flow for life
“All of the workshops and storytelling I have done and attended in the past did give me a sort of connection with the river and I used to even see it in my dream as if i was genuinely a part of its wave, protecting me and guiding me my path (you can refer to the first two lines of the lyric ‘Her waves are rushing through my veins, embracing me that i might drown’). ” Cholamoo Lepcha
“ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰎᰪᰳᰋᰨᰓᰫ ᰊᰗᰳᰶᰎᰴᰀᰦ ᰠᰊᰤᰬᰳᰌᰨᰜᰦ ᰠᰪᰵ ᰌᰪᰰᰡᰧᰶᰓᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰤᰨᰭᰓᰤᰩᰵ ᰎᰴ ᰕᰦᰳᰢᰪᰵ ᰚᰴᰍᰬ ᰣᰦᰀᰩᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰎᰴᰀᰦ ᰘᰨ ᰜᰤᰶᰢᰪᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵᰌᰤᰬᰱᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰙᰴᰠᰦ ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰊᰩᰮᰜᰳᰶᰎᰴᰜᰦ ᰔᰦᰳᰢᰪᰵ ᰕ ᰠᰓᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰕᰩᰵᰕᰤᰬᰲᰎᰴᰀᰦᰜᰦ ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰕᰪᰙᰪᰠᰦ ᰣᰫᰵᰝᰨᰲ ᰜᰤᰩᰭᰓᰪ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰋᰩᰭᰃᰤᰶᰜᰪᰵ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰜᰩᰮᰕᰤᰪ ᰜᰩᰰᰛᰬᰙᰴᰜᰦ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰡᰧᰶ ᰕᰤᰩᰵᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫᰃᰪᰮ.” ᰘᰨᰜᰦᰕᰫ ᰜᰬᰱᰆᰦ
“This was actually meant to be written as a poem but eventually it turned out to be a song. It expresses the struggles of River (Teesta) that she has to go through, the peaceful flow restricted by the walls (Dams) throughout the valley as it journeys (‘Fighting hard, with all her might, and break the walls, to flow for life’).” Cholamoo Lepcha
Knowledge keeper behind the expression
“I don’t remember where the inspiration came from. One day I was just sitting quietly and thinking of writing something for the workshop, as i was really lagging behind the schedule. And i understood that it has to be something connecting with the River. Then suddenly there was a rush of flow inside me as I started humming few melodies and there, these lines were born. I had written only two verses in english, then I approached Ren Mickma Tshering (Lead vocalist of Sofiyum, a Lepcha Folk Fusion Band from Sikkim) for guidance, their song are so relatable and their love for nature and rivers can be seen in their work. Then later I added the Lepcha lyric (it is just the translated part of the first verse). I just wanted to kepp it simple. I’ll just keep the lyric as it is as of now (my voice would just ruin its flow haha)” Cholamoo Lepcha
Poem by Cholamoo Lepcha
Mentored by Mickma Tshering Lepcha