Mong, lost among my own people
“Mong is an important food crops for Rong community. Chee (millet beverage) made from.pure millet is considered pure and is used in all the offerings and prayers. Even to take vow during marriage, chee is needed in the form
of Sungkyou.”
Marmit Lepcha
Knowledge Keepers behind the expression
the local Bongthing, elders from kyoung or village.
“Mong as I have seen all my life, it feels that Mong and us (human being) we grew together but the sad part is, we us and our own people are making it difficult for Mong /millet is to flourish.” Marmit Lepcha
“ᰕᰩᰵ ᰠᰛᰬᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰊᰌᰨᰠᰦ ᰘᰪ ᰕᰪᰛᰪᰮ ᰎᰓᰦᰲᰜᰦ ᰡᰧᰶᰢᰪᰵᰓᰫ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰕᰩᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰛᰬ ᰂᰦᰇᰧᰭᰌᰨᰀᰦ ᰊᰧᰶ ᰝᰥᰩᰵᰡᰨ ᰙᰴᰜᰦ ᰉᰩᰵᰡᰨ ᰡᰬᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰨᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶᰀᰦᰳᰛᰬ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰌᰨ ᰕᰪᰛᰩ ᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰕᰩᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰛᰤᰬᰮᰌᰨ ᰊᰦᰲᰐᰦᰲ ᰡᰴᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰌᰪᰭ ᰙᰫᰭᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ.” ᰕᰦᰲᰕᰧᰳ ᰜᰬᰱᰆᰦ
ᰊᰌᰨ ᰕᰪᰛᰩᰓᰬᰭ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰑᰦᰳᰜᰪᰵ ᰚᰦᰌᰤᰬᰳᰓᰫ ᰃᰨ, ᰕᰩᰵ ᰕᰩᰑᰧᰰᰶ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰎᰧᰶᰙᰦᰠᰦ ᰓᰬᰭᰀᰦ ᰃᰨ, ᰊᰌᰨ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩ ᰃᰤᰶᰡᰴᰠᰦ ᰙᰪᰱᰊᰩᰀᰦ ᰂᰤᰶ ᰅᰦᰰ ᰉᰧᰶ. ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰃᰫᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰉᰤᰩᰳᰡᰧᰵᰶ ᰃᰫᰰᰠᰦ ᰕᰧᰭᰕᰤᰬᰲ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰦ ,ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰜᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰋᰭᰶᰜᰳᰶ ᰅᰫᰰ ᰕ. ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰦ ᰉᰧᰮᰶᰜᰳᰶ ᰡᰧᰮᰉᰫᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰕᰧᰭ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰠᰌᰪᰕᰦᰳ ᰑᰦᰳᰌᰤᰬᰳ ᰕ.
Mong (millet), I am. Lost amongst this generation of human kind (Mutanchis). Fighting for my existence amongst the muffins and pizza. And searching for my home, in the midst of barren land and vegetables garden. I am hardly seen; I feel lost among my own people Rong Mutanchi.
ᰛᰩᰵ ᰕᰫᰊᰰᰶᰆᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰃᰨᰛᰬ ᰓᰴᰊᰤᰬᰰᰕᰫ ᰋᰫᰭᰓᰧᰶᰀᰦᰳ, ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰕᰩᰆᰬᰰᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰙᰩᰮᰀᰦᰳ ᰠᰦ ᰊᰧᰮᰶᰇᰫᰭᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰝᰥᰫᰮ ᰊᰪᰭᰊᰩᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰂᰫᰠᰦ ᰜᰤᰫᰀᰦ ᰙᰨ- ᰋᰴᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰶᰝᰥᰤᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰚᰦᰓᰪ ᰑᰦᰳᰌᰤᰬᰳ ᰕ. ᰎᰪᰲᰟᰧᰮᰶ ᰜᰦᰟᰨᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰋᰤᰦᰵᰜᰤᰬᰯᰠᰦ ᰕᰦᰲ-ᰀᰪᰲᰉᰧᰳ ᰜᰦᰟᰨᰀᰦ ᰋᰫᰭᰌᰪ ᰡᰨ. ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰉᰩᰳ ᰎᰪᰲᰊᰦᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰉᰧᰮᰜᰳᰶᰜᰦ ᰕᰪᰗᰩᰮ ᰕ. ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰠᰓᰧᰶᰌᰨᰜᰦ ᰍᰩᰵᰊᰩ ᰕᰕᰦᰳᰓᰦᰰ ᰑᰤᰩᰳ , ᰃᰨ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰜᰧᰰᰝᰥᰩᰵᰂᰪᰳ, ᰠᰛᰬᰌᰨᰜᰦ ᰙᰪᰱᰊᰩᰀᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰜᰩᰮᰕᰤᰫ ᰃᰨᰌᰨᰠᰪᰮ ᰌᰨᰜᰩᰮ ᰂᰪᰳ. ᰃᰪᰰᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰡᰧᰶᰅᰦᰰ ᰃᰫᰛᰫᰵᰜᰦ, ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰼ᰌᰨ᰼ (ᰋᰫᰭᰓᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰌᰪ, ᰕᰌᰫᰭᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰑᰦᰳ-ᰣᰦᰜᰤᰩᰳᰀᰦ ᰙᰪᰲᰋᰦᰱ ᰕᰦᰳᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ) ᰚᰦᰵᰍᰬ ᰍᰦᰮᰀᰦ ᰼ ᰛᰪᰮᰑᰦᰳ᰼ ᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰂᰨᰠᰦ ᰊᰰᰶᰀᰦ ᰀᰪᰱ ᰎᰦᰳᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ.
