QUESTION

It was just the other day that we all were gathered in this  Rong cultural event. The event marked the cultural integration of the Rongs and like always we (youth with intentions) were sharing our views on the present scenario of the Rongs living in different parts of the world. The views were all different and conflicting at times but we all enjoyed the interactions as we would go home with some new ideas. Little did I know that what I would go back home with would come from a young rongkup (maybe still lingering in his late teens) with a hairstyle that reminded me instantly of the animal planet and his attitude was all jumpy and speedy. Actually we passed him off for a young English educated rong with ideas to find a simple rong nyom, his mother would like, in this event. After all most of our Cultural get togethers usually ends with lots of couples and weddings not to forget heartbreaks and sobbing. He came up and started edging his way into our talk with slight nods and a word or two here and there but before long he too was throwing in some wonderful remarks that made us think for a while.I don’t even know whether he just threw his ideas casually or was really serious about his intention. All he asked was “where do we stand as a rongkup in this nation of India or even in the neighboring countries of Nepal and Bhutan?”

This is one simple question that has been thrown around a lot in family get togethers (tungboang faat, namko bree, sunglyon etc.) cultural events and even in picnics and parties. Today many of us have left our “mainland” (Nye Mayel Lyang) in search for work and better opportunities but our ties with the “mainland” is as strong as ever even though we have adopted new strategies to establish our identities. For example I know many Rongs who so confidently refer themselves as “we Nepali (recently replaced by gorkha)” in conversations with their office colleagues. Then there are youngsters who are so thrilled to be “Sikkimese” and give an extra effort to remind friends and peers about his/her adopted identity. In fact I have met some over enthusiasts who even write “Denjyongpa” (of Sikkim) as sir names. And there are others who safely conceal their individuality behind “khansarpas, barfungpas,” or simply Namgyals, Dhondups, Wangchuks, etc. It’s kind of strange to meet youngsters who are just “Vivian” or Sylvestor or even Richard with their Sir names revealed only in their tribal certificates and school certificates.

Some of the “we” thought that it was the growing influence of media and the alien culture preached through them. In fact there was a point there as we see more of our brothers and sisters looking more Koreans than the Koreans themselves. Some of the “we” thought it was the years of sharing our villages and fields with the people of neighboring nations who came by looking for better opportunities. This point too has its validity as we have come across youngsters who claim “nepali” as their mother tongue as a safeguard because they cannot converse in their own language. Then yet again (like always) the religion factor was brought onto the table and another hour or two went by discussing the vices and virtues of the two important religions that have affected the Rongs the most-Buddhism and Christianity. The mild form of Buddhism practiced by the Rongs has in fact brought about a new kind of religion with Bongthingism and Buddhism side by side. The One God theory preached by the Christians had to go extra length by making the Rongs forget the entire age old tradition of Bongthingism and Munism and teach about the life of Jesus and his disciples. Here the Buddhist supporters claimed that at least the culture of the Rongs was preserved during the conversion of the Rongs. But yet again the Christian supporters elaborated that most Buddhist Rongs of Mayel Lyang have not in fact come to terms with the real culture of the Rongs of yore. The rituals and practices are more Buddhist in origin than the genuine Rong culture. So went on the ever increasing discussions of what really happened. In fact many Rongs have adopted the language of the preachers of these two religions as their own. Yes there are many Rongs in Buddhist hinterland of the Renjyong Lyang who are more comfortable with Bhutia language (the “royal language”) while our Christian brothers and sisters utter English words at the drop of a hat. Not to forget the more popular Mom and Dad instead of Aabo and aamu.

But the question of the “modern rong” youngster hit me in totally different area. And it set me thinking the reasons behind our life of denial. Most of us actually are not aware of a Rong hero to worship or to idolize. Our culture is close knit one and the answers given to us by our Thyukungs and Nyukungs are the ultimate and we do not question further. We are by nature tuned to follow what they have to say and advice. Without under estimating our Thyukungs and Nyukungs I believe there are many questions that they do not have appropriate answers to. And I have heard of our Thyukungs and Nyukungs jealously guarding secrets and taking them to their graves thus leaving many of the youngsters unaware. This I believe has contributed to many of our youngsters adopting foreign cultures and their complexities as their own and thus neglecting their own indigenous culture. There is a certain prejudice amongst our elders and wise of under estimating our growing curiosities and eagerness to learn more. In fact they are almost expected to develop Rongsum just by attending Cultural events and singing Rong voms. So I believe the impatient and curious youngsters, in a rush to find acceptance, pick an easy way out-adopt the more prevalent foreign culture as their own. The Buddhist had texts and monasteries to train young ones, the Christian had their churches and seminaries to induct new missionaries. But the Rongs do not have any institution to impart the knowledge of the yore. We simply pass it on from one generation to the other by means of folklores and tales. So in retrospect is it the Rong Youngster to blame for his inability to converse in Rong aring? Why did he adopt cultures foreign to Rong? Did his parents and thyukung and nyukungs play the role that earlier generations had played in case of them?

The rich cultural heritage we have is way beyond comparison to many communities. The age old practices and rituals we have kept alive are as virtuous and sacred as that of other major religions. We even have festivals and occasions through out the year to mark different aspects of our relationship with our immediate environment and nature as a whole. We have heroes who have walked this earth with the same pride and valour as those found in other mythologies. We have an intricate system of social parameters that define our very existence in this planet. We are as complete as any other community which our youngsters so easily adore. So where did we go wrong? Or did we ever go wrong? And the question lingers…..s