“I interviewed some of the Elders of my kyong or village. I referred to The Lepcha-English Encyclopaedic Dictionary (2nd Edition) compiled by Aathing K. P. Tamsang as well as Lepcha Nomenclatures in Maayel Lyaaang by Mr. Pasang Tshering Lepcha. […] Mr. Yoel Lepcha from Tanyang, our resource person informed and enlightened us about the history and meanings behind the names of the places. Mr. Suleman Lepcha and Asst. Prof. Dipesh Lama also accompanied us and assisted us in our fieldwork.” (Rippandi Lepcha)

ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰍᰪ ᰜᰧᰭ ᰣᰨ 

ᰝᰩᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰖᰤᰬᰮ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰛᰪᰵᰠᰲᰶᰌᰨ ᰙᰫᰭᰝᰦᰳ, 

ᰃᰨ ᰚᰶ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰖᰤᰬᰮ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰕᰪᰙᰪᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰛᰪᰵᰠᰲᰶ ᰣᰦᰖᰤᰬᰮ ᰓᰧᰶᰋᰨ ᰉᰧᰶ  

ᰃᰫᰛᰫᰵᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰎᰧᰯ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰫᰮ-ᰠᰦᰭᰎᰦᰲ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰮ ᰌᰨ ᰉᰧᰶᰌᰦ  

ᰝᰩᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰛᰪᰵᰠᰲᰶ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰓᰨ ᰕ 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰍᰝᰦᰰ ᰠᰦᰙᰴ ᰉᰧᰶᰌᰦ, ᰃᰨ ᰣᰶᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰉᰧᰶᰌᰦ 

 ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰰᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰜᰧᰭᰡᰨ ᰼ᰀᰦᰜᰬᰓᰫᰵ᰼ 

ᰣᰦᰣᰧᰳ ᰠᰪᰵᰎᰴ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ,ᰘᰪᰭᰎᰩᰳ ᰕᰈᰬᰯ,ᰕᰧᰵᰈᰬᰯ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰩᰯᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰬᰭᰀᰦ ᰟᰨᰲᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ,  

ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰦ ᰕᰃᰨᰰ ᰕ  

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰨᰓᰦ ,ᰜᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰍᰩᰰ ᰀᰦ 

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰜᰧᰭ ᰣᰨ  

 ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰩᰵᰃᰤᰩ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰎᰧᰯ, 

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰗᰩᰵᰝᰧᰳᰓᰫ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩ ᰻ᰀᰦᰜᰬᰰᰎᰪᰵ᰻ ᰀᰦ ᰃᰤᰶᰅᰦᰰ ᰕ- 

ᰃᰨ, ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰃᰪᰮ  

ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰔᰪᰀᰦ ,ᰠᰓᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶ ᰎᰧᰳ ᰕ 

ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰠᰓᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰃᰩ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰕ 

ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰉᰬᰰ, 

ᰃᰨᰃᰨᰓᰦ, ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰜᰧᰭ ᰣᰨ 

 ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰛᰩᰵᰜᰧᰶ ᰜᰬᰰ ᰆᰪᰀᰦᰮ ᰋᰫᰯ 

ᰆᰪᰀᰪᰱᰓᰫ ᰀᰤᰨᰵ, ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰡᰨ 

ᰣᰦᰌᰤᰪᰳ-ᰣᰦᰍᰫᰳ ᰜᰤᰬᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰪᰮ 

ᰠᰓᰦ ᰠᰗᰪᰭ ᰗᰪᰲᰣᰩᰮ ᰡᰨ 

 ᰝᰩᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰋᰤᰦᰭ ᰕ ᰜᰧᰶ 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰴ, ᰝᰩ ᰠᰦᰭᰃᰨᰭ ᰡᰨ 

ᰠᰪᰰᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰶᰓᰴ ᰎᰫ ᰠᰪᰰᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰶ ᰎᰴ ᰝᰩ ᰀᰤᰩᰯᰡᰨ, ᰕᰃᰨᰰ ᰣᰦ? 

ᰣᰨᰓᰧᰶᰍᰪ, ᰝᰩ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰨ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰴᰀᰦ ᰡᰫᰉᰧᰶ? 

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰍᰦᰮ ᰋᰤᰨᰍᰪ ᰋᰤᰬᰰᰛᰬ ᰙᰴ, ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰆᰬᰓᰫ ᰝᰩ, 

ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ!ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰉᰧᰶᰡᰨ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰀᰦᰳᰀᰦ. 

 ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰠᰪᰵᰜᰧᰶ ᰀᰫᰵ ᰎᰪᰰᰙᰩᰭᰍᰪ ᰟᰨᰲ ᰅᰦᰰ ᰕ. 

ᰠᰛᰬ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰕᰩᰵᰠᰦ ᰣᰤᰨᰭ ᰕᰦᰳᰡᰨ 

ᰣᰤᰦᰍᰦᰮᰀᰦ, ᰣᰩᰵ ᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰡᰪᰵᰜᰧᰶ ᰀᰫᰵᰎᰧᰶ ᰑᰩᰮ, ᰓᰨᰵᰌᰤᰫᰯ ᰣᰦᰝᰤᰪᰲ ᰙᰫᰭᰓᰪ ᰡᰨ, 

ᰣᰨᰋᰦ ᰊᰗᰳᰶᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰁᰤᰦᰮ ᰡᰫᰜᰦ ᰕᰋᰫᰱ ᰕᰦ,  

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰨ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰨ, ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰛᰬ ᰡᰪᰵᰜᰧᰶ ᰀᰫᰵ ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰍᰬᰰᰋᰩᰮᰓᰫ ᰕ, 

ᰠᰪᰵᰜᰧᰶᰓᰴ, ᰡᰪᰵᰜᰧᰶ ᰀᰫᰵᰠᰦ ᰌᰪᰱ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰜᰩᰮ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰋᰧᰭᰶ ᰕ. 

 ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰀᰫᰵᰎᰴ ᰚᰦᰓᰪ ᰍᰩᰰ ᰕ, 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰛᰪᰵᰠᰲᰶᰌᰨ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰕ,ᰠᰛᰬ ᰃᰨ ᰕᰃᰨᰰ 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰃᰦᰀ᰷ᰥᰬ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰀᰩᰰ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰦᰱᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰃᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰠᰪᰵᰜᰧᰶᰀᰫᰵ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ, 

ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰀᰊᰦᰱ ᰙᰫᰓᰦᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰠᰦᰭᰜᰧᰳ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ 

ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰀᰪᰰᰋᰨᰵᰀᰦ ᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰌᰨᰮ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰍᰪ ᰜᰧᰭ ᰜᰧᰶᰍᰪ 

 ᰝᰩᰍᰪ ᰠᰋᰦᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰝᰥᰤᰩᰱ ᰋᰤᰨᰋᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰣᰶ?ᰃᰨ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰋᰤᰨᰋᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ 

ᰣᰦᰕᰩᰮᰆᰶ ᰓᰫ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰊᰧᰳᰋᰩᰮᰓᰫ ᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰠᰮᰶᰌᰩᰭ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰆᰬᰓᰫ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰑᰧᰵᰶᰆᰬᰰ ᰉᰩᰳᰜᰤᰩᰳ ᰓᰪᰍᰪ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰝᰩᰮ ᰋᰤᰨᰋᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰝᰥᰤᰩᰱ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰕᰧᰭᰛᰫᰮ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰣᰩᰯ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰋᰴᰋᰨ ᰉᰧᰶ 

ᰛᰤᰫᰮ ᰀᰧᰵᰶᰆᰫᰮ, 

ᰕᰩᰰᰍᰪᰰ ᰔᰤᰬᰰᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰀᰪᰰᰋᰨᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰜᰪᰳ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰋᰨᰱ ᰕ 

ᰣᰦᰜᰪᰳ ᰀᰤᰵᰶᰜᰦ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰅᰦᰘᰨ ᰡᰨᰵᰀᰦ. 

ᰣᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰠᰮᰶᰋᰦᰲ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰨ. 

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰌᰨ ᰠᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰣᰦᰜᰪᰳ ᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰠᰮᰶᰌᰩᰭ ᰃᰨ ᰕ. 

 ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰊᰤᰬᰳ, ᰃᰨ ᰀᰦᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵᰍᰪ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰋᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ, 

ᰃᰨᰓᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰕᰫᰌᰫᰭ ᰝᰫᰰᰍᰪ 

ᰣᰶᰌᰨ ᰃᰴᰜᰦ ᰍᰪᰮᰡᰧᰮᰉᰤᰫ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰀᰧᰌᰪᰭᰆᰬᰰᰠᰦ ᰠᰪᰵᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰜᰪᰳ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰜᰦ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰋᰩᰮ ᰃᰦᰳ ᰕ 

 ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰕᰧᰭᰃᰥᰫᰮ, 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰝᰥᰤᰦᰱ ᰃᰤᰶ ᰅᰦᰰ ᰕ. 

ᰣᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰍᰪ, ᰠᰋᰦ ᰝᰩᰍᰪ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰧᰭᰡᰨ 

ᰝᰩ ᰝᰪᰚᰫ ᰠᰴᰠᰦᰜᰦ ᰀᰧᰌᰪᰭ ᰛᰧᰳᰶᰡᰨ 

ᰣᰨᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰌᰨᰮ ᰀᰤᰩᰰᰌᰧᰳᰓᰫ ᰍᰪᰮᰡᰧᰮᰶᰉᰫ ᰙᰫᰭᰡᰨ 

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰍᰩᰵᰀᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰠᰮᰶᰌᰩᰭ ᰓᰦᰮᰉᰧᰶ ᰡᰨ 

ᰣᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰍᰪ, ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰀᰧᰌᰪᰭᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰜᰫᰵᰋᰤᰦᰭ, 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰜᰧᰭ ᰣᰨ 

 ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵᰛᰬ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰉᰤᰬᰳ ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰋᰨ ᰕ 

ᰌᰦᰚᰦᰵ. 

ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰓᰦ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰣᰨᰛᰬ ᰠᰩᰰᰌᰦ ᰉᰧᰶ, 

ᰣᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰊᰦᰰᰚᰦᰵ ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰭᰡᰨ. 

 ᰊᰗᰳᰶ ᰕᰜᰦᰭ ᰎᰪᰳᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ, 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰋᰤᰬᰰ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰍᰩᰰ ᰀᰊᰦᰱ ᰗᰩᰮᰡᰨ. 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰀᰪᰮᰌᰫᰵ ᰠᰴ, ᰠᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰋᰨ ᰉᰧᰶ, 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰃᰦᰰ ᰠᰩᰰᰍᰩᰰᰓᰫ ᰕᰪᰙᰪ, 

ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰓᰦᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰈᰨᰰ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰍᰩᰰ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰡᰨ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰪᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰜᰧᰶᰓᰧᰶᰡᰨ,ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰓᰫ ᰠᰴᰛᰤᰬᰮ  

 ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰠᰩᰰ ᰃᰛᰫᰵᰜᰦ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰜᰤᰬᰰᰈᰧᰶ ᰝᰪᰌᰨᰮ ᰋᰤᰦᰵᰓᰫ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦ ᰜᰧᰰᰡᰨ. 

ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰜᰴᰊᰤᰬᰳᰜᰦ ᰜᰧᰶᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰙᰩᰮ ᰓᰧᰶᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰮᰀᰦ, ᰠᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ.ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰧᰭᰆᰦᰜᰦ ᰜᰧᰶᰙᰴ ᰆᰧᰵᰶᰡᰨ. 

 ᰣᰦᰌᰨᰮᰃᰨ ᰠᰦᰭᰕᰦ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰌᰪᰰᰓᰨᰡᰨ 

ᰝᰩᰍᰪᰰ ᰎᰪᰰᰈᰬᰵ ᰠᰣᰤᰦᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰌᰪᰰᰝ᰷ᰥᰩᰭᰀᰦ ᰉᰤᰬᰰ ᰂᰪᰳ, ᰣᰪᰮᰈᰩ 

ᰊᰪᰭᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰔᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰠᰪᰳᰈᰩ 

ᰡᰫᰕᰦᰳ ᰍᰪᰃᰴ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰕᰪᰛᰩ ᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰮ ᰣᰧᰳᰓᰫ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰣᰧᰭᰆᰦᰜᰦ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰤᰩᰵᰊᰳᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰡᰨ 

ᰣᰦᰌᰨᰮ ᰠᰪᰳᰈᰩ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰡᰤᰬᰳ ᰠᰮᰶᰉᰧᰶ ᰃᰴ 

ᰝᰩ ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰂᰪᰳ ᰕ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰜᰦᰳᰃᰴ, ᰝᰩ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰍᰪ ᰜᰧᰭ ᰣᰨ. 

