Speak Your Roots

Tag: talklocal

  • Apot Sepsngi

    Ka ktien "apot" ka mut ka jingjynjar, ka lanot, ka suhsat bad ka shitom.

    The Khasi word "apot" refers to the experience of hardship, misfortune, adversity and difficulty.

    Ka jingong "apot sepsngi" ka thew ïa ka lanot bad ka suhsat kaba hap ïaid lyngba kaba la palat liam. Ngi lah ban batai ba ka ktien "sepsngi" ka thew ïa ka jingduh jingkyrmen bad ka jingsngewsih kaba la sngew kutlad shisha.

    The Khasi phrase "apot sepsngi" describes the misfortune or adversity that befalls which is hard for one to bear. We may explain the word "sepsngi" (literally meaning setting sun) symbolically refers to hopelessness and sorrow with no respite in sight.

    The phrase "Apot Sepsngi" describes a tragedy or a catastrophe that befalls a person. 😓😟 Its meaning is made more significant by the metaphor of the setting sun, echoing a dark time and hopelessness.

    🟡 Khasi explication and English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Ka Phniang Ka Pjei

    "Ka Phniang Ka Pjei" ka dei ka kmie ne kiba haïing hasem kiba dang dei na kajuh ka jait ne ka kur; u thied u symbai.

    "Ka Phniang Ka Pjei" is the mother or the relatives who are from the same clan. The phrase also means the root and the seed.

    "Ka Phniang Ka Pjei" reiterates the significance of the mother and clan in the Khasi community. Mother, clan, root and seed become beautifully synonymous 🙏🌾🌱🌲

  • U Kiang Nangbah

    Kiang Nangbah Kiang Nangbah,

    Ya me da phrang dei mynsien dap chynrang,

    Ka yutran wa khia,

    kit mi neibynta ka ri,

    Tang wow im ka jaitbru,

    bynda mi da u radang ha u tylle pasi.

    Kiang Nangbah, the son of Ka Rimai Nangbah from the Soo Kpoh Clan, was an original settler of Jowai in a locality known as Tpep-pale. He fought a freedom battle against the mighty British force at a period almost coinciding with the 'First War of Independence' or the 'Indian Mutiny' or the "Sepoy Mutiny' of 1857.

    The Jaiñtia Revolt started in 1860 when the government introduced house tax on the people. It was U Kiang Nangbah who urged the people not to pay any tax to the government. It was because of this incident that Kiang Nangbah made up his mind to organise the Jaiñtia people against the British. Kiang Nangbah got the support of his work from all sections of the society.

    Kiang Nangbah rose to become one of the leaders of the resistance movement against the British. He organised military-style attacks on the British which were so successful as to threaten the colonial powers. Ultimately, he was captured by the British as a result of being betrayed by one of his own people. He was hanged to death by the British on 30th December 1862, in Jowai Town.

    His last words before he was hanged in the gallows were:

    "Lada khyr-uin i khmat o cha mihsngi,

    ka ri wa maia yong nga,

    hapoh chispah snem daw lait ko nei chah chakri:

    Lada khyr-uin wan i cha sepsngi,

    yanom bhor, kylla r'ta,

    Ka ri wa maia yong nga u chongbrō

    ko chirta".

    "If my Head turns to the east,

    my country will attain freedom within

    a hundred years,

    but if it turns westwards,

    we will remain slaves for eternity."

    U Kiang Nangbah was truly a man of courage who will continue to inspire our generation.

    Ha kane ka sngi, 30 tarik u Nohprah kaba dei ka lyngkhuh sngi ïap jong u Kiang Nangbah, ai ba ngin ïaid sha u snem thymmai da ka mynsiem kaba shlur, kaba dap da ka jingkyrmen, kaba lam lynti da ka jingshisha bad ka jingieit ïa ka jaitbynriew. 🏞️🌾

    Khublei Chibōn @warikasumer01 wa phah phi ya kini ki jingthoh wa kordor! 😄🙏

    🟡 Sources:
    – "The Legacy Of U Kiang Nangbah" by Mrs. Wa-i-sa Sumer.
    – "U Kiang Nangbah Bad Ka Jingialeh Ka Ri Jaiñtia naka bynta Ka Jinglaitluid" by (Late) S. Quotient Sumer.

