about me

Khamri mo. My name is Pema Yangden Lepcha and I am from the Lower Dzongu village of Sangdong.

I have not given any thought to the meaning of my name, but Pema means Lotus in Buddhism. So my name alludes to the influx of Buddhism within our community.

So, what did I value most about myself? I don’t give up easily, and I enjoy learning, exploring, and discovering new things.

“I’m a proud Lepcha attempting to contribute to the documentation of some aspects of my community’s essence, which I’m afraid is in dire need of it. I’m an enthusiastic learner and have an aspiration to work for the Lepcha community’s development itself through research and contribute to the documentation of data which is on the edge of being forgotten.”

Pema Yangden Lepcha

What is storytelling to me?

Storytelling isn’t just about telling stories vocally; it may also be expressed or shared by any medium you’re comfortable with, including music, art, crafts, orally, in writing form, poems, and photographs. It’s not how everyone tells a narrative; it’s how you want to share the narrative in your own unique style. However, be cautious when describing the story in terms of accuracy, and double-check before telling it to the world.

What is sacred to me?

Nature, which I believe is the most sacred of all, as our ancestors have been connected, religiously and spirituality.

This particular image (Paki Chu) and (Rongyong River) were captured during my fieldwork in between the Bay and Sakyong…where I felt the most scared…and just blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful creations of nature, each with its folklore and tale of its own life…I love every zest of every existence in nature… there is nothing make me happier to be surrounded by green and clean nature…

Finding my sacred place.

The only sacred place that I could think of… I’m right-handed, which is broken… I was really worried about drawing it with my left hand today… but haha it’s like the universe wanted us to draw with our non-dominant hand. Back to the point… I was able to feel everything I had felt before when I went to this place before. I was smiling when I was putting it into art… though it’s terrible. I added that mountain. as today I was more curious about what lay beyond those cliffs… This place is indeed very near and personally attached to me… nothing makes me feel like when I’m at this place… it’s full of greenery as for me all these colours portrayed here remind me of this sacred place of mine.

I as a Lepcha

Being Lepcha means being inextricably linked to my ancestors, my identity, my culture and the Nature.