European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine ISSN 2515-8260 Volume 07, Issue 09, 2020 1952 Knowing the origin of the Deoris of Assam in the broader context of Folklore Atrayee Kashyap Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Cultural and Creative Studies North- Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Umshing Mawkynroh Meghalaya- 793022 Email ID: katrayee8@gmail.com Contact No. : 7002763076 Abstract In the contemporary society we are constantly struggling to go back to our roots and to maintain our ethnic identity. ‘Who am I?’ is a question that has been scrutinized by us in diverse forms in our lives. How important do we think folklore in defining cultural identity? Culture is the creative expression of a particular society through its symbols, stories, ballads, myths, literature, art, music and for some its institution. An oral composition may be added to or subtracted from at any time and by different people. The date regarding the historical background of the Deoris is largely wanting due to scarcity of relevant ancient documents and other evidences. Regarding the origin and pre-history of the Deori community few legends as well as traditional songs can be considered as these appear to have represented real facts. How does a community foster its bond between people and their folklore and exactly which of its aspects relate to the society at large: the themes, the language, the forms, or the particular tales, songs and proverbs? The forms of folklore are thus regarded as the cores at the hearts of artistic forms. Identity is an outcome, a condition created largely through heritage which may or may not be conveyed through rituals as the vehicle of transmission. The Deori culture is facing danger from the clutches of globalization and striving hard to flourish. Such endangered culture so sprung -up by the nature thousand years past now deserve preservation and propagation by the government itself from being extinct. Thus, this working paper is a humble endeavour to deal with the notions of authenticity, locality, vitality of oral culture and cultural identity of the Deori Community, in the realm of folklore. Keywords: Oral Culture, Folklore, Origin, Identity, Deoris. Introduction: The word tradition means handing over. Literary tradition consists of the folktale, legend, song, riddle, and proverb or myths etc. i It is assumed or said that in oral cultures, everything is stored in the heads of the adults, so the one who has seen most and lived longest remains a major source of knowledge. It is a fact that virtually the only store of information lies in human memories means that it is always susceptible for selective forgetting and remembering. There are of course, techniques for preserving special kinds of information. But, unless deliberately directed, memory bends to other interests tending to set aside what does not fit. This feature of oral storage and transmission contributes to the relatively homogenous character of such cultures, in which uncomfortable dissonances tend to be forgotten while memory works with those experiences that link well with others. The Deoris or the Deuris are one of the distinct Tribal Communities of undivided Assam ethnically affiliated to the great Tibeto-Burman group. The meaning of the word Deori is, a person abides by high customary rule and having virtuous life, for worshipping God. The Deoris are one of an important minority communities having significant contribution towards the greater Assamese culture. ii