D R Michael Buam

D R Michael Buam is an independent researcher, filmmaker and a writer in three languages. He currently researches on oral history, indigenous knowledge systems and traditions of the Jaintia people living in Meghalaya and Assam. He belongs to the War-Jaintia community of the Khasis. He had quit his job at the university to setup his own IT firm TechLife in 2004 and in 2010 resigned as its Director to concentrate on his research, filmmaking and writing. The English version of the present Article can be found in
http://michaelbuam.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-enigma-of-rock-sculptures-and.html
Bah Raphael Warjri: Artist, Writer and film-maker. Founder of Riti Academy of Visual Arts and television news channel Media Plus. Life Member of Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Advisory Member, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Ka thaiñ rilum Khasi bad Jaiñtia ka kynrei bha ki mot sah kynmaw jong ka mynnor ki ba sakhi shynna ha ki mawbynna, ba kynthup ki maw kynthei bad maw shynrang ki ba їeng rasong haduh mynta mynne kum ki dak ba tympang їa ka burom baphuh baphieng na ki khanapateng jong ki trairi traimuluk jong kane ka thaiñ. Hynrei sngew bynñiaw pat ba ym don kino kino ki nathi ha kano kano ka bui na ki pateng ba ha shwa. Katkum ka khanatang jong ki longshwa manshwa ki Khasi ki yn lah nguid noh їa ka kot bad la jah rngai ki dak thoh shiryta. Kawei pat kakhanatang na War Jaintia ka їathuh ba їa ki dak Khasi la tyngkaibad ri kyndong da ka kynhun ki riewkhuid ki ba la duh jait noh ha kawei na ki pateng bynriew. Ki ju khot ‘Prai-Dia’ ka ba mut ‘bleijaiñ’ ka ba kdew ba ki thoh ha ka jaiñ.


Namarkata, ki khana pateng jong ka mynnor bad ki ba dang ha ki spah snem ba lah leit shaphang jong ka Khasi Jaintia ki dang sah shrah ne lymbiang katba ym pat lah ban tih sani da ki riewstad ki ba tbit ha la ka kam khana pateng bad ka stad saiñbynriew bad saiñriti (Archeology). Ka synñiang jong ka stad saiñktien (Linguistics) na ki khana pateng ka lah ban pashat jingshai ha ka ba ki riewtihbniah ha kiwei kiwei ki phang ruh kin lah ban kham batai shai halor kane ka phang. Ka stad pule sohhiarpateng (Genetic) ka lah pyrshang ban pashat jingshai halor ki jukshai lyngba ki khanapateng bad ka la pynkylla їa ka rukom pyrkhat kat ia ka ba lah shem. Katba ka stad tihsani ban shem їa ka ryta (carbon dating) halor jong ki shlem saiñ nar lyngba ki ryta, ka ba da tih na ramew la kham syntan ban lapdien ia ka khanapateng jong ki bynriew ha ka thaiñ Khasi Jaintia. Ka jingtih na ramew kat ka ba la shem dei tang ka jong u Lum Sohpetbneng da u Dr. Marco Mitri bad la ka kynhun ka ba la shem sabut shaphang kaba ju don ka jukshai jong ki bynriew katkum ba la phalang ha ki khanatang bad kane ka jaka ka dei marjan bad ka pung Umiam ba ym da jngai than na nongbah Shillong. U nongthoh ba pawnam, u Bah Sumar Sing Sawian ha ka kot ba kyrteng ‘Ka Thymmei Lariti’ ka dei ka ba la pynshong nongrim halor kata.

