01/07/2025
On 18th of June 2025, the Department of Lepcha Sikkim University Yangang organized Rhythemic Tones in Reading Lepcha Ancient Manuscripts/books, under Ren Norbu Tshering Tamsang Lopeon's Paper- LEP-C—652, Naamthoo Naamthaar Paper of Fourth Semester M.A students. The judges were Ms. Rinchen Ongmoo Ma'am and Mr. Dup Tshering Lopeon's .All the fourth-semester students participated and they all brought their own Naamthar and used rhythmic tones from seven different rhythmics tones to read Naamthaar. For instance, 1-Pomic Potong Nyumjyo (sound of bamboos), 2- Fudaong Nazaong Nyumjyo (the first Lepcha Primogenitors, Fudaongthing the male and the Nazaong Nyoo the Female, this tone is sad), 3- Lakok Lanyen Nyumjyo, 4- Koying Duren Nyumjyo, 5- Lafo Ladong Nyumjyo, 6- Nyaolik Nyaosong Nyumjyo (it is believed that this Nyumjyo (rhymes, tone) was given to the Lepcha priest's and priestess's by God Himself, it is slow and unique in sounds), and 7- Shimvonmu Ung Tuksot Nyumjyo (it derived from sound of waterfalls, small river streams, bubbling or running water and compared to other this one is little bit easy and understood by all). Most students used Pomic Potong Nyumjyo, Nyaolik Nyaosong Nyumjyo, Shimvonmu Aung Tuksot Nyumjyo to demonstrate their tasks. By listening to these Naamthaar, we have learned that most of them are concerned with Lepcha subjects like religious practices to worship Mother Nature, holy to the Lepcha's, it's covered from one child birth ceremonies to the grave of a person, all the issues that are connected with each other like house warming prayer and many more that we found in these books. Some are translated Buddhist texts books, that's why we have two types of Naamthar or Naamtho Naamthaar the pure one totally related with Lepcha origin and the translated Buddhist texts. The word Naamthaar derived from the two syllabic “Naam” means Year and “Thaar” to cut a bamboo cylinder, wood slantingly and beautify it. According to G.B Mainwaring, Lepcha Manuscripts existed before the arrival of the Tibetans. By observing these readings of Naamthar that we can do is to read anytime, anywhere, and also in situations where one can read on their own in free time . The best part is anyone can read, there are no restrictions and discrimination among Lepcha Men, Women, boys, girls in the lepcha patriarchal society, and it doesn't mean we are feminists, but we want to empower both men and women.
