Folk Tales from Meghalaya by Sobhona Bhattacharjee (Author), Utsa Bose (Translator)
My take on the book:
Folk tales from Meghalaya is a collection of sixteen stories which are folk lore passed down through generations. These consist of stories from Khasi Hills, stories from the Jaintia Hills and stories from the Garo Hills.
Stories from the Khasi Hills:
Diyenkain is about the seven families of the sixteen families from heaven that descended on Earth. What happened when a stranger advised these families that the plant Diyenkain meant trouble?
Ka Kiyad is about two men Sarmo and Safin who could never join the celebrations in their community as they were always exhausted after their hard-working days. A three-headed giant met them and gave them a sapling called Kowaing which when grown into a plant bore seeds, which can be made into a potion. This potion supposedly helped in regaining lost energy, but in the harsh Khasi Hills will Sarmo and Safin be able to grow this plant?
Khaseu is about a fisherman U Chen in the kingdom of Bhoi, who finds that all fish went missing in the river. What will U Chen do to solve this problem?
Man’s Best Friend is about the time when animals bartered their wares at Lari-Lura Bazaar; one day a dog brought beans for batter that gave a horrible stench. While all animals got furious with the dog, what did it lead to?
Ka Rytiang’s Stone Bridge is about Ka Rytiang a young girl from royal family who was bestowed upon by God a jar full of gold on the condition that she would not get married and builds a bridge on the river using upright stone blocks. Will Ka Rytiang be \able to complete the task?
Rupatylli River is about two river fairies who are sisters and when they raced to show their dominance how it changed the geography of that area.
Stories from the Jaintia Hills:
Ka Du, Ka Tang and Ka Rem is about three maidens who visited a poor old woman in the village of Mulang. The old woman assumes they are princesses, but their real identity changed the Jaintia hills forever.
Ka Riyat Iyam Siyer is about a young man U Sitang who took great care of his two sisters after his parents passed away. When faced with a challenge who among his two sisters stood as his support and how mountain came to be known by the name Ka Riyat Iyam Siyer?
Queen Latympang is about the constant friction between the two villages Manar and Shangpung. How is this related to U Miyat’s buffaloes and ploughs that turned into stone?
The Peacock and the Sun is about the peacock and his bride the Sun and what caused the Peacock to lose its ability to fly.
The Sacrifice of the Rooster is about the origin of the ritual of sacrificing roosters.
Stories from the Garo Hills:
Chharo Spora and the Water Fairy is about a young man Chharo Spora and his love story and marriage with a water fairy and how it culminated.
Delong is about a young man who after hearing strange noises from a nearby forest decides to find it himself. The forest awaits a lot of secrets, and his legacy is carried on even today.
Awil and Singwil is about two sisters who are constantly taunted and harassed by their grandmother; when their mother also stops believing them, they do the unthinkable.
The Peacock and the Peahen is about a wealthy man’s daughter in Achik who got a magic sari as gift during her marriage and how it changed her life.
The author begins with a brief introduction to folk tales and how these have been passed on through generations in Meghalaya. The author also reiterates the importance of oral recital of folk tales and that these should be preserved to be further passed on to future generations, as these are generally not written down or printed.
The stories are simple and straight forward and easy to be read and enjoyed by young kids. They have the best mix of fantasy and folklore; the illustrations add to the narration. I have never read any stories from Meghalaya and these stories are a good start to know about the geography, the cultural significance of the locals’ habits and history of these hills. Hence, I recommend this book as a good way to introduce your kids to Meghalaya and its culture.
My rating:
4/5.