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Dr. Abu Farah Hoque
Assistant Professor, Department of English,
Maharani Kasiswari College, 20,
Ramkanto Bose Street, Kolkata -700003
(affiliated to the University of Calcutta, India)
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6127-9654
Abstract— This manuscript presents a comprehensive thematic analysis of oral narratives collected from diverse communities across North-East India, examining how folklore both reflects and negotiates multifaceted social justice concerns. Drawing on a structured survey of 100 respondents supplemented by in-depth semi-structured interviews, the study identifies four overarching narrative themes—identity affirmation, resistance to marginalization, communal harmony, and environmental stewardship—that articulate community experiences of injustice and collective aspirations for equity.
Employing Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to thematic analysis alongside NVivo software for systematic coding, the research uncovers how oral traditions function as repositories of collective memory, vehicles for social critique, and catalysts for community mobilization. Findings indicate that folklore empowers marginalized groups by preserving cultural identity, articulating grievances, and envisioning transformative possibilities. The study concludes with recommendations for policymakers, educators, and cultural practitioners to integrate oral narratives into curricula, support community-led documentation, and recognize folklore as a dynamic archive of social conscience that fosters resilience and solidarity.
Keywords— Folklore; Social Justice; North-East India; Oral Narratives; Thematic Analysis
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