When I was a child, watching Ambi (grandmother in the Garo language) peel an orange was like witnessing something special unfold. Her fingers would score the thick skin and unfurl each peel with purpose (the sweet, citrusy aroma!). While doing so, she would regale us with stories of the past, each tale unwinding as easily as the orange segments.
These small moments with Ambi, her oranges and her stories, helped me connect not only with her, but with our shared past. Once I realised how essential female relationships are to preserving our stories, I started looking for the same everywhere - on screen and between pages of a book.
Media, in its many forms, not only mirrors reality, but also influences it. Relationships between mothers, daughters and grandmothers in stories could influence their own relationships with their family. So, representation of strong female relationships is crucial, especially in literature tailored towards a younger audience.
It helps young readers make sense of who they are, how they fit into the grand scheme of things and who are the ones who will help them through it all. Female relationships teach children about strength and kindness. They teach them about a precious thing called empathy - the ability to feel for others. They also teach children how ancestral and cultural knowledge are passed down through generations.
Recognising the importance of such representation of female relationships in children’s literature, The Forgotten Folklore Project has curated several books which explore the same. Through various female characters, these books touch upon themes of resilience and strength, appreciation of culture and transfer of traditional knowledge.
In Ilari’s Jaiñsem, little Ilari learns to appreciate the traditional attire of her tribe. Seeing her Mei decked out in a Jaiñsem, she goes to her wise grandmother to learn how to wear one. In the process, she learns to appreciate not just the beauty of it, but also the intricate detailing, the process of wearing it and the meaning behind the attire. The traditional knowledge of the Jaiñsem is passed down to Ilari from the matriarch of the family.
Siju pottery is one of the dying arts of Siju, Garo Hills. In this story, Aski grows curious about the process that goes into making such pottery pieces. Her Ambi teaches her about the art - the precious clay provided by nature, the stories whispered to the clay while shaping it and the precious piece that eventually comes out of the embers. Just like Ambi nurtures Aski’s curiosity about traditional practices, literature can also be a step towards the same.
At a very young age, Chimik goes through the loss of a loved one, her Ambi. As she navigates through complex emotions she has possibly never experienced before, her Ai holds her hand each step of the way. The little girl learns how to be happy for a fulfilling life lived by her Ambi, while still mourning her loss. In the process, she also learns how her people celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
In Let’s Dance with Ainam, a little girl learns the traditional dance for the Shad Suk Mynsiem festival from her mother. As the young girl eases into the rhythms and steps of the dance, she becomes a teacher herself, spreading the beauty of her culture. The tale encourages readers to embrace and express the richness of traditions and practices that enhance how we experience the world.
Such books clearly prove how female relationships shape and enrich a child's life. These stories translate the strong bond between generations and the wisdom shared from mothers and grandmothers. Every page testifies to the power of female bonds and the indestructible legacy of love and storytelling.
A daughter’s inheritance is the hundreds of lives lived before her. In the same way your mother’s story is her mother’s story, your mother’s story is yours.
Written By Eleanor Sangma, Formerly with The Forgotten Folklore Project Team, Sauramandala Foundation
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