Folklore constitutes one of the most vital foundations of tribal literature in India, serving as a repository of collective memory, cultural values, indigenous knowledge systems, and social identity. In the context of North-East India, Mizo literature presents a particularly rich terrain for examining the interplay between folklore and cultural memory. Among the foremost contributors to this literary tradition, Professor Laltluangliana Khiangte stands out for his sustained, prolific, and scholarly engagement with Mizo folk heritage and his pivotal role in transforming oral traditions into written literary forms.

Born on 28 June 1961 in Mizoram, Khiangte obtained his PhD in literature from North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in 1991 and D.Litt. in Folklore in 1999, establishing himself as one of the foremost scholars of Mizo folklore and literature. He taught Mizo language and literature at Pachhunga University College, Aizawl, from 1985, and became a full-fledged professor at Mizoram University in 2005. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (Puraskar) in 2018 for his exceptional contribution to Mizo literature and drama.

This paper explores the role of folklore and cultural memory in the works of Laltluangliana Khiangte and argues that his writings function as cultural archives that preserve and reinterpret indigenous knowledge in the face of modernisation and cultural change. His engagement with folktales, songs, myths, and traditional narratives demonstrates how oral literature can be translated into written discourse without losing its communal ethos. The study further examines how his works contribute to the preservation of Mizo identity, the construction of historical consciousness, and the resistance to cultural marginalisation.

By situating Khiangte within the broader framework of Indian tribal literature, this paper highlights the importance of folklore as both a literary resource and a cultural practice. It ultimately argues that his contribution is central to understanding the dynamics of memory, identity, and representation in indigenous literary traditions.