Ka Jingïamareh Kob ki Wah , ba la ïathuh da Esther Syiem, Dur: Benedict Hynñiewta
Ka Ïew bad ka Ngot ki ju sngewtynnad ban ïalehkai ha u lum hajrong. Ha kawel ka sngi, ka Ïew kaba kham shlur, ka la peit ïa ka jingshat ka sngi ha ki them shajngai bah bad ka la khot ïa ka Ngot, ka para kaba ju sngewtynnad ban shong mutdur, pyrkhat marwei, sha ka jingïakob mareh. Ha ka shi khyllipmat ka Ïew ka la kylla sha ka wah kaba kynthih ïa ki lum ki wah ban poi kloi shathie. Ka Ngot kam banse shuh ban bud lang… Mano ban jop?
La ïathuh ïa kane ka khana pateng da ka nongthoh bad u artis, kiba ïoh mynsiem na ka mariang kaba dap da kiei kiei kiba jyrngam bad ba itynnad ha Meghalaya. Kane ka khana ka sngewban bang ïathuh ïa ki jnit ki jnat jong ka jingïamareh kob, katba ki jingdro pat ki tbeh sha kata ka jingïamareh na ki lum sha ki them.
Ka Jingïamareh Kob ki Wah sien shon banygngkong eh ha ka ktien Khasi ïa kum kane ka kot dur.
Ka nongthoh, Esther Syiem, ka hikai English Literature ha ka skulbah North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. La palat shiphew snem eiei ba kane ka nongthoh ka la pyrshang ban wad bad plait bha ïa ki khana pynriewspah jaitbynriew jong ki Khasi. Ka dei ka nongthoh kaba thoh lang ha ka Khasi bad ka Phareng, ka nongthoh poitri kaba pawnam. Ka la pynmih ar tylli ki kitab poitri, ka drama Khasi, ka kot shaphang kine ki khana bad kiwei de ki ese.
U Benedict Hynñiewta u dei u artis uba la pass na Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal. Ïa ki dur jong u, la lah pyni ha ki exhibition ha Ri India baroh kawei. U sngewtynnad ban put bisli bad u don bynta ruh bad ka folk fusion music group.
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Originally in Khasi Race of the Rivers, Retold and Translated by Esther Syiem, Pictures: Benedict Hynniewta
Ka Ïew and Ka Ngot love to play on the hilltop. One day, the adventurous Ka Ïew looks at the sun shining down on the distant, sun drenched plains and challenges her quiet sister to a race. In a flash Ka Ïew becomes a river, ready to rush downhill, and Ka Ngot has no choice but to join her… Who will reach first?
This well known Khasi folktale is brought to life by a writer and an artist, both intimately connected to and inspired by Meghalaya's varied, lush landscape. The evocative text delights in detail, while luminous illustrations flow alongside, taking the reader on a mood-filled journey from the hills to the plains.
Race of the Rivers has also been published by Tulika in Khasi, in which it was originally written. It is the first ever picture book for children in that language.
Writer Esther Syiem teaches English Literature at the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. She has been involved in the study of Khasi folk literature for more than a decade now. A bilingual writer and established poet, some of her publications include two collections of poetry, Oral Scriptings and Of Wit and Wisdom of Follies and Frailties, and a play in Khasi, Ka Nam.
Artist Benedict Hynniewta is an alumnus of Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal. Benedict's art has been displayed in exhibitions across India. Currently, he teaches painting in North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. He loves to play the bamboo flute and is also part of a folk fusion music group.
Ka Jingïamareh Kob ki Wah the Khasi folktale of the rivers Umngot and Umiew, retold and translated into English by Dr. Esther Syiem and illustrated by @benedictskhemlang
This book has been translated into different Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati and Marathi. It is a perfect book for children! 🌻🌻🌻
Both Dr. Esther Syiem and Benedict Skhemlang Hynñiewta teach in North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya.
The book is available at tulikabooks.com and amazon.in