Elephant rock sculpture at Ampubon near Syndai village in West Jaintia Hills
Stone bridge at Thlumuwi in West Jaiñtia Hills
The Rupasor Bathing Ghat of the Jaintia Royals dug in a rock at Ampubon near Syndai village


Ka khana pateng kumba kalong ka dei ka ba la shu pynkiew skong jubor bad don ruh ka ba la shu jah rngai. Teng teng ka long ka ba sah umdum na ka daw ba don bunjait ki rukom jingjia halor kawei ka khana jong ki juh ki briew. Kane ka paw shai na ki lai saw jait bapher kawei na kawei ha ka khanatang jong ka Lidakha, ka ba iathuh shaphang kajingsdang jong ki syiem Jaintia. Jar la katta wat lada ki khana pateng ba shu їapur khana kim da thikna, hynrei ki dang dei hi ki tyllong jingtip ba kongsan shaphang ka khanapateng jong ka Rilum Khasi Jaintia bad lada ym kynshew nathi ha ki bui, kin sa shu jah rngai bad tyllep ha ka klet haduh ban da btep syndon ha lyndet ki rta barim bajah.
Dei na kita ki kyntien їapur khana da ka ba iathuh pateng ba kane ka jynthoh ruh ka la sot ha ka ba pyrshang ban sngewthuh їa ki dur ba la oh bad shtah ha ki maw ki ba lashem byllai ha Rilum Jaintia. Hapdeng kine ki jingshisha ba la pynpaw ha shwa, ki don ki maw ba sah kynmaw їa ka mynnor ki ba la shem jingeh ban batai na ka daw ba ym don jynthoh ba thikna. Kumta la hap ban shu antad da ka ba shu tharai da ka ba ringdur. Dei hangta ba ka bor jabieng jong ki briew ka treikam ban pynphriang jingtip kiba bakla. Ha ka jingim ba manla ka sngi, khamtam ha kane ka pyrthei beh por ba ka puson bad ka duriap ba la kham ñiar ban shem.
Ka Rilum Jaintia ka don byllai ki sakhi sabut jong ka mynnor lyngba ki mawbynna, ki їew ki hat barim bajah bad ki jyntei ki ba їeng shynna kynthup ia ki jingkieng maw baphieng ki ba la їashan borbah wat ha ba lynsher ki bor mariang lane sep bad dkhoi noh haduh mynta. Ka kam mushlia jong ki bynriew ruh kadei kawei ka ba nang synjor kine matti sah kynmaw. Ki dak ki shin ki ba lah ban peitthuh ha kane ka liang ki dei na ka ba ym shem kino kino ki snap ohshrong ne shtah dur ha ki thaiñ pdeng jong ka Rilum Jaintia. Lehse lah ban len їa kata hynrei haduh mynta mynne, ym pat shem ban don ki kaiphot ki ba kyntait їa kata. Ki snap ohshrong bad shtah dur ba la ju їai shem ha kine ki thaiñ ki dei barabor ki ba marjan bad markhap bad kiwei pat ki deiriti bapher.

Rock surfaces on the west bank of the Tisang(Myntdu) River near Pasadwar village in West Jaintia Hills bear several engravings of Hindu culture and local myths.
Image of Lord Ganesha carved in a rock near Syndai village in West Jaiñtia Hills
Image of Ganesha carved in a rock near Syndai village in West Jaintia Hills.
Representation of U Khmie
U Moo-syiem

