Abstract

This study explores the critical role of oral literature and folklore in preserving cultural identity, focusing on the Paite people of Northeast India. It positions oral traditions as more than mere storytelling, framing them as autobiographical ethnographies that offer deep insights into cultural self-perception. By analyzing the Paite’s folklore, the research examines how migration, patriarchal social organization, and the advent of Christianity in the early 20th century reshaped their traditional beliefs and social structures. The study further contextualizes these transformations within the broader socio-political landscape of Northeast India, where ethnic identity and inter-tribal relations remain dynamic and contested. Through this exploration, the paper underscores oral literature’s role as a repository of historical consciousness and a crucial medium for navigating cultural continuity amid change.