An oral tradition that says a lot

BOOK EXTRACT

The Khasi tribe of the North-east got their alphabet only in 1842. Thanks to this rather late arrival of the written word, the Khasis enjoyed a robust oral tradition. The Khasis told stories which were an amalgam of myths, legends, fables of love, jealousy, daily activities and moral principles. This rich mix gave birth to stories that tell more than just pretty stories. There is often, at the end, a moral compass that gives these tales an integral place in everyday life.

Author Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih has used his deep familiarity with his culture to put together this slim collection of Khasi legends.

Ren and the River Nymph

The fairy queen too was very happy to have a kind, affectionate mother-in-law welcoming her home like that. Before she sat down, she looked around the room. She was curious to see what her future home was like. Suddenly, she froze. Her face darkened as her look of happiness changed to one of utter pain. Mother and son looked in the direction of her gaze. Alas! Everything was undone! Ren's mother, old and absent-minded, or perhaps too excited, after all the washing, dusting and sweeping, had left the broom in its usual place in a corner behind the door. She had quite forgotten that it was to be nowhere near the house.

Sobbing, she turned to her daughter-in-law to beg her forgiveness. But the gentle spirit had fallen in a faint: so overcome was she at the sight of the inauspicious broom. Ren, weeping bitterly himself, carried her outside. In a while she revived, and joined the mother and son in their tears. She felt she was to blame for it all. She asked them to forgive her. The she fled back to her pool.

For the first time in human history the broom had become a symbol of a broken promise.

Ren knew that it was now his turn to choose. This would be a painful choice. He gazed at his mother whom he loved with all his heart, and against whom he bore no malice. She was old and feeble...Then he shifted his gaze towards the pool where his love was waiting... He felt as if his heart was being torn asunder by the conflicting emotions. What was he to do? Whom was he to satisfy?

Seeing Ren's suffering, his mother selflessly urged him to think only of his own happiness. 'After all,' she said, 'I have not many days to live. Besides, it is not our custom for a son to bring his wife to his mother's home. Go to her, my son, God wills it so.' With such words, and many others that showed how unbounded and ungrudging her love for her son was, the old woman finally persuaded Ren to leave his home and follow his wife.

Ren embraced his mother for the last time, showered her with kisses from head to foot and handed her a little bagful of precious stones, gifted to him that very day by his nymph, so as to enable her to live in reasonable comfort for the remaining years of her life. Besides this material provision, Ren also offered his mother one consolation: 'Mother,' he said, as he looked at her one last time, 'listen to the river. As long as it roars, you will know that I live...'

With these words, Ren left to join his fairy queen in the enchanted watery depths of the river, which became known from the time as River Ren. Alone in the world, his mother sought comfort in listening to the peculiar roaring sound the river suddenly began to emit each morning, the sound which she had come to identify with her son's continuing existence. Every time she heard the sound, she knew her son was near. But she was old, and she died soon after. Now nobody cares about the sound of Ren's life.

From the story, the Khasis learnt the secret of driving away spirits with the broom "" a ritual which is practised even today.

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AROUND THE HEALTH
Khasi Legends Author: Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih Publisher: Penguin Pages: 155 Price: Rs 195