Hindi work of Limbu folklore ‘Yakthung Muk-Kheda’ launched in Kalimpong

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, 22 MAY 2023  : “Folklore is the mythic documentation of time. Folktales carry economic, social and cultural stories of people's lives. Yakthung Muk-Kheda is a historical work in this sense", said the Assistant Professor at Hindi department of Sikkim University Dr. Pradeep Tripathi. 

While commenting on the Limbu folktales collection in Hindi 'Yakthung Muk Kheda' by Dr. Shobha Limbu Chemjong, he further said, “Though it is a collection of folklore, Yakthung Muk Kheda is actually a researched original work. The author has prepared the work by doing fieldwork and research in a scientific manner”. 

Dr. Tripathi added, subject variety is the main attraction of this work. In this work, a scientific rewriting of Limbu folklore has been done by explaining the modern relevance of nature, feminism in the heritage of nature-worshiping Limbu society.

Leading Limbu linguist and educationist Dr. SR Khajum, who hails from Sikkim, said, "Language stands out before literature. If the language is developed, the literature will be developed by default. Sikkim is the place where Limbu language-literature is most developed. According to the last census of 2011, there are about 60 thousand speakers of Limbu language in Sikkim. Bengal, Assam and other places also need to revive Limbu language-literature”.

He added, "From Khandakavya to Mahakavya, Limbu literature is rich with almost all genres of texts. Limbu language is taught in Sikkim from basic level to advanced level. Imansingh Chemjong is the father of modern Limbu language and literature. Imansingh's work place Kalimpong is an important land. In 1925, the world's first Limbu 

organization, Yakthung Association, was established in Kalimpong. It is from this institution that the development of the Limbu language began. Limbu-literature is as glorious as Sanskrit.”

"Language is learned by speaking rather than reading and writing. The practical aspect of language pedagogy in language learning is the imitative oral process. Now we all should start speaking Limbu language,” he urged.

Darjeeling poet Manprasad Subba, the leader of Nepali poetry and the pioneer of marginalization writing, said while giving a talk on 'Motif of Limbu Literature', "By doing a great job of transliteration of oral Mandhum literature, poet Vairagi Kainla has done more glorious work in foundation settled by Imansingh Chemjong". He further said, “Because Limbu folk narrative is symbolic-symbolic-figurative and lyrical, it has been handed over from generation to generation in oral form for thousands of years.”

Delivering a talk on 'Practicality of Limbu writing', Limbu language department professor and Limbu language expert of Nar Bahadur Bhandari College BL Khamdhak said, "Folktale is a part of wide area of folklore. The first seminal mention of Limbu folk tale is in 1850 when Brian Hudson documented the folk tale. Folktale is the basis of modern Limbu literature. By the 1970s, official Limbu folktales were documented.”

"Yakthung Muk Kheda is the first Limbu folk tale written in Hindi in the world”, Dr. Khamdhak claimed.

Prakash Thamsuhang, a poet-critic and pillar of ‘Pahichanwadi’ writing from Ilam, Nepal, while talking about 'Mundhum Soundarya Darshan', said, "Mundhum is a great epic." It includes the universal, all-pervasive matter of society, ethics, along with the matter of the universe, nature and creation. 

He added, "The inclusive ideology that is being raised now – a –day has already been discussed in Mundhum. Mundham aesthetic philosophy is based on inclusiveness. Co-existence, co-action and co-living are the core philosophy of Mundhum. 

Mundhum folklore is matriarchal, which holds that woman was the first human being in creation. Women's discourse is therefore an intrinsic element of Mundhum philosophy.”

“I am neither a scholar of Limbu literature, nor a creator of folklore. My grandfather Imansingh Chemjong's Limbu Folklore Creation is the main inspiration for my creative writing. He got his fascination for folklore from his own family. Folktales told by my grandfather in my childhood inspired me to create this work," said the author Dr. Shobha Limbu Yalmo. 

She added, "There is no writer in folklore. Folktales are passed down from generation to generation. In terms of the verification of political identity, our folklore is a double documentation. In order to solve our identity crisis, it is necessary to translate our folk literature into different languages of the world”.

Mirik's young poet Ajit Viyogi said 'You Want Empty Cities', Sikkimese poet Suchan Pradhan recited 'Alikata Me' and Siliguri’s poet Rajaa recited a poem titled 'Tangsing'. Poet-publisher Suraj Gurung on behalf of Book Ant, Salbari's publishing house, gave introduction of the author Dr. Sova Chemjong. 

Manprasad Subba, Dr. Pradeep Tripathi, Dr. Harka Bahadur Chhetri, Dr. BL Khamdhak, Amrit Subba, AR Khajum, Prakash Thamsuhang (Nepal), Parbat Portel (Nepal) formally launched the book in the event.

Poet Prakash Thamsuhang from Illam, Nepal, senior journalist of Kantipur Daily (Nepal) Parbat Portel were specially present at the ceremony. BL Khamdhak, SR Khajum, Dr. Pushpa Sharma from Sikkim; Darjeeling District Library Officer Amrit Subba from Darjeeling; Dr. Harka Bahadur Chhetri, Yogveer Shakya, Sanjay Bista, Anukampa Subba, Sudhir Chhetri, Manoj Bogati, Chuden Kavimo, Hira Chhetri from Kalimpong were present in the event.

Pallavi Limbu, Shesana Limbu and Birsika Limbu on behalf of Bijanbari Limbu Sansthan enthralled the audience by performing the Keylang dance while playing Chyabrung.

The ceremony was anchored by poet-actor Tika Bhai from Kalimpong.