Ka dur jong ka sngi bad u bnai ba shtah ha u maw la shem ha marjan jong ka pung sum ha Rupasor bad ka shtahdur jong ki hati la shem ha phudwah ba ju khot ka Ampubon, markhap bad ka pung sum Rupasor. Kine ki dur ba la shtah ha ki maw ki dei ki dak ba shynna jong ka lambud їa ka niam Hindu ba lehse ka la jia ha ka por ba synshar ki syiemJaintia. Ka khilon mawbah ba pun jingkieng ka ba don marjan jong ka pung sum Rupasor ka lah ban long naduh ki spah snem ba khatphra ki ba long ki matti ba shynna jong ka Hima Jaintia ka bakhraw hyndai.
Ha shnong Khanduli ba ha ka thaiñ ba shatei jong ka Rilum Jaintia markhap bad ka Karbi Anglong District jong ka jylla Assam, lah ban shem ki maw shtahdur ba paw kum ki shipai jong u syiem. Kawei na kita ki shtahdur ka la julor noh namar ba dei ha lynti ba shna surok ka sorkar. Ka lah ban long ba ka durshtah ha u maw la shu jynrat lane ba ki nongtrei surok kim lah ban ithuh їa kiei kiei ki ba kynsai, namar ba la iathuh thikna da ki trai shnong ba ki dang kynmaw їa kawei ka durshtah ka ba la jah noh. Donbok ba kawei na kine ka dang sah ba la pynneh da iwei na ki traishnong ka ba dang neh kumjuh ha rudnong ba shaphang shatei na ka shnong. Kane ka durshtah ka la neh bad sumar da ka ba ker sawdong khnang ban ym don shuh ki ba lah ban pynjulor. Khyndiat la don ka jingsngew bynñiaw namar ba la paw kum ba khah rong ba la tah khnang, hynrei ka durshtah ka dang neh hi kumjuh. Harum jong ka durshtah jong u syiem ne shipai ka don ka dur ba la byrshem bad ka dur jong ka riew kynthei ka ba lah ruh ban dei ka syiem. Dei sa tang ka ba jurip sani da ki riewtbit ha kane ka liang ba lah ban seipaw їa ka jingmut ba thikna jong kine ki durshtah. Ka kyrteng jong kane ka durshtah ka kdew shai ba dei u syiem kum u tyngshop ba paw. Katkum ki parom hyndai la nam їa kane ka durshtah ha u maw kum u Moosyiem wat lada ym shym la jer kyrteng ne їa ka por ne ka ryta.
Kawei na ki durshtah ka ba kham phylla ha Rilum Jaintia ka dei ka dur jong ka mynraiñ kynthei ba la shtah ha u maw ka ba don ha rudnong jong ka shnong Lum Lakhiat hajan Khanduli. Ka mynraiñ kynthei ba lashtah ha u maw ka don ka jingthew ba kumba khatsan pruh ka kynїan bad san pruh ka kynjang. Kata ka durshtah ka kham heh shibun shah ban їa nujor na ka mynraiñ kynthei jong ki bynriew ki ba im bad kam da shynna than namar ba la pur ki jyrmie bad la sop la spaiñ baroh sawdong da u sañium jynthung kum ban buhrieh na ka ba lah ban paw pyrthei than. Kane ka durshtah ka kyrsoi bad kynshoit shibun ki snap pyrkhat ha ka ba ka jubab ka long ka ba sngew kynsha. Ki parashnong ha Lum Lakhiat kim da don jingtip ba thikna shaphang ka tyllong jong kane ka durshtah ha u maw. Bun na ki parashnong kim da tip shai namar ba ka don sha rudnong jngai na shnong ne na u lum bad ka їajan bad ka lyngkha kba.
Ym lah ban tip shuh ba mano ne mynno ba la shtah їa kum kane ka dur ha u maw, hynrei balei la thaw bad kaei ka jingthmu? Hato ka dei ka threw їa ka doh ban pynhun їa ka jingkangar ne ka dei ka ba la shna khnang da ki briew ki ba ym don da kawei pat ka kam ban leh? Lehse kalah banlong ruh ba la shtah da ki briew ki ba jylliew ka pyrkhat ha ka thaw lade? La sngewdei ban snoh ha ka rukom mane Yoni ka ba kynrei ha kylleng ka Ri India. Ka mynraiñ kynthei ba la shtah ha u maw ha kane ka shnong ka їasyriem bad kata ka ba don ha їingmane Kamakhya ha Guwahati jong ka jylla Assam markhap ka jylla Meghalaya. Ka Kamakhya ka dei ka ba khring