 ᰝᰩ ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰌᰩᰵᰣᰨ 

ᰕᰫᰵᰜᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰇᰨᰣᰩᰵ ᰠᰴᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰅᰭᰶᰣᰨ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰊᰪᰵᰃᰧᰱ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰇᰨ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ 

ᰃᰨᰓᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫ ᰋᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰇᰨᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰯᰀᰦ ᰟᰦᰰ ᰡᰨ 

ᰃᰨᰓᰦ,ᰝᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰕᰧᰭᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰨᰮ ᰡᰧᰶᰡᰨ 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰍᰦᰵᰓᰫ ᰠᰦᰭᰒᰶᰜᰳᰶ ᰅᰭᰶᰡᰴ ᰠᰦᰭᰃᰩᰡᰨ  

ᰜᰨᰎᰰᰶ ᰜᰨᰎᰰᰶᰕᰫ ᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰉᰤᰪᰮᰊᰧᰮᰶ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰚᰰᰶᰋᰩ ᰔᰤᰬᰰ ᰕ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰨᰓᰦ ᰜᰩᰮᰝᰤᰩᰭᰓᰫ ᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰡᰫᰀᰦᰳᰜᰦ ᰞᰦᰱᰂᰪᰳ ᰡᰨ 

ᰌᰪᰰᰀᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰉᰤᰬᰰ ᰃᰴ 

 ᰃᰨ ᰃᰨᰌᰨᰠᰪᰮᰠᰦ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰤᰬᰰ ᰓᰨᰡᰨ. 

ᰠᰧᰰᰙᰧᰶ.ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰍᰪ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰡᰨ 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰌᰧᰵᰶᰀᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰚᰶ, ᰃᰨ ᰠᰪᰰᰙᰧᰶᰓᰴ ᰃᰨ ᰕ 

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰠᰪᰰᰙᰧᰀᰫᰵ ᰌᰪᰱᰠᰦ ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰋᰨ ᰕ 

 ᰣᰨᰛᰬ ᰀᰫᰵᰎᰴ ᰑᰦᰳᰍᰩᰰ ᰕ, ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰚᰰᰶᰋᰩ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰮᰶᰃᰩᰡᰨ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶᰎᰴ ᰞᰦᰱᰜᰪᰵ ᰊᰧᰶᰡᰨ ᰆᰧᰵᰶᰓᰦ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰌᰤᰬᰰᰛᰧᰶᰉᰧᰶ , ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰩᰵᰠᰴ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰍᰪᰌᰨ ᰜᰧᰭᰶᰡᰨ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰘᰪᰀᰦ ᰑᰲᰶᰀᰦᰳ ᰃᰴᰜᰦ. 

 ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰍᰪ ᰆᰪᰱᰀᰦᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰪᰮ, ᰛᰤᰬᰰᰈᰨᰵᰠᰦ ᰌᰪᰰᰀᰦ 

ᰃᰨ ᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰕ  

ᰣᰦᰙᰫᰮ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰦᰭᰛᰤᰫᰳᰓᰫ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ 

ᰡᰫᰕᰦᰳᰃᰴ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰋᰦᰮᰆᰵᰶᰎᰴᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰙᰩᰮ ᰃᰨ ᰓᰧᰶᰡᰨ. 

ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰜᰩᰮ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰋᰫᰱ ᰕ.ᰎᰶᰌᰦᰵ . 

ᰠᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰅᰦᰳᰛᰬ , ᰋᰦᰮᰆᰵᰶᰎᰴᰠᰦ ᰎᰬᰙᰩᰳ ᰉᰩᰳ ᰃᰪᰮ  

 ᰃᰨ ᰟᰩᰵᰑᰩᰵᰀᰦᰳ, ᰠᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰔᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰜᰪᰭ ᰙᰩᰳᰡᰨ 

ᰊᰓᰩᰭ ᰔᰤᰬᰰᰜᰪᰵ ᰑᰦᰳᰀᰦ ᰊᰧᰯᰌᰦᰡᰨ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰌᰬᰱ ᰕᰩᰰᰜᰦ ᰂᰤᰩᰮᰌᰦ ᰕ 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ, ᰀᰦᰋᰤᰬᰰ ᰕᰩᰵᰙᰪᰵᰀᰦ  

ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰛᰤᰩᰭ ᰓᰨ ᰕ 

ᰃᰴᰜᰦ, ᰀᰦᰳᰉᰤᰬᰳ ᰜᰪᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰕᰩᰰ ᰣᰧᰭᰆᰦᰜᰦ ᰉᰤᰩᰳ ᰣᰨᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰙᰩᰳᰀᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰡᰨ 

ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰮ ᰋᰦᰮᰆᰵᰶ ᰋᰰᰶᰆᰫᰮ ᰊᰦᰲᰢᰳᰶ ᰓᰩᰵᰇᰧᰶ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰅᰭᰶᰢᰦᰮᰋᰨ ᰕ 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ,ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰜᰩᰊᰦ ᰣᰦᰙᰫᰮ ᰙᰫᰭᰡᰴᰠᰦ ᰠᰫᰳᰎᰤᰩᰵ ᰉᰧᰶᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ,  

ᰓᰧᰭ,ᰜᰪᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰕᰩᰰ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰩᰊᰦ ᰔᰤᰬᰰᰉᰧᰳᰓᰫ 

ᰠᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰦᰱ , ᰣᰨᰊᰤᰬᰳᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰙᰪᰭ 

ᰡᰫᰕᰦᰳᰃᰴ ᰀᰠᰪᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰮ ᰓᰧᰶᰡᰴ ᰞᰩᰭᰜᰦ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ. 

