Author: Dr. Shyamolima Saikia

Abstract: Assam has a rich heritage of folktales. One such folk belief is that of the existence of Bak which although related to superstition, is part of Assamese folklore and social life. Benudhar Rajkhowa in his "Assamese Demonology" classifies the bak as a terrestrial aqueous spirit. This spirit, fond of eating fish, is believed to reside in pools and tanks, lakes which have grown old and are beginning to sink. Imran Hussain is a contemporary Assamese writer whose works embody Assam's socio-political and cultural scenario. One of Hussain’s stories, "Bak: The Water Spirit” revolves around a young boy Goroi’s search for his father. The story is based upon the mythical tale popular among the fishermen of the Kolong and Kopili rivers of Assam. This paper shall attempt to analyse how Imran Hussain has tried to retell the folk myth of Bak, the water spirit to portray certain contemporary concerns.

Keywords: Folktale, Retelling, Demonology, Mythology, Contemporaneity, Society

Article Info: Received: 11 Feb 2026; Received in revised form: 09 Mar 2026; Accepted: 15 Mar 2026; Available online: 17 Mar 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.112.27