.....the questions

Here we go again-a Rongkup to the hilt. Well the journey was not easy nor was the realization. A book by Alex Haley –"The Roots" and it dawned on me. And of course Hollywood flicks, "Last of the Mohicans", "The Last Samurai" "Motorcycle Diaries" (another "last"), "Apocalypto", "Braveheart"( kind of like our charismatic punu Gaybu Achyok and maybe even the butt flashing scene), or even the romantic stuff like "Sweet Home Alabama" (no not the Lynyrd Skynyrd song) came along and each inspired me in a different yet effective way. For those who did not hear any bells ring-these are the very stuff that etched into me the very essence of being the "Mutanchi Rongkup" and I strongly suggest you go through the above list again and this time do so keeping in mind the spirit of Rong Sudkum. I did my part in a Shejum and spent quality time trying to work for the rongkups of Renjyong lyang. But there always stood a question in my versatile mind-where are we heading? To Mayel Lyang or a compromise? Certainly we do have a rich culture and a heritage and language and script that many indigenous people around the nation would give their right hand for it. But yet the obstacle lies in the very hearts of the Rong memong and this has to be dealt with all seriousness and conviction.
There is a huge number in the Rong Sukdum for whom holding on to the glorious past opened new dimensions in their present and gave them reasons to move ahead in life. But what about the countless Rong Ongs, for whom the Heritage is close to the heart, yet have no visions regarding where they are heading in this highly confusing and cut-throat competitive world controlled by ideologies in many ways contradictory to what we believe. The large number of Rongmits and Rongkups just floating away in confusion and going where the wind blows (I am not talking about the Mr. Big song again). Maybe awaiting for the excitement of preparing for the annual Rong Festivals and then retreating to their well entrenched shells again only to emerge in the next year’s festival. Well! Mix all of the above and we have a perfect recipe for uncertainty for the individuals as well as for the whole community. And the Question Lingers on……
It’s indeed very fortunate for many of us who have able and learned thyungs Nykungs who managed to salvage whatever of the heritage and culture we were left with after such huge and massive influence of the influx to many parts of our serene home. To day as we open our doors to the "born again" rongkups we hardly can believe the damage that has been done to the very spirit of mutanchi within them. Yes I am not pointing an accusing finger at anyone but just trying to lay my point regarding the work that has to be done to undo the years of effect of more persuasive traditions on our rongkups. It’s really heartening to see the efforts of the new generation to erase the years of anglification or aryanifictaion or even the tibetanification (wow some words right?) and try to pick up from where their ancestors had adopted a different path. But here comes the Bombshell-it’s really heartrending to see few narrow minded traditional Rongs who find this mass rejuvenation the rong sukdum is going through, a total deception. This is where I think we have to focus and cut out the loose edges so that we have a more stable and consistent rong sukdum where every one is respected equally without any discrimination.
We sure are proud to have Rong thyukungs and nyukungs, mun and bongthings, anums and anoms, akus and aneus et al who have so painstakingly maintained our traditions and culture pure and untouched right from the days of Fudong thing and Nazong nyu. But my observation lies elsewhere. It’s this huge cauldron of intermingling cultural influences that has created a new generation of Rongkups. I am so sure that it’s them who are equipped to inherit the Rong sukdum and it’s them whom we have to hone and sharpen to steer the Rong memong through more challenging times without compromising the age old norms and traditions which we so dearly hold.
Few Hollywood movies I have talked about above have one important common theme-the tragedy faced by the indigenous people when confronted by modernism or dominant alien culture. And yes a smile escapes my lips every time a smart rongkup claims that naming the book by the great Ren Arthur Foning (May Eetbu Deybu Rum bless his holy apil) as "Lepcha-My Vanishing Tribe" was a mistake. If and only if my dear rongkups could pack up their prejudices and look around –it’s not the Rongkups who are vanishing it’s the spirit of the Rongkups. Every time I watch the above movies (when I mean every time I mean it-I watch them very often) my mind opens up to the hardships faced by our generous and simple ancestors who must have gone through the same troubles when confronted by conniving and dominant individuals migrating to Nye Mayel Lyang. What pain must our grandfathers have felt when they saw the destruction of the forests and rivers and of the very nature they lived with, so content fully. Just out of curiosity I try to put myself into the state of mind our ancestors must have been, when in front of their very own eyes, "the ridge where they played" turned into the hub of cheating traders and harassing business grounds. And like telepathy from the past or even a distant beckon from my own ancestor-profound sadness takes over me and even a small hint of modernization fills me with deep sorrow. And the question arises again-what is the most important task at hand for all of us?
Someone has rightfully said-"there is nothing we can do about the length of our lives but we can certainly do something about the depth and width of our lives". We surely have to evaluate ourselves first before we start pointing fingers at others. There is a lot we can do yet we find it safer to fold our hands and condemn others of being less Rong than us. I am so sure that if they do not know where they are heading then its more Rongkup to show them the way rather than find faults in their efforts. "A fool and his wealth are soon parted". So in this life span we have received I sincerely think that we must at least have a loyalty towards the sir name we carry in our tribal certificates (the piece of paper which suddenly becomes so important when we are out looking for jobs or some unearned money called scholarships). Yes my dear Rongkups its shame to hold out our hands every time we receive benefits for being Rongkups (reminds me of hungry stray dogs the joggers used to feed early in the morning) and yet do nothing for the very Identity of MUTANCHI RONGKUP. So with the dream of Mayel Lyang in our hearts we have to move on-shoulder to shoulder and leave no stone unturned till we know that every anum and anom of our memong are proud enough to throw away the yoke of borrowed culture and traditions and happily adopt the "Rongkupness" which is as pure as the snow of Kongchen Chu. Maybe our questions will be answered then, maybe the burden of anonymity we carry today will be shed, maybe we will be able to take a peek inside us and realise that its "MUTANCHI RONGKUP"- that’s who we are……Are we there yet?