Tshering Garmo and Tshering Dolma, sisters from the village of Karsha in Zangskar, share personal narratives about their family and life in Zangskar. Assisted by Sonam Phalkay, we delve into memories of his grandmother and her younger sister. A candid pre-interview exchange unfolds between the Tshering sisters and Chhuskit Angmo (Sonam's mother) while the recording equipment was being set up, which enriches the narrative. Recorded in Youlang village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

The Epic of Gesar (also spelled Kesar) is one of the world's longest epics and is widely sung and narrated across the Tibetan Plateau and in parts of Central Asia. This grand narrative chronicles the life and adventures of the heroic figure, Gesar of Ling. The saga unfolds through numerous episodes, with one of its earliest segments detailing the miraculous birth of Gesar. Before this event, the kingdom of Ling found itself in dire need of a leader. In the inaugural episode, Tashi Zangmo from Sani village—one of the last remaining bards in Zangskar—narrates how Agu Gani, Gesar’s uncle and an elder in the kingdom, persuades the warrior God, Tshangspa Karpo, to bestow the kingdom of Ling with a king. This divine intervention culminates in the miraculous birth of Gesar. Recorded in Sani village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

In this enlightening discussion, Prof. Tadeusz Slupski of Poland, a visitor to Zangskar since November 1977, discusses the cultural shifts over the decades with a couple from Sani village. Slupski narrates the socio-cultural transformations he witnessed since his initial visit and invites the couple to expand on these changes from their firsthand experiences. They discuss the nuances of the architectural evolution of Zangskari houses, delving into traditional heating and lighting methods, recalling cherished olden poems, songs, and dances—emphasizing the "chham" (Chham) dance and costumes, and reminisce about traditional weddings marked by horseback marriage processions. Dr. Jamphel Sheyan, Assistant Professor of English at GMDC, skillfully interprets the conversation, bridging Zangskari and English. Recorded in Sani village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

Stanzin Choszin and her parents discuss the transformation Zangskar has witnessed in recent decades with Tshering Namgyal. Stanzin Choszin is a student at the Government Model Degree College (GMDC), Zangskar. Tshering Namgyal is a GMDC BA student. They discuss shifts in language, changing tastes in food and liquor, evolving work cultures, and matrimonial traditions. this discussion captures the essence of a rapidly transforming Zangskari society. Recorded at Choszin's residence in Sani village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

In this recording, Kunzang Chhuskit, an elder from Sani village, discusses the changes in Zangskar's agricultural practices. Prompted by questions from Dr. Jamphel Sheyan and students of GMDC, Zangskar, Chhuskit contrasts the recent adoption of machine harvesting and flour grinding with the traditional practices of hand-harvesting and water-mill grinding. Additionally, she recounts a tale about a prince named Kargyen Chocho. Concluding her discourse, she touches upon transformations in the dowry system and the broader changes Zangskar has undergone in its journey towards development. Recorded in Sani village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

This is a discussion with Norbu Tashi, an elder from the Sani village, about the shifts in language, culture, and lifestyle that Zangskar has witnessed over the recent years. Recorded in Sani village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

This is a discussion with Tshering Tashi, a Lama (monk) at the Bardan Monastery, who hails from the Sani village. Lama Tashi delves into the shifts that have taken place in Zangskar in terms of language, culture, lifestyle, and the environment over recent years. He explains how these alterations have affected the local Zangskari populace. In addition, Lama Tashi addresses questions from the students of GMDC, Zangskar, about the observed transformations within Zangskar's monasteries. Recorded in Sani village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

This is a short video recording of a conversation at Aquil Ahmad's paddy field back in 2016, where the researcher, along with the farm laborers, is transplanting rice saplings. Aquil Ahmad records the activity, and in the meanwhile, one of the workers notices him and tells him to look at what his grandson is doing. Aquil replied to let him do and learn! Then he asks her whether those yellow turned saplings would also take roots.

This is a recording of Mr. Anwar reciting a joke on the wit of an Indian involved in an argument with an American and a Russian.

This is a discussion about the language and language varieties spoken in the districts of the Pūrvānchal region of the state of Uttar Pradesh, such as Maū, Balliā, and Āzamgaṛh. The speaker Mr. Maqsood Khan initiates with a short monologue on the election season in his mother tongue Bhojpuri spoken in his village Jogarī. He then proceeds to the varieties spoken in the region as he seems to have excellent knowledge on the same. The monologue then turns into a discussion about the differences of culture and language of Āzamgaṛh and Maū. It then shifts to the state of Urdu in India.

This is a video recording of a conversation between Aquil Ahmad and two women farm laborers who can be seen braiding the stalks of paddy in someone's farms while others are heaping the stalks in the background. The conversation starts with Mr. Aquil discussing a laborer who had ditched him. Then he talks about the current year's weather condition and the farm produce.

