Hahn’s Oraon Folk-Lore: In the Original

Mainly inhabiting the Chhotanagpur area of Bihar, the Oraon people have been in the limelight for some time now. Firstly, for their long-standing agitation for a separate Jharkhand state and again because of ongoing investigations into their leaders' alleged involvement in receiving bribes for supporting the then government at the centre in New Delhi during a Lok Sabha no confidence motion. There is however much more to the Oraon people than their political plight and misdemeanours. Their colourful history is chequered with myth and legend, custom and folklore. The rich accounts of tribal traditions and festivals appearing in this book though coming direct from the pen of true-born Oraons, ought to be more readable and understandable. Hence Girgnard of the Catholic Mission of Chhota Nagpur while maintaining the authenticity added his translations and notes to Hahn's original work (published in 1905). Thus a jumbled analogy "interwoven with afterthoughts and belated additions or restrictions" has with much editing and perseverance been transformed by Girgnard into these fascinating tales and stories of the Oraons' now before you.