FOLKLORE AND PUBLIC MEMORY: THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF 1950 IN ASSAM

The 1950 earthquake in Assam, locally known as the 'bor bhuikap' (Great Earthquake), stands as one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in the region's recorded history. Measuring 8.6 on the Richter scale, it wrought profound devastation — displacing communities, claiming thousands of lives, and fundamentally altering the geography of the Brahmaputra valley. This paper examines the intersection of folklore and public memory in the aftermath of this seismic event, arguing that oral traditions, folk beliefs, songs, and personal testimonies served not merely as cultural artefacts but as critical mechanisms of community resilience, meaning-making, and disaster memory. Drawing on fieldwork, oral histories, and archival sources, the paper demonstrates how the earthquake became embedded in the collective consciousness of diverse Assamese communities, generating a rich body of folklore — from mythological explanations of divine wrath to narratives of survival and solidarity. The analysis contributes to broader social science debates on disaster, memory, and the role of cultural heritage in community recovery.