 ᰣᰦᰜᰴ , ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰣᰦᰑᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰈᰫᰵᰋᰫᰭ ᰙᰫᰵᰋᰩ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ 

ᰉᰩᰳᰡᰧᰵᰶᰠᰦ ᰆᰪᰀᰦᰮ ᰣᰦᰏᰴ ᰀᰩᰰ 

ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰇᰣᰩᰵᰠᰴ ᰛᰧᰱᰶᰙᰴ ᰓᰫᰲᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ 

ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰃᰩ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰓᰦᰮᰉᰧᰶᰓᰫ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰃᰩᰜᰦᰳ ᰕ. 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰛᰪᰵᰠᰲᰶ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰓᰨᰋᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ,ᰎᰬᰌᰨᰵ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰛᰪᰵᰠᰲᰶ ᰋᰨᰊᰩᰮᰠᰪᰵ ᰝᰪᰌᰨᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰇᰩᰌᰦ ᰕ. 

 ᰃᰨ ᰣᰧᰭᰆᰦᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰡᰨ,ᰠᰕᰦᰯᰓᰴ  

ᰣᰦᰝᰤᰪᰲᰓᰫ ᰠᰩᰵᰡᰪᰵ ᰀᰫᰵᰠᰦ ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰋᰩᰮᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ 

ᰀᰫᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰊᰜᰤᰶ ᰍᰪᰮᰑᰦ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰓᰦᰮᰊᰤᰬᰰᰔᰴ ᰙᰫᰭᰡᰴ ᰣᰦᰛᰤᰫᰮ ᰕ 

ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰦ ᰑᰧᰭᰑᰥᰶ ᰜᰧᰶᰙᰪᰳᰀᰦ ᰋᰫᰱᰂᰪᰳ ᰡᰨ 

ᰣᰦᰌᰨᰮ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰬᰳ-ᰣᰦᰌᰤᰦᰵ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰓᰦᰮᰡᰴ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰ ᰉᰧᰃᰴ 

ᰕᰨᰵᰛᰩᰵᰜᰦᰓᰫ ᰠᰦᰭᰠᰨᰜᰳᰶ ᰂᰨᰃᰴ 

ᰝᰩ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰂᰪᰳ ᰕ 

ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰌᰨᰮ ᰣᰦᰆᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰠᰪᰭᰕᰪᰳ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰣᰧᰳ ᰣᰦᰌᰤᰬᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰙᰩᰮᰠᰦ ᰛᰧᰵᰶᰇᰬᰳ ᰕᰦᰡᰨ. 

ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ,ᰝᰩ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰌᰨᰠᰦ ᰛᰧᰵᰶᰓᰨ ᰣᰨ, 

ᰝᰩ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰜᰧᰭᰡᰨ ᰜᰧᰶᰍᰪ. 

“We hired a car and went to Pedong, Pudung, Relli, Suruk, Samthar, Tanyaang and in Tanyaang we met two elderly gentlemen who took us to their home, gave us food and talked to us about the history and meaning of the names of nearby places. He also told us about various traditional medicinal practices. It was a bright sunny day when we went so we could hear a lot of insects buzzing in the distance, there were hens clucking accompanied by the constant bark of a dog tied near the house. We went for a walk to look at the lakes which had already been dried up and overridden with cardamom plants. The walk to the lakes was quite steep and I had to be careful. We also skinned the bark of a eucalyptus tree and munched on it which was a bad idea since I got a sore throat after that. Samthar was windy and although it was hot and humid the clouds covered the view. In Pedong we were greeted by the animal husbandry department and there we saw a piggery and one of the caretakers of the animals told us that there are plans to get more sheep, goats and other animals. There was a lush green field next to the enclosure for grazing. It smelled like pigs in there.”
Rachel Namchu

Poem by Rippandi Lepcha 

Photos by Rachel Namchu

Video by Dipesh Lama & Shallum Lama

Background music by Shallum Lama

Voiceover by  Rachel Namchu, Smyrna Nair &  Rippandi Lepcha

Translations by Cholamoo Lepcha

Mentored by Minket Lepcha