Baak (Assamese Folklore)

''Baak'', ''Bak'' or ''Bák'' (Assamese: বাঁক, IPA: bak is a creature that frequently appears in folktales in Assam. The ''baak'' is believed to live near water bodies and is usually malevolent in nature, troubling fishermen among others. The ''baak'' is fond of fish. Unlike many other creatures which are limited to parts of the state, the ''baak'' finds space in folklore across Assam.

Powers and habits

The ''baak'' is usually believed to be malevolent in nature. It lives near water bodies and enjoys fish. ''Baak'' can be murderous, drowning its victim to death. It often assumes the form of its victim after death or possesses the victim. It then goes on to live with the victim's family, attempting to kill them too. Carrying a torn fishing net can help avoid ''baak''s, as they are said to be afraid of it. There is a cycle of stories where the ''baak'' assumes the form of a man to live with his wife. Kishore Bhattacharjee notes that this may be associated with unconscious fears of extra-marital love from the male point of view.

''Baak''s are not always described to be murderous however. Many a times, benign ''baak''s simply possess victims or play tricks with them, particularly with children.

Sometimes, ''baak'' is described as carrying a pouch that contains its powers. The ''baak'''s life depends on it and taking possession of it can make one its master. However, Benudhar Rajkhowa in his classic " Assamese demonology" assigns these attributes to the '' dot'' and not the ''baak''.

Classification

Rajkhowa in his "Assamese Demonology" classifies Assamese spirits into "sub-terrananian", "terrestrial", "aerial" and "celestial". He places the ''baak'' among the terrestrial. The terrestrial spirits are further classified into aqueous, sylvan and household. Rajkhowa classifies the ''baak'' as an aqueous spirit, listing it as the first in his list of five major aqueous spirits.:Rajkhowa describes the following folk idiom to connect ''baak'' to waters

''Hanhor uporot xiyal roja''

''Pota pukhurit bak roja'' (Assamese)

(A jackal is the lord of poultry.

A ''bak'' is supreme in a deserted tank.)

Kishore Bhattacharjee notes in his contribution to "Folklore as Discourse" that everyday Assamese legends usually generate expectations of black magic; spirits of rivers, lakes and trees; names of places; buried treasure; origin of temples; healers and wise folks; and history seen by people including saint legends, partly based on the work of Christensen and Kvideland. The stories of the ''baak'' apparently come under the second category. However, stories of ghosts and spirits internationally known as legends are not culturally identified as legend here, according to Bhattacharjee.

In popular culture

''Bakor Putek'' (The ''Baks son) is an Assamese movie released in 2012 that focuses on the social and personal consequences of superstition in rural Assam.{{Cite web, title=Bakor Putek, url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2327223/, url-status=live, access-date=24 October 2021, website=IMDb The belief in stories of the ''Bak'' assuming the form of the husband and living with his wife after killing him brings trouble to the lives of a married couple.

References

Culture of Assam