bha їa ki ba їaid riewblei na kylleng ka dewbah Hindu na ka bynta ka jinglehniam ‘Shakti Peetha’. Ha jylla Meghalaya ruh ka don kum kata ka rukom mane ki riewblei ne ka ‘Shakti Peetha’ ka ba long ha shnong Nartiang jong ka Rilum Jaintia, ka ba jia ryngkhat ban їajan bad ka shnong Lum Lakhiat tang kumba 35 mer eiei ka jingjngai na shaphang shathie. Kane ka jingїajan jong kine ki durshtah їa ka mynraiñ kynthei ha Lum Lakhiat bad ka lehniam ‘Shakti Peetha’ ha Nartiang ka kdew ba lehse ha ka por synshar ki syiem Jaintia ka ju їai jia bad їai long namar ba ki syiem Jaintia ki kyntiew nam їa ka niam Hindu ha ka ba ki raїot ki ju lehniam, hynrei ka ba la sangeh noh bad nang jah suki suki hadien ba la pynsnoh їa ka hima Jaintia sha ka synshar jong ki phareng ha u snem 1835.
Ka don kawei pat ka durshtah ha Kseh Rynchang hajan Khanduli ka ba lah kdiah bad la weng noh na ka jaka ba ju don ha ka por ba shna surok ka sorkar hangta. Mynta ka shong ha tbian markhap ka Lailad ban poi sha ka surok bah sha shnong Khanduli. Ki parashnong ki iathuh ba don artylli ki durshtah jong ki shijur kynthei bad shynrang ki ba lyngkhuit. Ym lah ban tip mano ba shtah їa kata ka dur ha u maw, hynrei don ki ba parom ba ki shijur ki la kylla maw hadien ba ka tnga jong u shynrang ka la lap ba u tnga jongka u la klim їa ka ban poikha bad kawei pat ka kynthei.
Ha ka kot Khasi jong u Bah Shining Star Laloo ba la jer ‘Ka Syiem Latympang’ ka la batai shaphang ki durshtah ha ki maw ba la shem ha Latuba hajan ka shnong Thangraiñ ha thaiñ ba shatei jong ka Rilum Sepngi ka Jaintia. Kine ki kynthup їa u hati jong u Syiem Slieng na ka hima ba marjan u ba la hiar thma їa ka Syiem Latympang. Ki masi dab jong u Miat Rynsut, u khynraw thep mynsiem jong ka Syiem Latympang ryngkat bad ka lyngkor. Ki parom hyndai ki їathuh ba u Miat Rynsut Pala u la iehnoh ia la ki masi dab katba u dang lur lyngkha namar ba u la mareh kyrkieh ban iarap bad sumar їa ka Syiem Latympang. Kita ki masi dab ki la ap sah їa u Miat Rynsut ba un wanphai bad ha ba u khlem wanphai shuh ki masi dab bad kata ka lyngkor ki la kylla maw noh bad neh haduh mynta mynne. Kita ki dur maw masi dab ki lah mong bad orpait ym pat da slemthan na ka daw ba lynsher hi ki bor ka mariang, hynrei ki trai shnong ki їathuh ba dei na ka daw ba ther lapbah lapsan ha kawei ka lyiur ka ba la ju tip kum ka Pylliang ka ba la lynsher haduh khyndai sngi khyndai miet lynter khlem sangeh.
Ki don katto katne ki durshtah ha ki maw ba la shem ha u mawbynna ha shnong Tamu, kawei pat ka shnong ka ba don marjan bad ka shnong Khanduli, bad sa uwei pat u maw ba shtahdur ba la iathuh ba u don ha kajuh ka thaiñ ha ka shnong Saitsama. Nangta ka don ruh ka durshtah jong u syiar ryngkuh bad u hati ha uwei na ki mawbynna ha Yawmusiang ha ka shnong Nangbah ha ka ba la tyrsat rong їong artat ban kham shynna ka dur bad ym lah ban їoh jingtip mano ba leh kumta. Ki maw khilon ha Umiaknieh shaphang shathie jong ka Krangsuri hajan ka shnong Amlarem ruh ki don ki jingohdur ha baroh arliang lympen. Kane ka khilon jingkieng ka iasyriem bad kata ka khilon jingkieng ka ba don ha Rupasor hajan jong ka pung sum jong ki syiem Jaintia. Lehse ka lah ban dei ki lynti ba bteng ha ka lynti їaid lyngba hapdeng ka nongbah lyiur ha Nartiang bad ka nongbah tlang ha Sylhet jong ki syiem Jaintia. Ki dak ki shin ki lam kumba kin dang don shuh shuh ki durshtah ki dur oh ha kine ki thaiñ, bad sa tang ka por ka ban batai.