I am one of the lost indigenous crops of the Rong Mutanchi. I was one of the staple foods once, eaten as a porridge or like a pancake but now I see my importance losing day by day. The Rong Mutanchi used to sow me during the month of August and harvest me in the month of December-January but now I am hardly seen anywhere around the field. Even if I hardly need any attention while I am given a life. I can be grown anywhere. And, even if I am seen, I am sown just for the purpose of “duo” (collection of crops offered in different rituals) or for the yearly “Rumfaat” (offering prayer) by the Rong Mutanchi.
ᰛᰩᰵ ᰕᰧᰶᰕᰩᰵᰠᰦ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰓᰴᰊᰤᰬᰰᰕᰫ ᰋᰫᰭᰓᰧᰶᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰤᰬᰰ ᰣᰦᰕᰩᰓᰫ ᰌᰤᰬᰰᰛᰧᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰡᰨ. ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶ ᰕᰘᰩᰭᰌᰨ ᰃᰨ ᰀᰠᰪᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩ ᰑᰦᰳᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰡᰧᰶᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ. ᰃᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰑᰦᰳ- ᰣᰦᰜᰤᰩᰳᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰂᰨ ᰉᰧᰶ, ᰀᰠᰪ ᰊᰪᰰᰌᰩᰭ ᰀᰊᰦᰱᰀᰪᰱ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰜᰤᰬᰯᰂᰪᰳ ᰕ. ᰃᰨ ᰕᰉᰧᰰᰠᰦ, ᰛᰩᰵ ᰕᰫᰊᰰᰶᰆᰧᰶᰍᰪᰰ ᰓᰥᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰛᰧᰵᰶᰇᰬᰳ ᰼ ᰠᰪᰵᰀᰤᰨ ᰼ ᰕᰕᰦᰳᰜᰪᰵ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰕᰂᰪᰳ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰓᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰀᰦ ᰊᰧᰮᰶᰇᰫᰭ ᰉᰧᰶ, ᰕᰩᰲᰠᰦ ᰞᰬᰰᰊᰩᰱ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ.
I am considered the most important crops among all the indigenous crops in the Rong Memong but I see myself losing my identity of existence day by day. I am needed in every ritual; I am the only reason that every ritual gets completed. Without me, Rong Mutanchi will not be able to complete the promise of marriage without “Sungkyou” where I am the main character supported by butter.
ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰓᰦ, ᰝᰨᰮᰠᰀ᰷ᰥᰬ ᰎᰴᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰭᰇᰧᰶ ᰣᰦᰊᰧᰮᰶ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ, ᰼ᰂᰫᰛᰧᰶ᰼ ᰠᰦ ᰜᰤᰫᰀᰦ ᰍᰩᰵᰠᰴᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰓᰧᰶᰓᰦ. ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰜᰦ, ᰕᰪᰛᰩᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰼ ᰊᰫᰵᰜᰫᰓᰫᰭ᰼ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰞᰦᰳᰜᰪᰵ ᰼ ᰆᰧᰶᰗᰩᰭ᰼ ᰙᰫᰭᰡᰨ.
