Opening paragraphs of LAMCHWA

Nature was a silent spectator that day. India was celebrating its 47^th Independence Day and it was a very hot day there on that afternoon of 15^th August 1993. The heat gave no sign of the heavy downpour that had occurred two days ago. Four men were sweating profusely while they carried their baskets loaded with coal and dumped it onto a Shaktiman lorry parked beside the coal dump. Two other men were using shovels to fill empty baskets with coal. They were all daily-wage earners – happy to get some work on a day that was supposed to be a holiday.

The lorry was now half-laden with coal and it would take another hour or more to fill up. The driver of the lorry was seated on the stump of a felled pine tree watching over them disinterestedly. He searched through his pockets for his pack of kwai[1] and his beedi. There was neither a breeze nor the chirping of birds. The only sound that filled the air was that of the ‘sak...sak…’ of the shovels loading coal, the grunts of the men as they lifted their baskets onto their heads and the dull ‘thud’ of the coal as it was dumped into the lorry. The faint sound of a matchstick striking the side of the matchbox could be heard for a fleeting moment.

---

[1] A local legendary masticator consisting of a piece of betel nut and betel leaf rubbed with slaked lime.

Excerpts from the book LAMCHWA

1.

Coal dumped on roadside

Seven years back, coal mine owners started stockpiling their coal near the eastern bank of the stream which was near the main road. During the rainy season, acidic water from the coal piles drained into the stream and the pool, making the water acidic. The tadpoles, their parents and other resident fellow creatures didn't like this water that burned their eyes and ate into their skin. They slowly began to disappear from the pool. Now, no living animal lived in the pool; the herbs and grasses too had vanished. Only the trees and shrubs in the grove were resilient enough to remain standing there – silent witnesses to a silent massacre.

2.

Lamchwa changing the Tyre for Mr. Kiang

‘What honour? What dignity?’ Kiang retorted. ‘How could I have insulted your honour and dignity when you have none?’

Rocky replied, ‘You think so? Is that dog Lamchwa worth more to you than me? I, who have served you for much longer than him!’

Kiang replied in a firm voice, ‘Yes, a faithful dog is worth more than a snake that bites the hand that feeds it!’

Rocky was incensed at Kiang’s words. He flared, ‘A snake, you call me! A snake?’ He shook Kiang as he said this and continued, ‘Now, I will give you a taste of this snake’s poison!’ He motioned to his cohorts and said, ‘Bind him!’

3.

Lamchwa and Pynhun during one of their field trips

She returned with a jug of drinking water and placed it on the bedside table next to the glass. She looked at him and thought that he was already asleep. She pulled the blanket over him and also put the extra blanket over it. She then walked noiselessly to the door and switched off the light and was about to leave the room when she paused a second and then walked back to the bed silently. She planted a soft kiss on his forehead and then jumped back in surprise when she heard him say, ‘Kiss me here too; just half an inch below the nose, please!’

She scolded him mockingly, ‘Tut! I thought you were already asleep! Go back to sleep now. You need to rest and get up early tomorrow morning.’

‘Okay, Madam.’ He said and wished her good night. She wished him back and left the room shutting the door behind her.

Lamchwa was still smiling as he re-arranged his pillow and straightened himself on the bed. He replayed Pynhun’s parting words in his mind and it made him smile with delight. She had said to him, ‘Good night my darling; sleep well. I shall come to see you in your dreams!’

4.

One of the many waterfalls in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya

The sun had disappeared from the horizon, but its golden rays lingered on, among the clouds and around them with an orange hue. As Pynhun looked towards the western sky, she saw the scattered clouds glowing from the sun’s last rays. The cotton ball clouds had a golden lining, that shone very bright around their uneven perimeters, and it made her wonder that whoever first said that every cloud had a silver lining had probably never seen these clouds with their bright golden lining. She hoped that the dark clouds, which hovered over their minds and hearts, also had a golden lining to them.

She rose from her seat and beckoned to Salan to walk back home, and as they walked slowly along the village path, they wrapped their hands around their bosoms; it was mid-September and the evenings were getting colder. Nature was preparing her children with this prelude to winter.

5.

Pynhun and Lamchwa - deeply in love

Lamchwa was overwhelmed with ecstasy. He began to say, ‘Pynhun... I cannot tell you... I do not have the words to express... I am so very happy that you said those words to me. All my deficiencies vanish and are perfected by those three words! Tell me I am not dreaming!’

Pynhun did not answer him. Instead she moved closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder and rested her head on his chest. He held her with his eyes closed and head leaning back, thinking that if this was a dream, he didn’t want to wake up from it!