This is a monologue on the Pardhaani (village head) elections in Rampur in the Bhojpuri language. The elections were approaching closer at the time of recording, and the speaker Mr. Jameel who was the ex- village headman of Rampur, was contesting this time. He speaks on the history of these elections and his contesting of the same. He then moves on to give information on Rampur village and nearby villages.

This is a conversation where Mr. Satsri Mangal, a resident of Chaudhrīpūr in Rāmpūr village, places his demands before Mr. Jameel, the former and currently contesting Pardhān (village head) of Rampur. Mr. Jameel listens to his demands, and then Mr. Satsri Mangal narrates some incidents. After that, Mr. Jameel starts a conversation with the village children who were playing cricket a while ago and gathered around the recording place after noticing some recording taking place.

This is a conversation primarily with Mr. Jameel, the former and currently contesting Pardhān (village head) of Rampur village. Mr. Jameel gives the researcher information regarding the presence of dichotomy in speech among the population of Azamgarh and the variety spoken in Rampur and other nearby Muslim-dominated villages. In the last part of the recording, Mr. Jameel talks with a villager who passes by.

This is a personal narrative by the son of Sahngi. Sahngi and Mahngi were two brothers who worked on the farms of Sadruddin, Maaz’s great grandfather. Mr. Toofani first introduces Maaz to Mr. Sahngi’s son and his relative and then leaves for work. Mr. Sahngi’s son narrates some incidences of Sadruddin and his contesting of the Pardhānī (village head) elections. He then talks about Maaz’s family members and his relationship with them. After that, he narrates his early adulthood time spent in Delhi, old times in Sonwārā village, and changing times.

This is a performance of a traditional song by the title ‘Dulahē kī ammā’ (Eng. O the mother of the bridegroom). In this song, the bridegroom’s mother is asked to bless her son on this auspicious marriage occasion. Such folksongs are of great significance to the community; however, until recently, their popularity and importance have started dwindling because of the penetration of urban culture into rural society. This folksong is in the Eastern dialect of Urdu.

This is a video recording of an interview type conversation between the researcher and Aquil Ahmad on the current BJP government and its policies. At the researcher’s request, Aquil Ahmad presents his critical views related to the present Government, its policies, and its supporters and voters.

This is a video recording of a monologue by eight year old Yusuf. He can be seen imitating the Far-north or Dewārā (floodplain) variety of the Northern dialect of Azamgarhi spoken in Mehrā, his mother’s village. Drawl is a stereotypical feature of that variety. Those speakers are often mocked by other speakers of Azamgarhi for their highly prolonged vowels.

This is a performance of a drama by the title 'gharphū̃̃kan patōh', spendthrift daughter-in-law in English, on the occasion of the Republic Day of India. This drama depicts a typical rural life of the North Indian plains where a woman and her family are very much sick of the misdeeds of the daughter-in-law because she is very spendthrift!

This is a video recording of a conversation between Nazneen Shaikh — a semi-speaker of the Azamgarhi language — and Safwan Shaikh, a native Azamgarhi speaking child. Safwan is practicing writing the Arabic alphabet on a wooden writing board as homework given by his Maulānā of the Madrasāh. Nazneen seems interested in this and keenly observes his writing while making a video of him. She asks a few questions to Safwan and directs him. Safwan — still a beginner — struggles with writing and messes up while each time laughing at his own mistakes. Nazneen guides him through. Finally, the disconnection of the electricity supply puts an end to the video.

This is a recording of Aquil Ahmad discussing the recipe of 'Rasiāwal', a sweet dish popular in the region prepared by boiling sugarcane along with rice.

This is a video recording of Aquil Ahmad, who can be seen driving away from his farms, two nilgais, or the blue bulls, which are large antelopes of the genus Boselaphus, found in northern India. They are a menace to the farmers and their cultivated crops.

This is a performance of a traditional song by the title ‘Dulahē tērī ãkhiā̃’ (Eng. O bridegroom, your eyes) sung on the occasion of marriage. It praises the beauty of the bridegroom and his costume. Such songs are of great significance to the community; however, until recently, their popularity and importance have started dwindling because of the penetration of urban culture into rural society.

This is a story of a destitute old lady who had two sons, and she could barely feed them. After some time, an aged man comes to that old lady and asks her to hand over her sons to him to raise them. The old woman agrees to this while saying that she’ll keep one of them when they became adults, whereas he can take the other one. The old man — who was a magician — takes care of them. He educates one, whereas he keeps the other for household chores, who later learns magic from him. The latter is desperate to be reunited with his mother, but the magician wants to keep him with himself. This story narrates how by using magic, the boy tries to return.