At present, I am grateful to homestays for treating me “Khuri Khu” (Millet roll mix with vegetables or meat) to the guest. And also, people mix me with “Tunglubok” (Tapioca) to make the most preferred local beverage “chichok”.
ᰃᰨ ᰑᰦᰳᰌᰤᰬᰳᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰨᰮ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰕᰉᰧᰰ, ᰡᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰑᰦᰳᰃᰴ, ᰡᰪᰈᰩᰭᰀᰦ ᰗᰩᰮᰓᰫ ᰛᰩᰵ ᰕᰫᰊᰰᰶᰆᰧᰶᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰬᰳᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰃᰤᰶ ᰕᰂᰪᰳ ᰍᰬ. ᰃᰨ ᰀᰦᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰏᰴ ᰠᰦᰭᰜᰧᰳ ᰉᰬᰰᰋᰨ ᰕ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰝᰪᰜᰦ ᰉᰧᰶᰎᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶᰀᰦᰳ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰉᰧᰮᰶᰜᰳᰶ ᰣᰦᰋᰵᰶᰌᰨ ᰚᰪ ᰑᰦᰳᰃᰴ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰜᰩᰊᰦ ᰜᰦᰜᰫᰭᰡᰴ ᰣᰦᰌᰪᰭ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ. ᰡᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩ ᰕᰧᰭᰡᰧᰮᰀᰦ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰕᰪᰕᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰣᰦᰙᰫᰮ ᰉᰬᰰᰋᰨ ᰡᰬᰳ ᰕ.
My fear of losing myself is not what scares me, but if I am lost, the last remaining of Rong Mutanchi will not be able to keep everything pure and safe. I take pride in myself and so do you. And once our existence is lost, it is difficult to come back to stand, but I shall keep my identity alive through visuals and images.
ᰛᰩᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶᰀᰦ ᰕᰩᰵᰛᰤᰬᰮ (ᰕᰩᰵᰕᰤᰬᰲ / ᰕᰩᰵ)ᰜᰦ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰨ. ᰣᰤᰦ ᰉᰫᰋᰧᰵᰶᰠᰴ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰦᰰᰓᰫᰠᰴ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰕᰩᰵ ᰠᰌᰪ-ᰠᰌᰪ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰎᰫᰮᰙᰪ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰦᰜᰤᰩᰭᰌᰤᰬᰳ ᰕ. ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩᰠᰦ ᰊᰰᰶᰀᰦ ᰌᰪᰭᰊᰤᰰᰶᰡᰴ ᰕᰕᰦᰳ ᰃᰴᰜᰦ, ᰕᰩᰵᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰃᰩᰵᰇᰧᰮᰶ ᰌᰤᰬᰰᰛᰧᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ, ᰛᰩᰵ ᰕᰧᰃᰧᰳᰠᰦ ᰓᰬᰭᰀᰦᰜᰦ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰉᰧᰮᰜᰳᰶᰠᰦ ᰊᰰᰶᰀᰦ ᰀᰤᰫᰮᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ, ᰕᰩᰵ. ᰃᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰬᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰕᰦᰭ, ᰓᰥᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰑᰦᰳ-ᰣᰦᰜᰤᰩᰳ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰠᰶᰘᰳᰶᰀᰦ ᰕᰩᰵᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰂᰨ ᰼ ᰠᰪᰵᰀᰤᰨ ᰼ ( ᰊᰪᰭᰆᰧᰮᰀᰦᰳ ᰕᰩᰵ ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰟᰦᰲ-ᰟᰦᰲ ᰕᰩᰲ ᰛᰤᰩᰱᰋᰩᰮᰓᰫ )ᰠᰦ ᰜᰤᰫᰀᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰕ.
Mong in Lepcha language means “millet and a dream”. The Lepchas and mong both seem to be vanishing in their existence as our ancestors and elders are leaving for heaven day by day. Lepchas may not have to fight for their own identity however, mong is struggling to keep its existence of its own importance among the Lepcha community where mong is considered the most important crop. Starting from every ritual of offering prayers from birth to death, marriage and every occasion Mong is needed in the form of “Sungkyou” (a bowl offering made of pure millet beverage and in the edge of bowl, butter is sticked).
Story & photographs by Marmit Lepcha, supported by Palden Lepcha
Translations by Cholamoo Lepcha
Mentored by Minket Lepcha