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Paper short abstract

Khonar Bochon is a compendium of concise sayings orally composed by Khona, a poet of Medieval Bengal. It reflects her nuanced knowledge of the rural climate and harvesting techniques. This paper examines the sayings by situating them within the indigenous wisdom, memory and folklore of the region.

Paper long abstract

Khonar Bochon (The Sayings of Khona) is a compendium of rhythmic, concise and profound utterances, composed and transmitted orally since the 9th century in rural Bengal. Khona was a renowned poet, astrologer, and mathematician of Medieval Bengal, and the folklore of the region considers her to have existed around the 9th century. She composed these sayings, which embodied the intricate knowledge she possessed of the rural climate, agricultural techniques, rituals and the methods of harvesting to be employed in different seasons by the farmers and the people of the region. These sayings not only depict the indigenous wisdom of the people but are also cultural markers denoting significant details and intricacies of rural Bengal. These sayings establish the link between the practicalities of an agrarian community and nature, which is closely associated with its sustenance and survival. Khona, who inhabited an arguably patriarchal society, articulated her voice and opinions on the socio-cultural and environmental aspects of such a society through recourse to rhyme and folklore, leading to a widespread acceptance of her sayings by the largely non-literate population. The eco-consciousness embedded within her sayings is at once metaphorical and realistic, portraying both the emotional and practical aspects of being of the people. They can be placed within the larger framework of the cultural memory of the region. This paper aims to study and examine these sayings from a mnemocultural perspective, highlighting the lived experiences of the people and their intimate connection with all kinds of natural phenomena.