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Kongthong- The Whistling Village of Meghalaya
The North-eastern state of Meghalaya is surrounded by lush green mountains and scenic waterfalls. Cherished as the Abode of Clouds, it is home to vivid cultural beliefs and practices. The small village called Kongthong in Meghalaya has a unique oral tradition, Jingrwai lawbei, in which a song (Jingrwai) is sung in honour of the root ancestress - the clan’s first woman (Lawbei). This song is composed by the mother following the birth of her child, during the first few weeks while she is regaining her health.
Meghalaya - The Abode of Clouds
Kongthong is located in the East Khasi Hills district, around 65 kilometres from the capital city of Shillong. The people of this village have two names, one a regular name and the other a ‘tune name’. The tune name has two versions, a long and a short one. The villagers believe that the tradition of Jingrwai lawbei helps the mother to express her heartfelt love and care for the newborn child. Over time, this special rendition of a tune or song becomes a lifelong identity for the child.
Though the song or tune has a beginning and an end, it has no lyrics. When the parents want to call out to their child during their growing years, only the initial part or shorter version of the tune is used. The complete tune is used outdoors, in fields or forests. The people of Kongthong village consider this tradition to be a means of expression and communication among their fellow village members. Both parents compose two or three tunes when their child is born, and ultimately the best one is selected. A new tune is composed when a child is born, and it dies with the person’s death. The same tune or song is never used for two different people. The tune is always unique and fundamental to one person, and when a person is called by his or her tune, he or she responds by singing it back. The tradition of Jingrwai lawbei is completely oral and is not written anywhere.
The unique tradition of Jingrwai lawbei has been followed by the people of Kongthong since time immemorial. It is believed that the early ancestors of this village developed this musical language due to the geographical isolation of the village. According to a local belief, evil spirits reside in the forests of the Khasi Hills, and the villagers use this unique language to save the village from the spirits, as the evil spirits cannot distinguish between these tunes and animal calls. When heard from afar, the tunes sound like whistles, the reason the village of Kongthong is popularly known as the Whistling Village.
The oral tradition of a community is testimony of the invaluable folk wisdom that is handed down from one generation to another just by word of mouth. These intangible elements of culture reflect the uniqueness in community life and livelihood. Keeping these cultural treasures intact for future generations is undoubtedly the need of the hour.
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