Engraving of an animal(Tiger?) and a woman found on the western bank of Tsiang (Myntdu) River near Pasadwar village
Rama and Lakshmana


Ha ki thaiñ ba shathie jong ka Rilum Jaintia la shem ki jingohdur na ki deiriti Hindu kum ki narsum laidong ne ‘Trishul’ ba la ohdur ha ki aїom ba pher halor ki maw ha phud wah Tisang hajan ka shnong Psadwar ka ba dei ka wah Myntdu ha ki thaiñ Rilum. Ki syiemJaintia ki ba la synshar ruh shaduh ki bynta Rithor jong ka Sylhet ha Bangladesh ba mynta lait na ki thaiñ Rilum jong ka Hima Jaintia bad ki long ki ba їar ka pyrkhat pyrdaiñ ba na kata ka daw ba ki la pdiang їa ka jingngeit niam Hindu. Namarkata, la shem їa ka shtahdur jong u bleithaw Ganesh ha lynti ban rung sha ka krem ha shnong Syndai ha ka ba ki riewniam Hindu ki ju wan їaid riewblei manla u snem ha ka por jong ka lehniam Shiv Ratri. Lah ban їohi ruh їa ka shtahdur jong u bleithaw Ganesh ha ka pung sum jong ki syiem Jaintia ha Rupasor hajan Syndai ha lynti sha Muktapur, ka shnong ka ba ha khappud ba ju don ka lynti їaid ban poi sha Jaintiapur, ka nongbah aїom tlang jong ki syiem Jaintia.

Tridents (Trishuls) engraved on rocks along the western bank of Tisang (Myntdu) River near Pasadwar village


Ka snap tynrai jong ki Pnar lah ban shem ha ka shtahdur jong u Khmi ba la lapdien ha u maw ba ha phud jong ka wah Tisang hajan Psadwar. Ki khanatang ki їathuh ba u Khmi u dei u radbah u ba shong ba sah shapoh ñiamra ha sla ka meiramew bad u jumai ba ki briew ki lah ban sngew ba ju khih ka dei namar ba u Khmi u khih ne kynriah kano kano ka dkhotmet lajong. La ju parom ba lada u khih baroh artylli ki pung kti bad sla kti, ka pyrthei kan kylla baji khongpong. Na kata ka daw ka kmie jong u ka meiramew ka dkhat noh shiliang ka shkor bad shiliang ka kjat khnang ba un ym lah ban pynjulor їa ka pyrthei. Їa kane ka parom la iathuh lyngba ka shtahdur ba la sop da ki sohpailen ba dang lah ban їohi haduh mynta mynne. Marjan jong kane ka shtahdur kham sha arsut jong ka wah lah ban shem їa ka shtahdur jong u Ram bad Lakhon halor u maw bad nangta shuh shuh ka don ruh ka shtahdur jong ka riewkynthei bad u khla. Phewse ym don jingbatai ka ba shai halor kine ki maw shtahdur bad ki la shu kylla tang ki sakhi ba jarjar ha ka ba tyllep noh ka por naduh ka mynnor.

Lah ban kdew hangne ba la kheiñ sang ha ka riti dustur Khasi bad Jaintia ban shna dur їa ki kynja blei ki dken, ki longshwa manshwa, ki ryngkew ki basa ne kino kino ki jynthaw ki ba la kheiñ kyntang bad kheiñkor ha ka imlang sahlang. Їa kane ka riti la pynskhem shuh shuh da u barikor rangbah bad u nongthohkot, u bah Raphael Warjri ha ka kot jong u ‘Ka Thohdur Mynta’. Haduh ki ryta ki ba dang shen ruh ki riew tymmen ki ju kiar bad kyndiah їa lade ban shah shondur. Na kata ka daw kham ñiar ban shem ki dur ba oh ne ba shtah da ki barikor ha Rilum Khasi bad Jaintia. Na kata ka daw baroh ki durshtah bad dur oh ba la batai ha shwa ki dei lehse ki ba la lambud na ki deiriti jong ki thaiñ ba marjan ha ka ba la shem tang ha ki thaiñ ba shathie bad shatei jong ka Hima Jaintia ha ka ba la їatyngkhuh bad kiwei pat ki deiriti ba marjan. La katta ruh ka dang donkam ban dang tih bniah bad wad sani bha khnang ban sngewthuh shai halor kane ka phang.

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