  • Ka Por Kristmas da i Occyliana M. Syiemiong

    Ki jingpynkhreh kyrpang baroh.

    Naduh najrong haduh hapoh;

    Habar ka ïing lynti syngkein

    Thaba ki rong i phuh i phieng.

    Bun jingbakla dei ban pynbeit,

    Jingmut Kristmas la kum u kbeit;

    Shu her sha suiñ khlem hiar sha tbian,

    Sngew tang rong phong katta la biang.

    Phewse! Kristmas dei ka jingieit,

    Mynsiem pynbeit ba kan suh thied,

    B'u Khrist hangta Un sa wan hiar,

    Ki Jingkyrkhu kin sa tawiar.

    Ka por Khristmas dei por jingkmen,

    Jinglehsynei samla tymmen;

    Hangne baroh ba ïa kmen lang,

    Ka ding jingieit to ai kan klang.

    Khristmas basuk Khristmas bakmen,

    Mynsiem to ai ba kan shong tngen;

    Ki jingkyrkhu kyrhai to shim,

    Khristmas to ai ha ngi kan im.

    -Occyliana Mary Syiemïong

    "Ka Por Khristmas" ("The Time of Christmas") is an original Khasi poem written by @occyliana_ 🌲❄️🎄 Khublei Shibun ba phi la phah ïa ka jingthoh jong phi kaba kren ïa ka jingshisha ba donkam. 🙏🙏

  • “Ka La’er Tlang” da i Manhaoo Paswet

    Ka la'er wa daitthah ka la'er tlang,

    I khyndaw da raw, da sdang u pdang,

    Ka la'er yei mynsien wa pyn ka-it,

    Ha pyrdi i kjam kawa pynchong chit.

    Soodong talawiar ha i tpai diñ,

    I ngiah i jrem heite da stiñ,

    Wa ya wyr-ngia ya klam khana,

    Ki parom wa pher ki khana danda.

    Chi iung chi sem chi lok chi jor,

    Harood i tpai diñ kaini i por,

    Wa'u kcchu tungtoh hajrong mookhuri,

    Da'u bang ja bha du nei rukom bih.

    Kynmoo u pyrkhat heiwon u pynlut yei por,

    Wa ki wa ha iung ha sem ki lok ki jor,

    Kamwa tyllung ki por wa ki samoi,

    Symboi ya mylliñ i yeiwa kordor wa myntoi.

    -Manhaoo Paswet

    "Ka La'er Tlang" toh ka poitri Pnar wa da thoh da u @wisu_02
    Khublei Chibōn wa phah phi ya kani ka poitri yong phi 🙏 iwa ya toh wa i por kjam, por bam tungtoh 😄😋

    Ym em de ha pyrthai kat i tlang ha yung wa ha chnong yong i ❤️❄️🏞️

  • Myllung Ka Ri da i Dameshwa Rymbai

    Myllung Ka Ri

    Na Ri ki lyoh bad ki kshaid.

    Ka shnong ba la bna nam.

    U Khun phrangsngi u mih,

    Jong I Hat Tongper, I Lyngkien Tham.

    Khun shynrang marwei bad ba lai,

    Kumba la thoh shun U Blei najrong,

    H'u khatphra spah hynniew phew lai.

    U kit ryngkat ka sap ka phong.

    U nonghikai ba kat u nonghikai

    Ia ktien khasi ban kyntiew nam.

    Synniang kham kordor ia ki sbai,

    Haduh mynta ki dang kren jam!

