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Nongkhnum river island

Background Story 
of Nongkhnum

Nongkhnum Island of Adventure

From Ronald Stone Syiem

Nongkhnum Island of West Khasi Hills District is probably the most beautiful scenic spot in Meghalaya  which just recently came into the limelight as a favourite centre of tourist attraction. In size, it is perhaps the second biggest river island, next only to the famous Majuli Island of Assam, if not inthe whole of India but at least in the North East Region. Nongkhnum Island, locally known as Khnum Soij (in local Nongstoiñ dialect, Khunm meansIsland) is a creation of Kynshi River.

After a good amount of research, Mr. e Phylla Syiem of Nongstoiñ (locally spelled as Nongstoiñ), West Khais Hills District, has aptly recorded his findings in a book, “Ka Skud U Pakoh”, with a foreword by Mr. L.H. Pde, MCS (retd.)

‘Ka Skud’ is a treasure house where valuable possessions including paddy, agricultural seeds, agricultural tools, etc are stored. ‘U Pakoh’ means an elder of the community who is revered as a philosopher and a teacher. The prefixes ’U’ and ‘Ka’ relate to male and  female gender respectively, whereas the prefix ‘Ki’ refer to the plural forms of both.

Mr. Syiem wrote that the wise people of old, termed ki Nongkhiat Bylle (Nongkhiat means callers and Bylle means God), under the leadership of U Ksan ñiangriang, could communicate with Le Mawpein (Le, short form of Bible, means God) who instructed them to accordingly put down in writing. In ancient times, the system of writings was by means of bamboo/threads strings interwoven by hands, representing words or meanings, on a big bamboo net called U Pyrnu (Sheet of Book). Consequently, the following 12 Pyrnu (Books) were compiled by the 12 wise men: (1) Le Pyrnu (on religious polity) by U Khynde. (2) Kyrwat Pyrnu (on administration) by U Kyrwat. (3) Ksiang Pyrnu (on matrimonial regulations) by U Shangsngi. (4) Thangrong Pyrnu (on rituals for the dead) by U Plushoit. (5) PherPyrnu (on ceremonies relating to anniversaries) by U Lang. (6) Long-Ïing Pyrnu (on family and clan relationship) by U Pior. (7) Tang Pyrnu (on naming rituals) by U Iangsngap. (8) Ram-O Pyrnu (on geology and minerals by U Siar. (9) Nengleih-Nengiong Pyrnu (on astronomy) by U Ksan. (10) Wet ne Khom Pyrnu (on laws and regulations) by U Synio. (11) Kmiang Pyrnu (on biodiversity) by U Hmoot. (12) Jatjyllu Pyrnu (on miscellaneous issues) by U Kyrhai.

As per the messages of U Pyrnu, ka Shi was the only child who lost her parents, U Mawtheng Sohmen and ka Tynre-Ram-O, in the prime fo her youth. Though of obscure origin, ka Shi lived in Mawmaram village, not far from Sohiong locality, on the Shillong-Nongstoiñ National Highway 44(E), about 30kms from Shillong. Having no relatives and loving a solitary life, she was looked down with contempt by her neighbors who nicknamed her ka Kynshi. On the advice of a friendly priest, U Sangriang, she prayed to U Le Shi was instantly transfornmed into a spring which grew into a steam flowing westward.

On her journey, she met and married a handsome youth. Together they strolled until they reached a place called Mawkhan (maw means stone and Khan means pray) near Pariong where they performed a special prayer on a stone for safe journey onwards. Blessed with two daughters, Ka Phanliang and ka Namliang, they next rested at Rahkawan lake, which is full of fishes, near Nongkynjang and Nonglwai habitations, on the outskirtsof Nongstoin.

Along the way, ka Phangliang met U Jyrhap whose marriage was sanctified by a priest, U Siarpa Lyngdoh (Siar is short form of Ksiar which means Gold, Pa is short form of Rupa which means silver, and Lyngdoh means Priest) near Lyngdoh Siarpa Sacred Forest, which is considered sacrosanct and forbidden.

Meanwhile, the mother, Kong Shi (Kong means madam) seeing her unmarried youngest daughter, ka Niamlang, remorseful and sad, approached a priest for help who consulted U Le Mawpein through the mediator, U Kyrwat. The answer, with U Myntri Niangram (Myntri means Minister) as witness, was that Kong Shi should perform a religious sacrifice on a stone called U Mawlaikhlieh (meaning a three headed stone) or U Mawiathong ( Maw means stone and Iathong means betting) near law Lyngdoh Siarpa and having three pointed marks - one indicating Kong Shi and her husband,the second that of Ka Phanliang and U Jyrhap, and the third that of Ka Niamliang.

While Kong Shi and her consort stayed put at Thwei Siarpa (Thwei means Big Lake), the two sisters flowed on separate way at Khnum Soij promising to reunite after ka Niamliang got married. The elder sister and her husband choosing left, subsequently forming a lake called the Wei Phanliang (Wei is short form of thwei meaning lake) followed by Kshaid Shad Thum (Kshaid meaning falls, Shad meaning dance and Thum meaning sound made by a falls) and then proceeded forward. The youngest sister merrily choosing right until she came upon Kshaid Riat (Riat meaning Cliff) where she cascaded three times. After the last cascade, she eloped with a handsome youth named Por Symbe (Por meaning time). After the birth oftheir child at a place called Mawkhakhun (Maw meaning stone, Kha meaning giving birth to and Khun meaning child). They happily rolled down in two directions thereby forming a falls called Kshaid Wienya.

Suddenly remembering their holy promise, both the sisters went fast to reunite and embrace each other at a place called Thongrin (Thong meaning bet or target, rin meaning one and all satisfactorily), with Ka Byrki and Ka Phod Porsohstap as witnesses.

The lifestyle of the two sisters signifies the two types of marriage: Firstly, the Phaliang way which is right and proper. Secondly, Niamlang way through elopement which is later on regularized, known as Snahrbe (Snah meaning jump and rbe meaning in a hurry).

After reuniting joyously, both the sisters and their families happily flowed together until they reached Wah Blei or Kmo Bli, blessed by the Gods, and continued onwards till they entered the plains of Bangladesh.

                                                                      (Copy right reserve with the author)

Camping inside the Nongkhnum river island