I regularly update my ‘Books’ story highlight on Instagram with what I am reading. In the past, I’ve been part of Book Clubs via work and with friends. I’ve enjoyed the conversations I’ve had with people when we’ve found reads in common. To extend that, I am going to do my best to share my monthly reads on my blog. Happy Reading!
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I completed the Yakthung Mundhumlore – Stories from Mundhum in August. This is a book that has twenty tales from the Mundhum, which has been compiled, narrated and edited by Sandhya Subba Singzango. I previously read Yakthung Civilization by the same mentioned author. This is my attempt to know more about my Limbu heritage and history and I cannot thank researchers like Sandhya enough – for making it accessible, easy and digestible to read. I worry sometimes that because we all want easy information, that nobody puts in the work anymore. Even to read…
The Mundhum is an accumulation of religious narrative text that consists of mythological stories, legends, prehistoric accounts, pragmatic and philosophical exhortations, and so on in oral form. The existence of Mundhum, thus, rests on its performativity owing to its oral tradition. The Mundhum is recited or narrated by Limbu ritual/religious actants in cultural/ritual observations, that is, rituals pre-birth to after death. Mundhum as a performance culture best represents everyday-life activities of the Limbus, a constitutive of Limbu culture, history and religion. – Ramesh K Limbu
While reading the collection of stories, I pictured a magical world where anything was possible… a place of fantasy and epic tales, not limited by what we know in the current world we occupy. For someone who is a beginner in learning about Limbu history, this book makes a great read. Most chapters are standalone stories from the Mundhum and are only few pages long. It feels too brief at times.
The chapter on Yuma Papo was brilliant. Growing up, I’ve been told by my parents and have met people that have shared their different dietary restrictions and it often made me wonder what the bigger, deeper question was. While this chapter speaks specifically on the Papohang clan, it certainly provided an insight into all the conversations I’ve had previously. Maybe there are stories like Yuma Papo for each clan. In brief, the chapter addresses the process of rebirth of some members as the Papongna fish hence there being a warning to the descendants of the Papohang clan to not consume the Papongna fish.
The Dhan Nach/Naach is a dance that I’ve grown up hearing from my grandparents and elders… so and so met someone, their loved one, their eye-candy, when they went to the mela and they were locked, holding hands in a dhan nach. A portrayal of a dhan nach was performed beautifully in the 2023 blockbuster JAARI film. This book also talks about the origin of the dhan nach, which is Ya:langma. Surprisingly, it was never about potential love-birds meeting but an activity to chase away birds. So, ya means paddy and lakma means to dance or step in.
The Limbu peoples’ story is deeply intertwined with nature, wildlife, water and the land. Another case is The Forbidden Tale of Tilling Clan who do not eat squirrel meat fearing the curse and warnings from their ancestors. While at present day, I am not aware of Limbu groups eating squirrels (lokharke) but I assume that this like many other things were common in the days of hunting and gathering.
When reading tales of the Mundhum, I believe it’s important to read with an open-mind and without judgement. The collection of stories here provided me an insight and another confirmation of the deep connection of the Limbu people and the natural world.
Till the next read!