They remained holding on to each other like that for a very long time – their hearts connected and in silent communication. There was no longer need for words - the courtship dance had ended and each had finally found its mate.

LAMCHWA

What would you do if someone you love dearly suffers a fatal disease? Pray for a miracle, search for all possible remedies and put everything at stake for the sake of a cure? This is the dilemma that faced all those who loved Lamchwa.

Lamchwa had to shoulder responsibility of his mother and his siblings at an early age owing to the death of his father in a cave-in at a coal mine. By dint of his honesty, grit and hard work, he rescues his family from the grips of poverty. He then falls in love with an amazing and brilliant scholar but is caught in the web of a love triangle. Then, unexpected events shatter his dreams of a perfect world and pushes everyone connected to him in turmoil. Can he overcome the killer disease that threatens his life, his family and his love?

Read the story of Lamchwa to find out more. Get it from bookstores or order online (print or ebook) from www.notionpress.com, amazon and other online stores.

Noble Warrior - A tribute to Woh Kiang Nangbah

NOBLE WARRIOR

(Translated from the Pnar poem "Khlawait" composed by Riquoma Rq Laloo)

“Noble Warrior” – a title you cannot claim

Not for me, for you or any other

To decipher into another tongue

Will but minify your true colour.

“Noble Warrior” to him only bestow

An honourable one and sedulous

Within and without - courageous

Distinct - with his aura all about.

In words and deeds truly he is

Kiang Nangbah a worthy “Noble Warrior”

Forthright in all that he can be and is

Resolute and unshakeable in purpose.

Kiang Nangbah the greatest leader,

The obedient and proud son of his mother -

Whose counsel instilled in him fidelity:

“Love your country, my son, as much as you love me”

No trifle this - the honour bestowed

“Noble Warrior” through words and deeds

Chosen not as the Syiem, Daloi or Montri

To serve a duty by vox populi

He too was chosen by all the people

From amongst the warriors and leaders

But he wanted a divine sign

That this, was by God’s design.

No, we haven’t got any

As selfless as he

For claims made by many

Covetous they turned to be.

Another “Noble Warrior” is hard to find

From the past nor the present day

Your fame Kiang Nangbah grows stronger everyday

As we commemorate your 151^st death anniversary.

                       *******

Link to Article on U Woh Kiang Nangbah: http://michaelbuam.blogspot.in/2013/01/u-woh-kiang-nangbah-role-model-for-all.html

"Hi O" - An Anthology of Jaintia Poems by S. Quotient Sumer.

"Hi O" is an anthology of Pnar Poems by S. Quotient Sumer. It includes poems written by him since 1949 to most recent times and covers diverse topics pertaining to Jaintia Hills - folklore, history, romance, values, satire, drama, comedy and many more. It is a treasure of Pnar literature - precious and priceless! The book is published by YADALADA Books Publishing House, Jowai. It is a book that every Khasi would cherish.

The release function was unique and exemplary in that it had no Chief Guest or Guest of Honour. The Author wanted to treat all the invitees as equals and therefore did away with the usual practice of gracing the occasion with a Chief Guest. He treated all his invitees as Chief Guests and in that spirit it was a punctual function as there was no need to wait for the VIPs (who usually come late for any function) and it was enlivened by traditional music and songs composed by the author himself and sang by worthy voices.

The function was held today the 27th December 2013 at the Community Hall of Panaliar locality of Jowai at 1:10 p.m. Glad that I could make it in time after having to chase it all the way from Ïongkaluh. Wouldn't miss it for the world. 

Towards Eternity

Towards Eternity

composed around 1997-98

I travel, all alone

Where to – I cannot say

I search for myself –

When will I see the day?

I cry – all alone

No one hears my cry

I sigh – a weary sigh

How much time have I?

They say – Life’s a journey

How long should I travel?

Where’s my direction?

Will someone tell?

I walk… all alone

Along the avenues of time

Milestones, countless now

I’m tired, my body aches

Yet, my restless soul

Carries my fragile body

Towards Eternity…

***

Beyond The Storm

Composed during the year 1999

The sun shone, brightly

The sky was so blue;

But my heart was cloudy

Because of you.

You took my heart,

Played with it,

My poor heart!

Reduced to naught,

I loved you true;

Myself to you,

Everything for you;

Betrayal – I never knew.

A scarred heart

A wounded pride

Unquenched thirst

Where do I run?

No place to hide

My heart too heavy

I search for comfort-

But… there’s no one!

Can my heart ever love?

And find true love?

That though it rains,

Our hearts afire

With fulfilled desire

Chase the clouds

Remove the doubts

Together in love

Shine throughout.

***