    U khulom ksiar bad ka sia jingstad.

    Uba dang iai pruid haduh mynta.

    Kyntien kum waitlam kaba prat,

    Ki sei shibun ki riewkhraw na jylla

    Ah! Lada long da u Mahon-mala,

    Ba pynkup burom ia phi myllung

    Burom jong phi la kat u patsha,

    Uba kit ka jingstad shi khung.

    Ah! Ei ban bteng ia lyngkor jong phi,

    Ki ktien jingstad ba tei imlang sahlang

    Ban pynneh, pynjanai ia ktien khasi,

    Shaei ki samla, ki thei bad ki rang?

    Hato ngin shu kut tang ka khana,

    Shaphang U myllung ba khraw ka Ri?

    Mano ban leit wad mawlynnai mawhira

    Jinghikai kiba Myllung u hikai ia ngi.

    Ban shu kut tang ha ka jingpule,

    la ki jingthoh ba kit symboh jingstad.

    Donkam ia ngi ba ngin da sule.

    Ha man la ki khep, haba plie ka lad.

    – Dameshwa Rymbai

    Sa kawei ka jingthoh poitri ban kynmaw ïa ka lyngkhuh sngi ïap jong u myllung Soso Tham mynta ka sngi ka dei "Myllung ka Ri" ba la thoh da i @damechwarymbai410 📖✍️

    Sa shisien phi la phah ïa ki jingthoh ba shoh jingmut, ba shoh mynsiem. Khublei Shibun! 🙏🙏

    #usosotham #sosothamdeathanniversary #khasipoetry #khasiliterature #khasipoetryintranslation #speakyourroots #speakyourrootschallenge #talklocal

  • Ka Por da Naomi C. Nonglait

    "La biang katto," ka ong ka por,

    Haba u briew la lut ka bor,

    Jingim la ïaid man la ka sngi,

    Mynta la poi te sha sepngi.

    Ani! To ap shuwa ko por,

    Balei pha sei ïa la ka bor?

    Jingim ban shim noh hi bran bran,

    Ngim pat sngewthuh kumno ban san.

    Bunsien ngi beh ïa la ka kam,

    Ngi klet ïa kiba ngi ieid tam,

    Ngi ai pynban ka por kordor,

    Sha kita kiba shet shukor.

    Ki thaba ha ki khmat jong ngi

    Ki pynthame man la ka sngi,

    Khmih ko samla ïa ka lynti

    Ïoh dier noh pat ka por jong phi!

    "Ka Por" (Time) is an original Khasi poem by @carey_lynz who is a teacher and scholar 🤗❤️ Khublei Shibun @carey_lynz ba phi la phah ïa ka poitri jong phi kaba long ka jingpynkynmaw ba kordor 🕯️🪞🕜

    @carey_lynz says about the poem: "Time is a gift and yet a curse to one who does not know how to use it. This poem expresses how time can run out when we are in the rat race of becoming, or achieving or doing things which may not matter. But, while we hanker after the things of this world, they may not be important in another time as we may have lost our focus. For instance, if it is family it is not that we have forgotten them, but it is acts of thoughtfulness like making a phone call or saying kind words that makes a difference. Sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture beyond misunderstandings which may ultimately cost regret and pain. The poem issues a warning of the choices made or the path taken."

    Dr. Naomi C. Nonglait is an Associate Professor in the Department of English,
    St. Mary's College, Shillong, Meghalaya.

  • “Ki kti wad jingsyaid…” da Daiarisa Rumnong (Haiku)

    Ki kti wad jingsyaid

    ïa ding saw kyrkhu arti,

    sla kyrthop ki hap.

    – Daiarisa

    Hands searching for warmth,

    bless a fire with joined hands,

    a ragged leaf falls.

