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WORK SONG OF THE BODOS : A BRIEF DISCUSSION


                                                   
INTRODUCTION
Work Song is a branch of folk song. Songs which are sung by the workers at the time of working in the paddy fields, at the context of fishing, harvesting and so on are called work songs. These songs are generally known by the Bodos as maonai dangnai ni methai. Work is a habit of every society. Every race or community has a habit of work. Bodo community is also the work habituated community. Bodo people are generally cultivators. Their main source of living is cultivation. Therefore they share direct relation with nature. Bodo cultivators indulging are dependent on natural things for sustaining their lives. As such we found the notes of natural things like rivers, plants, animals , birds in the folk song of these people. Bodo cultivator indulges in the work songs to  get them recreational or refreshment from tiresome or troublesome of works. In such songs we mainly found the notes of their enjoyment, endurance (patience), sorrow and the ways to their livings. Some customs and social behaviour of their living also have taken place in such kind of songs.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This is the folkloristic analysis . Folk songs are inevitable parts of human life. Through folk songs one can get an identity of a race. Taking interest to this aspect textual analysis has done based on context of the song. In this paper it is discussed that under what context such work songs are sung by the Bodo people; and reflection of way of living as well as folk-life of the society.
DISCUSSION
Followings are the principal areas of discussion . The discussion has been done based on texts as gathered from the secondary as well as primary sources. In this part, required materially have been utilised for an extensive discussion.
(i)                  Songs sung during the time of newly reclaimed land (Hadan siphainai).
(ii)                Songs of cultivators.
(iii)               Songs sung during the time of wood collection.
(iv)              Songs sung during the time of collecting vegetables.
(v)                Songs sung during fishing.
(vi)              Songs sung during weaving.
(vii)             Songs sung during the time of rice husking.
Songs sung during the time of newly reclaimed land (Hadan Siphainai); Bodo people used to move from one place to another in search of place which is suitable for habitation and is highy soil for cultivation of crops and plants. Songs sung during the time of newly reclaimed land are-
Thwdwlwi lwgwfwr phamu jahwini
Ha gwdan nwbwdwng ang jahar bariao 2
In English
Let’s go friend, to dwell in new place
I have come across a beautiful land in the forest.
Again we found a lot of songs of such kind such as-
Hinjao houa boi bw
Khwse jana nwi halao thang ni
Hadan khw siphai thar nangw
Aaio maibra, jwsa golai mwnder
Gaswi bw  gai jwb thar nangw
Aaio gai jwb thar nangw.3

In English –
Both men and women
Let’s work together and plough the new plot of land
And plough summer crops like maibra ( a species of paddy) and
Jwsa ( a kind of fragrant fine rice) plant all the varieties.
Oh friend plant all the varieties.
This above song reflects the custom of Bodo people of both men and women indulging in the work of cultivation and also reflects the traditional customs of leaving one place in search for a new place highly suitable for dwelling.
Songs of Cultivators : - This song mainly contains the song sung by the cultivators during the ploughing and work time. Such as-
Suni khafalni halua dehaha
Daojla dao gisibblanw mwswu
Halua khw phwja nangw
Okha naiblanw nangwl- jungalijwng khomlainagw.

In English-
A former of crused plate
Rises in roosters, call each morning
And has to lead the bulls
To battle in the field with plough
Again,
Bwrai wi bwrwi wi
Wi-okha naisi naisi
Hal huhun naiya
Honwi sanjaha sanalwi
Jwubw bai

In English-
Hey oldie
You started your ploughing
At the break of dawn
But look up the easten sky
The sun has already soared high.
If Bodo cultivators even after hard work season of work field to fulfil the needs of his family, they indulge in such songs to console their pain, endurance, tiresome etc.
Sandungkhw sanding hwna
Okhakhw okha hwna
Gaiw jwng phw jwng
Theobwnw jwng manw mwnjarwga?
Hai , haire khapal
In English –
Not being afraid of the heat of the sun
And the shower of the rainy days
We plant the crops and pull out
The crops to plant
But till then we have to starve
O ! cursed fate ours.



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