?It?s my humble attempt to study the Bihu songs in their cultural and social context,? she said. The book is a result of extensive fieldwork, hours of recording (both audio and video) and interviews of performers.

It was during her research that she stumbled on some now-obsolete Bihu songs. One of those relates to Maniram Dewan?s hanging by the British on February 16, 1858 ? ?Rupar Dhukhuwat Khali Oi Maniram, Sunar Dhukhuwat Khali, Kumpanir Ghorote Kinu Dai Logali, Dingit Sipejari Loli (You smoked a silver hookah, you smoked a golden hookah, what error did you commit in the company?s house that you had to have a noose around your neck?)?

An AIR and Doordarshan artiste, Borah has given a number of lectures and demonstrations on Bihu?s musical aspects in India and abroad, especially in the US. ?It is a step towards fulfilling the need for research and creating an awareness on these priceless gems,? she added.

Another Bihu song chugs in memories of the Assam-Bengal State Railway, which was opened for the general public up to Rangiya junction in Kamrup district in 1901.

These songs are orally transmitted and have a strong literary flavour, composed by unknown poets. It took 10 years of research and extensive travelling all over Assam for the 36-year-old ethnomusicologist to compile the book.

She had also attended a discussion and deposited field recordings (videotapes) of ?Springtime Festival of Assam? for the archive of Smithsonian Folkways, Washington DC, in 2003.

She had also delivered a lecture on ?Springtime Festival of Assam: Past and Present? at the School of Arts and Sciences, Department of South Asian Studies, University of Pennsylvania, the US, the same year.