    – Daiarisa

    Ka haiku ka dei ka rukom thoh poitri kaba na ka ri Japan. Katba ngi wad jingsyaid ha kane ka tlang, ngin pyni ïa ka jingieit jong ngi ïa ka mariang bad ka meiramew, katba ka dang khih dang syar ban thaw thymmai ïalade 🌄🏞️🍃🌨️

    A haiku is a Japanese verse form of three unrhymed lines, of five, seven and five syllables. A haiku often features an image, or a pair of images, meant to depict the essence of a specific moment in time.

    Haiku poems are primarily used to express feelings about Nature. Traditional poems dealt with themes like time, nature, emotions and so on. They are meant as words of enlightenment for the readers.

    Despite its many adaptions into multiple languages and styles, the haiku remains a powerful form due to its economic use of language to evoke a specific mood or instance. Most often occurring in the present tense, a haiku frequently depicts a moment by using pair of distinct images working in tandem.

    Haikus written by @daia.risa

  • “Mylliem” by Esther Syiem

    Village of my ancestors

    secure in your remoteness

    where your men stoke their forges

    under makeshift shelters;

    shacks of molten fire that

    spark with the energy of limbs that

    strike…hit…strike..

    in an echoing canvas of sound and silence

    that will always lead me back to my distant beginnings.

    Mylliem of my ancestors

    your smithies have endured

    the treacheries of wind and rain

    your flames lick

    the shimmering cold, as they

    condense in vapours of liquid heat.

    You are the mirage,

    locked in metal.

    Must I turn to you again?

    as in your men and in your women

    I find an answering call

    in the aroma of smoked earth in them

    and in the unbeaten slant of a life

    that writes itself back into my present.

    -Esther Syiem

    Mylliem is a hamlet in East Khasi Hills, famous for its iron smelting works.

    "Mylliem" is an original Khasi poem by Dr. Esther Syiem @meiithei which appears in the collection entitled Oral Scriptings (Writers Workshop, Kolkata, 2005).

    If you are from Mylliem or have lived there, you will find that the poem is an evocative mix of the sounds and images from the village of Mylliem which we now don't hear anymore. Gone are the days when the strikes of the blacksmiths were a reassuring pace of the passing of life. But we are never rid of our memories. These sounds and images return to fill our dreams and our stories. ✍️✍️🗣️🗣️

    Dr. Esther Syiem is a professor in the Department of English, North-Eastern Hill University.

  • Saw Ka Tyngab

    "Saw ka tyngab" ka dei ka jingong Khasi kaba kren shaphang ka por kaba dangstep phyrngab. Ha ka jingbatai, ka ktien "phyrngab" ka dei ka por shuwa ban kynjat shai. Ngi lah ban ong ba "saw ka tyngab" ka dei haba ka bneng ka dang shu sdang ban kyan shai, ha kaba ka jngum jong ka miet ka shah pashat da ka saw jong ki kjat sngi.

    Sa kawei ka jingbatai kaba la ïoh ka long ba ka jingong "saw ka tyngab" ka thew ba ngin leh ïa kano kano katba dang kloi ne katba dang biang ka por khlem don ka jingbuhteng.

    "Saw ka tyngab" is a Khasi phrase which refers to the earliest time of the morning. The word "phyrngab" means the time before the arrival of dawn or the sun's rays. We may say that "saw ka tyngab" is when the night sky is just beginning to see a sliver of light, when the blue of night is coloured by the red of the sun's rays.

    Another explanation of "saw ka tyngab" is that the phrase refers to doing something early or while there is time and not procrastinating.

    The Khasi phrase "Saw ka tyngab" is one which we hear often but have not really read an explanation of. "Saw" means the colour red (or four) and "tyngab" means crow. Perhaps these also have a meaning but we have yet to know what they might signify. 🌄🌄

    Khublei Shibun ïa baroh ki nongbud jong ka page kiba la phah ïa ki jubab bad ki jingmut jong ki shaphang kane ka jingong! 🙏🙏

    🟡 Khasi and English explication by @speakyourroots