This is a retelling of the story of Raja Janmejai and of the King and Queen of Mehnagar narrated by Toofani Kaka

This is a conversation in Karmainī village, situated in the floodplains of the Ghaghra river in North of Azamgarh, with the women of the Naṭ community. They hail from a nearby village named Nakkīb Khojaulī, and identify themselves as (Sunni) Muslims. Badrun Nisa and Sharfun Nisa start by describing why they’ve come to Karmaini. Mateenuddin, Maaz’s grandfather, asks them to narrate how their community was provided with essential supplies during lockdown due to COVID-19. They do so, after which Sharfun Nisa sings a song on demonetization and the problems faced because of it. They then give information about their village and its demography.

This is a conversation between four people in Sonwārā, the researcher’s village. Maaz, accompanied by his cousin Noman, visits Shahida Bano to document some folk songs mostly sung on the occasion of marriages. Rehana Bano—the neighbor of Shahida Bano—on noticing some folksongs being sung and recording taking place, joins the gathering at the request of Shahida. Maaz and Noman then ask her to brief them on topics such as changing times, a description of the demography of the village Sonwārā, the languages/ varieties spoken by Muslims and Hindus. Meanwhile, Maaz—on having noticed Shahida’s language to match with Bhojpuri than Azamgarhi—starts records the ongoing conversation. Shahida then extends the conversation to cover family members and some significant events along with some personal narratives. While Shahida Bano talks in Bhojpuri, the other people converse in Azamgarhi.

The transcription and free translations in English, Urdu, and Hindi of a performance of a drama by the title – Gharphū̃kan patōh 'Spendthrift daughter-in-law' (in English). The drama depicts a typical rural life of the North Indian plains where a woman and her family are very frustrated by the misdeeds of the daughter-in-law because she is a spendthrift.

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 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 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 personal narrative of the life of the speaker Mateenuddin Shaikh. He narrates his childhood incidences and the early days of his adulthood when he migrates to Mumbai. Additionally, he gives information about his family members and describes his village Sonwara.

This is a short video recording on elicitation of a wordlist about water bodies. The researcher was eliciting words primarily with Seher Aquil and Khalida Bano while both were sitting in the courtyard basking in the afternoon sun. After some time, other family members too come and join in. The participants spoke in the Southern Azamgarhi dialect.

This is a personal narrative of the life of the speaker Shazia Shaikh. She narrates many of her childhood incidences. Additionally, she provides a detailed description of most of her family members as well as her village Bairidih.

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 recording of a conversation while cleaning fishes. There was some conversation between women who were cleaning fishes. In order to get natural data, Maaz goes near to them, sits, and starts recording without alerting them. Suddenly as few seconds pass, one of them alerts, and everyone takes a surprise! But a few moments later, they become comfortable with it. They then start imitating and mocking the far northern variety of Azamgarhi spoken in Dewārā, the flood plain area of the Ghaghra river in the northern part of Azamgarh.

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 discussion on the popular irrigation systems used in Azamgarh and nearby areas of Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh state, before the invention of tube wells. This discussion briefly also extends to farming systems and agricultural tools. This discussion was primarily between the researcher and two residents of southern Azamgarh who were distant relatives to the researcher. It took place almost entirely in Urdu, whereas some background noises can be frequently heard in Azamgarhi.

This is a story about a king who once takes a walk in his kingdom to check if everyone there is pleased with him. He finds three sisters wishing that if they marry the royal cook, the vizier, and the king, their lives will change forever. This happens, and the king marries the younger sister. She gives birth to a child whom the elder sister replaces with a kitten and leaves him flowing in the river. This happens thrice. The children were found by a gardener who brings them up very well. The story, which is in the Northern (Mandē) dialect with some instances of code-switching to Urdu, continues further.

This is a story of a teacher who once — while teaching his students — says, “I have made you human from donkey by beating, but you don’t understand.” A washerman who had no children passes by and hears this. He then approaches the teacher and pleads with him to turn a donkey into a son for his sake. The teacher agrees to this and asked him to return after six months. The washerman returns after six months and asks for his son. The teacher replies that he taught and trained him so much that he became a judge at the Allahabad High Court. The washerman then visits the court, and the story continues.

This is a story of a husband and wife who once had so little flour left in their house that only three chapatis could be made. The husband says that he will eat two chapatis, and the wife too says the same. A heated exchange took place between them, but they finally agreed that whoever speaks first will eat just one chapati while the other one, two. They lie down and silently stare at each other, and three days pass like this. The villagers, thinking of them being dead, go to their house, wrap them in a shroud and take them to the crematory. At last, the husband says to the wife, okay two chapatis for you!

This is a personal narrative of the life of the speaker Mohammad Khalid. The narrative is in the Northern (Mandē) dialect of Azamgarhi with some code-switching to Urdu.

This is a personal narrative about an incident of the childhood time of Naushad Shaikh, the paternal uncle of the researcher, in Mandē village of Azamgarh.

This is a conversation between four-five people. Maaz — accompanied by his father — visits his (late) paternal grandmother’s ancestral home in Mande village. His father and his grandmother’s sister-in-law have a conversation which was joined by her relatives too. Maaz finds the conversation quite interesting and decides to record it. It ranges from a discussion on the modern age and its issues on family members, religion, current issues, politics, etc.

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 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 monologue on Mande village by Master Mohammad Khalid. The narrative is in the Northern (Mande) dialect of Azamgarhi. Frequent code-switching to Urdu can be easily heard even when pointed out to speak in the local language by the researcher in the beginning part of the recording.

This is a retelling of one of the stories on Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the eleventh and last king of the Awadh Kingdom. Wajid Ali Shah was widely regarded as a debauched and detached ruler, and this story highlights the point.