By Boris Momin
The A’chiks are known for their richness in myths, legends, and folklore, steeped in history, and thus the stories have been passed down through generations by the word of mouth. According to beliefs, there were many supernatural beings that possess immense power to do both good and evil. Whether they are true is a matter of debate; times have changed, as people choose science and rational thinking over beliefs.
Stories refer to the A’chiks as a tribe of formidable fierce warriors who settled in the upper Himalayan regions somewhere in the region known as Garu Pradesh.
If we read folktales, we come across stories that elevate the status of the male figure. Although Meghalaya is known and celebrated as a matrilineal society, the male figure remains the head authority of the family. In many of the Achik tales, therefore, men possess God-like power and characteristics. They are also known to possess the ability to befriend all the supernatural beings in the universe while carrying sacred tasks for humankind.
Dikki and Bandi are among the fierce warriors who are also regarded as demigods by many. Their story captivates us and leaves us wondering if there is any truth to the story – whether the events really transpired or they remain a myth. Different sources present different variations of their story, hence, it is difficult to find an authentic version. That said, instances of their history remain constant in almost all stories.
Let’s take a look –
One day Dikki and Bandi went fishing. Before leaving, Bandi got really hungry and ordered his younger sister to prepare lunch for both of them. They ate huge amounts of rice, which when counted reached 19 plates! Bandi was asked if he was full, to which he replied that he was now ready to walk to their destination.
Bandi’s elder brother, Dikki, was very strong and sharp. He knew how to converse with the spirits. He had amazing strength – each time he punched through a tree trunk, a big hole would be made and he would literally crush them. Even elephants could not stand a chance against him… a knock, and they would go flying in the air, especially when he was in a bad mood. His whistling would make the trees and plants shiver to their core. When he pressed his legs down through the ground, the water underneath would also seep.
The duo planned to go to a place called Songdu Chibima. Both were fond of fishing since childhood and made a living out of it. Dikki ordered his younger brother to fetch something to be used as fishing bait. Bandi obeyed and ventured inside a forest. Later, he encountered a huge elephant. Surprisingly, he knocked the elephant out and took out its tusk, in addition to its meat, and headed back to his brother. They continued their journey ahead, and soon reached a shore of an ocean, the Rekbokma Aema Ditima. There they encountered an old man who was collecting sea shells.
Curious, the old man conversed with them, asking how they got there.
Upon seeing the tusk, he suggested they swap their things… he needed a tusk to put into his collection. Bandi was not convinced, wondering why they should give the tusk for the old man’s piece of ornament. The man succeeded in convincing them, focusing on the value of the ornament by showing its ability to see through the sky and the earth. Convinced, the brothers realised their potential and the exchange was successful.
As they returned, it became dark and they had to camp at a spooky place. But this did not matter, given they were courageous men. Deep into the night as they were sleeping, a demonic creature called, Sko mat bitip kisang dengreng (a creature with a head full of lice), came to the spot.
Though shocked, they did not fear it; rather, they realised that they were tricked by the old man – it was because of the ornament that they became potential prey for the creature. As it approached the two brothers, they prepared themselves. Dikki sliced a bamboo to fight against the creature. To their surprise, it stepped back and hastily vanished into the forest, stamping all over the bamboo trees out of fear.
The story continues, but these are some instances that show the mighty and fierce nature of the male figures of the A’chik folk tales.
Similarly, in other stories like that of the supreme creator Tatara Rabuga, we see that this figure is a man, the omnipotent and omniscient god of all gods and goddesses. He later summons an underlying goddess called Nostu-Nopantu, and orders her to create a beautiful living space when the earth was still lifeless and boring.
The idea of masculinity is present even in the story of Mane pilte (The Earth). A demigod named Misi Apilpa Saljong Galapa, also the god of cultivation, is considered to be one of the strongest beings of ancient times.
Another figure of Garo folklore is Goera, who is a demigod, and terribly strong, able to kill wild beasts with his bare hands. He never missed the opportunity to kill all kinds of beasts when he encountered them. One day, as a child, he was upset over not being allowed to participate in a Gila seeds game; he threw the seeds far away into the jungle and beyond their sight. Naturally, it left the other boys in awe. He also fought with a monster boar, which was huge as a mountain. It created chaos, leading to disaster all over the village, and everyone feared it. His companions helped him to collect tools and weapons.
Goera stood firm and battled this monstrous beast till the end. He claimed he did not fear the savage, brainless, mighty boar. Among the A’chiks, he is regarded as the immortal and invincible god of thunder and lighting. It is also believed that the flash of his mighty milam lit the heaven and the earth with brilliance during stormy weather.
What makes these stories interesting is the central motif of male invincibility. Their strength is elevated to such heights that they are looked upon as gods. Interestingly, female characters having such powers are less mentioned. Consequently, they serve as reminders about the dynamics between the male and female figures, despite their powerful aura.
At the moment, the world is undergoing a transformation regarding conventional gender norms. Perhaps the need of the hour is to also remain rooted in our cultural traditions while embracing the modern world… a balancing act. Folklores serve not just as a repository of oral narratives, they show how the past informs the present, with change being the one inevitable constant.