PORTRAYAL OF LIVES OF FOLK-WOMEN IN LEELA GOGOI’S NOI BOI JAI

Leela Gogoi's novelNoi Boi Jai (2006) has been appraised as one of the remarkable exemplars of Assamese folk literature. In the novel the novelist has meticulously described the Assamese folk cultural life. He has given place to different aspects of folk literature in the novel as well. The novel particularly portrays the lives of folk-women hidden in various sub-genres of folk literature incorporated in the novel like Bihu Naam (Festival folk song), Biya Naam (Marriage song), Nisukoni Geet (Lullaby), Bhekuli Biya Naam (Frog Marriage's song), Probad-Proboson-Potontor (Adage, Proverb and Maxim), Luko Bhakha (Folk Language), etc. Through these forms of folk literature, the novelistartistically highlights how women live their lives in the pastoral and rural backdrop and, expresses these women's repressed feelings, their real-life circumstances, and their wishes and desires. The main focus of the paper is to discuss how the novel portrays the lives of folk-women living in Assamese rural society